DRA and MFT are hosting a celebration at Morning Dew Farms new field on Route 1 in Damariscotta on July 26.
Damariscotta River Association and Maine Farmland Trust invite the community to a celebration of farmland protection and community collaboration, the “Forever Farm” party, on Thursday, July 26 from 5-8 p.m. at Morning Dew Farm’s new fields on Route 1 in Damariscotta.
It is important to note there is no parking available at the farm site on Route 1. Guests must park at DRA’s Round Top Farm at 3 Round Top Lane in Damariscotta and take a shuttle provided for the event.
The party will feature food by Harvest Moon Catering, beer from Oxbow Brewing Co., and music by The Newell Family and Sharon Pyne.
The event is free, and all are welcome. To help with planning, those attending are asked to sign up online at mainefarmlandtrust.org/events or by calling 338-6575.
Maine Farmland Trust, in partnership with DRA, and with generous financial support from many in the local community, purchased the former Phillips Farm property in 2011 to ensure it would remain in agriculture and remain an important scenic site for the local community. Area residents will remember that prior to the purchase these roadside fields were under consideration as a development site for a Walmart superstore.
“I can’t think of a better welcome to Damariscotta than the fields of Morning Dew Farm,” said DRA Executive Director Steven Hufnagel. “It speaks of a place that values sustainable economic development, natural resources, and the skills and well-being of its people.”
Before they purchased the farm property last fall, Brady Hatch and Brendan McQuillen, of Morning Dew Farm in Newcastle, had been leasing the fields from Maine Farmland Trust for several years. Now they own the property, which is conserved with a voluntary land protection agreement that will ensure the land always remains available as farmland.
Hatch and McQuillen cultivate a wide variety of certified organic produce to supply their customers at the local farmer’s market, farm shares, and at their Midcoast wholesale accounts.
A nonprofit, membership-supported, and nationally accredited land trust and conservation organization, Damariscotta River Association is dedicated to preserving and promoting the natural, cultural, and historical heritage of the Damariscotta region, centered on the Damariscotta River. For more information, go to damariscottariver.org or call 563-1393.
Maine Farmland Trust is a statewide organization that protects farmland, supports farmers, and advances the future of farming. Its goal is not just to protect Maine farmland, but to revitalize Maine’s rural landscape by keeping agricultural lands working and helping farmers, and their communities, thrive. To learn more, visit mainefarmlandtrust.org or call 338-6575.
