m a i n e f a r m s a t w o r k

LandF R O M T H E

photographs by BRIDGET BESAW

text by JOHN PIOTTI

with a preface by CHELLIE PINGREE

MAINE FARMLAND TRUST www.mainefarmlandtrust.org FALL 2010 • PAGE 5

The Tide Mill Farm in Edmunds, Maine (below) is a highly diversi�ed organic farm. Aaron Bell (top), his wife Carly and their three children are featured in MFT’s Meet Your Farmer �lm series.

MFT Returns Land to Farm Use Increasingly, Maine Farmland Trust is buying land that it feels could and should be used for more active agricul-ture. �at is the case with a 150-acre property in the Washington County town of Pembroke. �e land had not been farmed in years, but a local farmer plans to use it to expand his beef herd. �is is a special property, with long stretches of shorefront and critical wildlife habitat. �rough the e�orts of Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT), the property was already being preserved with an easement. MFT joined the project to make sure that the land would be returned to agricultural use. �is is the second major partnership between MFT and MCHT. �e �rst involved the purchase and protection of Erickson Farm, a 92-acre property in Rockport. Aaron Bell of Tide Mill Farm in nearby Edmunds has already moved cattle to the Pembroke property. Bell’s family operates a highly diversi�ed organic farm that produces milk, meat, and vegetables. Bell intends to buy the land from MFT, but cannot a�ord to do so immediately. �us, he will lease it for two years until his expanded beef operation is better established.

MAINE FARMLAND TRUST www.mainefarmlandtrust.org FALL 2010 • PAGE 6

MFT ToteOrganic cotton18”W x 15”H x 7”G

$10.00

Calendar�e Sixteen Counties of Maine11”W x 17”Hartwork by Kathleen Perelka

$28.00

MFT HatEmbroidered cottonAdjustable brass claspOne size �ts all

$12.00

Note Cards8 cards with envelopes 5.5” x 4.25”photos by Bridget Besaw

$5.00

Holiday Cards12 cards with envelopes 5” x 7”artwork by Kathleen Perelka and Laurie Bellmore

$10.00

From the Land - Maine Farms at Work95 pages of color photography of Maine farms by Bridget Besaw and commentary by MFT Executive Director John Piotti

$20.00

Meet Your Farmer DVDEight short documentaries featuringeight diverse Maine FarmsPull-Start Pictures 201052 minutes

$10.00

Visit our NEW online storewww.mainefarmlandtrust.org

MAINE FARMLAND TRUST www.mainefarmlandtrust.org FALL 2010 • PAGE 7

OFFICE97 Main St.

Belfast, Maine 04915207-338-6575

e-mail: info@mainefarmlandtrust.orgwww.mainefarmlandtrust.org

• • •

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADVISORY COUNCIL

STAFF

Established in 1999, the purpose of Maine Farmland Trust is to permanently preserve and protect Maine’s agricultural lands; to assist landowners, land trusts, municipal and state agencies in identifying and protecting agricultural lands; and to make those lands available to farmers.

William Bell, President, SacoSusan Morris, Vice-President, WaldoboroFrank Miles, Secretary, Cape ElizabethRussell Libby, Treasurer, Mt. VernonPaul Birdsall, PenobscotNeil Crane, ExeterWalter Fletcher, Pitts�eldEleanor Kinney, BremenTaylor Mudge, CamdenSteve Page, Searsmont

Chris Hamilton, White�eldJames P. Hastings, SkowheganBambi Jones, AlnaJo D. Sa�eir, PownalArthur �ompson, Presque IsleAdrian Wadsworth, North Turner

John Piotti, Executive DirectorKristin Varnum, Associate DirectorLouAnna Perkins, Legal CounselNina Young, Lands ProjectsStacy Gambrel, Lands ProjectsMike Gold, Farm ViabilityHolly Ingraham, Farm ViabilitySue Lanpher, FarmLinkErin Herbig, OutreachCate Cronin, CampaignAnna Witholt Abaldo, Gallery Phil Soucy, Field AgentNate Pennel, Field Agent

MAINE FARMLAND TRUSTWe’re the only statewide land trust devoted to farmland protection.Our budget is primarily funded by individual donors and members.

Please join us. With your help, we can meet the challenge.

Please contact me about protection option for my farm property

Name _________________________________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________________________

Town, State, Zip _____________________________________________________________________

Telephone ________________________________________________________

E-mail ____________________________________________________________

PAYMENT: CHECK ENCLOSED VISA MASTERCARD

Credit Card No.: ____________________________________________________ Exp. ____________

Signature: ____________________________________________________________

Mail to: Maine Farmland Trust, 97 Main St., Belfast, ME 04915

Membership Categories:

Maine Farmland Trust is a non-pro�t organization; membership dues and donations are tax-deductible.

You may also make payments towardLife Membership:

(4 payments) $250(2 payments) $500

Additional donation $ ___________.

Basic (e.g., Student)......$20Individual.....................$30Family...........................$50Contributor.................$100Life...........................$1000

Planned Giving

A bequest to support farmland protection is a great way to leave

an important legacy.

Sta� Update MFT recently welcomed Erin Herbig as our new Out-reach Coordinator. Erin brings to the job a wealth of experience with communications and graphic arts. MFT also brought on Mike Gold to coordinate our new Farm Viability Program and Holly Ingraham to lend her administrative experience to this e�ort.