Paul and Sandy Arnold delivering the keynote speech at MOFGA’s 2018 Farmer to Farmer Conference. English photo By Jean English Paul and Sandy Arnold of Pleasant Valley Farm in Argyle, New York, call farming “the best job on earth,” and that was the theme of their keynote speech at MOFGA’s 2018 Farmer to Farmer Conference. Pleasant Valley
By Joyce White When I first heard the term “forest bathing,” images of naked people frolicking through the woods and splashing in a forest brook flashed through my mind. Maybe they then stretched out on sun-warmed pine needles, perhaps even taking a snooze – but certainly not in black fly season. Or winter. But no, “forest bathing”
Tim and Anne Devin of Chase Stream Farm wanted to do something completely different after their careers in the military. The Devins bought their 72-acre property in Monroe in 2016 and continue to refine their plans for the farm. The farm pond provides irrigation water. Sarah Alexander, MOFGA’s executive director, toured Chase Stream Farm in
AgrAbility outreach: working with volunteers to build a raised garden bed at Farm & Homestead Day at MOFGA Cheesemakers move hundreds of pounds of milk in the course of their work, which makes the ergonomics of the cheese room an important consideration. AgrAbility coordinated assistance to help a farm family purchase a modified van, easing
Lois Labbe and Tom Roberts were the farmers in the spotlight at MOFGA’s 2018 Farmer to Farmer Conference. Sam Gerry (left), Jess Moquin (right) and their son, Malachite, are part of the Snakeroot crew. Labbe’s daughters, Debbie Ferguson (left) and Lori Labbe, are also involved with Snakeroot Farm. By Jean English Photos courtesy of Snakeroot Farm Tom
Mort and Barbara Mather have cultivated crops, kids, organizations and theater work in the decades during which they’ve lived on their MOFGA-certified organic farm in Wells. One of the five vegetable garden areas, with ornamentals and fruit trees planted around the house as well. Mort starts seedlings in this small structure next to his equipment
By John Bunker Not long after MOFGA’s new executive director came on board, she asked if she could join us for our next Orchard Committee meeting. The committee members were delighted. It would be a chance to tell her about our collection of nearly 300 Maine heirloom apples, as well as our innovative orcharding practices,
Dick York’s love of agriculture inspired him to start Nature’s Circle Farm. Three of Nature’s Circle managers: left to right, Lowell Matthews, Meg York and Nicholas Fitzpatrick. Elliott Mooers (right), Matthews’ best friend since childhood, manages the H-2A workers. By Jean English; photos by the author Nature’s Circle Farm is a 390-acre MOFGA-certified organic vegetable
Geoff and Gina Hancock make guitar pedals and straps, respectively. Photo by Holly Hancock Johanna Davis and Adam Nordell travel the country as the two-piece band Sassafras Stomp during the off-season. Photo by Rab Cummings Heather Selin of Earth Dharma works off-farm as a policy expert for tobacco use reduction. Photo by Stowell Watters Abby
The North Branch family, left to right: Ada, Anna, Seth, Elwyn, Tyler and Misha Some of the horse-drawn equipment used on the farm, with the fenced (from deer) fruit tree and shrub nursery in the background. A closer look at the irrigated nursery North Branch specializes in vegetable crops grown for its winter CSA Seth
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