NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
NEWSLETTER
PA I D 97 Main Street Belfast, Maine 04915
Volume 15 , No. 1
PERMIT NO. 30 FARMINGTON, ME
phone: 207-338-6575 e-mail: info@mainefarmlandtrust.org website: www.mainefarmlandtrust.org
Spring/Summer 2016
Farming Grows in Bowdoinham
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Strong partnerships lead to more protected farmland Working closely with local land trusts and other organizations, MFT recently helped to protect a total of 196 acres in Bowdoinham, reinforcing the continued growth and long term security of farming in a prime agricultural area. Harvest Tide Organics Bethany Allen and Eric Ferguson
In This Issue:
met while working on neighboring
Page 01: Partners protecting farmland in Bowdoinham
farms in Bowdoinham, and within
Page 02: OPAV & Maine Harvest Bucks hits retail
a few years started looking for a
Page 03: Recent farmland protection projects
farm to call their own. After looking
Page 04: A FarmLink in Gouldsboro
at land in communities around the
Page 05: Joseph A. Fiore Art Center & New Staff
state, a property went up for sale
Page 06: Upcoming Events
in Bowdoinham. It was a property they drove by every day on their way
Thank You featured Business Members!
to work, and had often admired. “We thought it might be the kind of farm that a land trust would be interested in protecting, and the price was out of reach, so we got in touch with MFT and Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT),” said Bethany. The property is unique, with waterfront on Merrymeeting Bay and a large swath of woodland, in addition to 45 acres of fields that are perfect for vegetable production, 97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org
Eric Ferguson and Bethany Allen in front of their new greenhouse at Harvest Tide Organics.
but also prime real estate for house
said Bethany, for multiple reasons.
lots. The unique elements of the
The couple is thrilled “to be farm-
property called for a more complex
ing on ground that is really fertile,
protection process, and drawing in
reliable and well-drained,” a huge
multiple organizations, including
benefit when your business is based
KELT, Maine Coast Heritage Trust,
on the soil. Bowdoinham also has a
and Friends of Merrymeeting Bay.
strong, informal network of farmers
After months of work, the property was divided into three parcels: waterfront and wildlife habitat; ag-
who support one another. And, it’s a beautiful place to put down roots: “We walk everyday through the
ricultural land that includes fields,
woods. You can walk from river to
a farmhouse and a woodlot; and
river... this place is soul food.”
woodland. Each area will be held and stewarded separately. KELT will
Fairwinds Farm
own the waterfront, and hold the
Just down the road from Harvest
easement on the farm.
Tide, Pete and Cathy Karonis of
Despite the time and effort it
Fairwinds Farm cultivate a total
took to protect the land, Bethany
of 14 acres of strawberries and
and Eric think it was worthwhile.
45 acres of mixed vegetables on
“Living in Bowdoinham is a dream,”
97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org
multiple properties, some owned 1