A Waldoboro family hopes to start a small organic farm on Bremen Road.
Joshua Pike appeared before the Waldoboro Planning Board to discuss his plans April 13.
Pike and his wife, Sarah Pike, acquired the property at 364 Bremen Road in February.
According to Pike, the property, which is split by Route 32, consists of 30 acres on the river side of the road and an additional 50 acres on the inland side.
Pike said his family’s goal is to have a small organic farm that supports itself and offers a chance to connect with family, friends, and community.
“It’s really about sustainability for us, creating something that allows us to be self-sufficient from a food perspective, for much of the year anyway,” Pike said.
He said he hopes to utilize portions of the property for outdoor educational opportunities and open trails to the public for non-motorized recreation.
“Our goal isn’t to shut if off. We want to open it up and create things for other people to come and enjoy, and there’s a lot of land there, more than what we need for sure,” Pike said.
He mentioned a trail system open to hikers and cross-country skiers as a way to work toward this goal.
The property also offers an opportunity for environmental tourism to supplement the owner’s income.
Pike described putting in some yurt-like structures to offer patrons a mix of a traditional camping experience with the comfort of a structure. He hopes to get a couple in this year.
Planning board member Barbara Boardman said composting toilets would be a good provision for the yurt area, but grey-water management for washing hands, brushing teeth and showering is something to address in the planning stage.
Grey water is wastewater from sinks, bathtubs, washers, etc.
The planning board plans to hold a site-plan review on the matter during its May meeting.
