The Fair For our very first installment of MOFGA Stories, the theme is the Common Ground Country Fair. What follows is a collection of stories from MOFGA members, staff, volunteers and fairgoers. My favorite memory of the Fair is not so much a specific incident but rather a feeling. It’s a rhythmic sense of contentment
Anneli Carter-Sundqvist gets ready to plant the first apple tree in 2015. Photo by Dennis Carter Raised beds were built for each tree using logs and brush left from clearing the land. Photo by Anneli Carter-Sundqvist Boneset and goldenrod line the woodchip-mulched paths. Photo by Anneli Carter-Sundqvist The wild and unfettered orchard at Deer
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
Some of the Mandala Farm family: front: Licorice and Shadow; back: Ross riding Kristi with Peg the chicken, Genio, Sara, and Enna with Rosie. Photo courtesy of Mandala Farm Genio driving Fjorgyn and Grane on a Cockshutt grain drill, seeding a cover crop of oats. Photo by David McCudden Two apprentices learning to drive a
Everett Ottinger and Molly Crouse of Nettie Fox Farm at the Common Ground Country Fair. English photo Cut flowers are among the varied crops grown at Nettie Fox Farm. Photo by Molly Crouse View of the fields, high tunnels and farmhouse in Crouse’s hometown of Newburgh. Photo by Nick Owings By Sonja Heyck-Merlin In 2009, when
Barbara and Jason Kafka described their conservative methods of earning and saving money for retirement at MOFGA’s 2018 Farmer to Farmer Conference. English photo By Jean English Barbara and Jason Kafka of Checkerberry Farm in Parkman, Maine, and Paul and Sandy Arnold of Pleasant Valley Farm in Argyle, New York, spoke at MOFGA’s 2018 Farmer to Farmer
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,
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
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
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