May 1, 2019
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Thierry Bonneville
MFT has been protecting farmland for 20 years. Protecting farmland is the only way we will ensure that we have enough land to grow our food in the future. Agricultural easements protect the land from non-farm development and often allow the sale of land at its "farm use value," which can help make farmland more affordable for farmers.
Learn about some of our recent protection projects below:
John, Ramona, and daughter Carolyn Snell protected their iconic multi-generational family farm in Buxton. The family grows produce, herbs, flowers, bedding plants, and fruit for their farm stand, a CSA, and several farmers markets. They also offer pick-your-own raspberries in the summer and apples in the fall.
David and Billie Jo Krebs closed on an easement to protect 490 acres of Krebs Organic Dairy Farm. David’s parents purchased the property in 1979 and at one point, the family milked over 100 cows. Today the farm is owned by David and Billie Jo, and with the help of his sister, David milks 60 cows and sells milk to Organic Valley through Cabot Creamery Cooperative/Agri-Mark.
Farmers Tanya and Luke Farrington placed an easement on 114 acres of fields and woods in Hartford, in the heart of Oxford County. Currently, the couple raises goats, cattle, and hogs on a neighboring property and are very much looking forward to expanding their base of operations on this larger parcel.
The Estes family closed on the sale of an easement to protect their 239-acre in Buxton. Carl and Lorraine Estes purchased the property in the 1950s and started out growing potatoes before eventually switching to blueberries. Near the end of their lives, Carl and Lorraine incorporated the farm and left it to their five children. Today, Carl and Lorraine’s son Don manages a popular pick-your-own blueberry and pumpkin operation.
New owners purchased the 31-acre property from the Verrill family and sold an easement simultaneously to MFT. The new farmers are planning a pick-your-own fruit farm (primarily apples and blueberries) and will have a farm store selling jams and pies.
In April we closed the sale of the 232-acre Brookings Farm on Intervale Road in New Gloucester to the farmers of Flying Goat Farm. The new owners will move their goat and cheese making operation from Acton to the farm this summer.
Learn more about Farmland Protection and how you can support this work to keep farms in farming!