Land in Transition: The farmland owners
Our Land in Transition series shines a light on the hundreds of thousands of acres of Maine farmland that will be changing hands within the next decade. The future of farming in Maine depends on what happens to that land.
We often share stories of the beginning farmers we work with, who are gaining access to farmland and keeping it in cultivation. Their energy and passion for growing food and building community is inspiring. But the story of new farmers putting down roots in Maine often starts with the previous farmland owners, who have the vision and patience to ensure that their land stays in farming and is accessible for the next generation. Older farmland owners’ commitment to the land is equally inspiring, and they play an important role in making sure that Maine has the farmland needed to sustain itself and the region far into the future.
Meet Your Farmers: High Hopes Farm
Meaghan and Ross Nichols are the energetic, hardworking couple who own and operate High Hopes Farm on a beautiful 120ish-acre piece of land in Bristol, just four miles from downtown Damariscotta. The couple purchased the farm earlier this summer, and already have a small, thriving…
MFT Newsletter Spring 2016
Maine Farmland Trust Newsletter Spring 2016 In This Issue: Partners protecting farmland in Bowdoinham OPAV: "New" tool ensures farmland stays in farming Maine Harvest Bucks hits retail On the Ground: recent farmland protection projects A FarmLink in Gouldsboro Introducing the…
Meet Your Farmers: Songbird Farm
Adam Nordell and Johanna Davis are the farmers and owners of Songbird Farm in Unity. Both Adam and Johanna worked on several farms before leasing ten acres of farmland in Starks in 2011. They farmed there for several years, always keeping an eye out for…
Land in Transition: Growing Access for Veterans
Dina-Lee Ford walks her land, describing dreams for the future; dreams she's quite literally planting in multiple acres of rich soil she can now call her own. A Master Gardener and disabled veteran who served in the Air Force, Dina-Lee, and her…
Ramblers Way Farm gives back to farmland protection
We’re partnering with Ramblers Way Farm, a pioneering sustainable wool clothing company based in Maine, to support farmland protection. From April 22 (Earth Day!) to May 1, Ramblers Way Farm employees will contribute 5% of their paid work hours volunteering for…
91 acres protected in Sabattus
Over 91 acres of farmland in Sabattus will remain farmland far into the future. On March 31, farmer Dan Curran protected his farm with a conservation easement, ensuring that the land will be not be developed, and that it will…