Unity Agricultural Center - collaborative farm association (lease/other) - Unity, ME

Posted on November 16, 2018Last updated 5 months ago

The Land

Property Owner:

Other private organization (educational, religious, for-profit, etc.)

Property Location:

#92 Mussey Road, Unity, Maine 04941

Total number of acres available with this property:

100.0

Acres of cropland or tillable land:

50.0

Acres of pasture:

50.0

Acres of forested land:

250.0

Other open and/or non-farmable land:

Diverse farmland - seasonal stream running through it plus a mile of Sandy Stream along boundary shared with MOFGA. Plans for an irrigation pond in an existing drainage area. Additional forested acres for 'common use'. Extensive trails traverse woods. Easements allow 3-4 independent businesses, for example - vegetable, livestock, forest.

Soils map:

PDF icon Soil map Elwell Farm.pdf

Is the property enrolled in a current use or other state program that affects property taxes?:

No

Is the property protected with any type of Conservation Easement?:

Yes

Easement details:

Federal easement allows for 3 homes, therefore 3 farm enterprises. Also allowed, 3-season cabin cluster, farm-labor housing, forestry site (pole barns etc). Perpetual farmland: other farm infrastructure/improvements allowed.

Is there a forest management plan for forestland on the available property?:

Yes

Is the property certified organic, or does it qualify for organic certification under federal organic regulations?:

Yes
Farm Information

Water sources present

Available

Types of water sources present

Drilled well
River/stream

Water sources details

Investigating springs and possible catchment pond for irrigation purposes. Ample well-water for livestock and homes.

Barns, sheds or other structures

Available

Farm infrastructure details

Primarily dairy infrastructure. Large stanchion barn, near 100 head; milk room. End of town-maintained dirt road, sole farm on road, parking potential. Come ready to build farm labor housing/earn equity.

Farmer housing

Available

Farmer housing details

Presently under Renovation. 4-bed house available for dairy-farmer and family - beautiful, historic, brick, needs some work. 1 concrete pad w/hookups, build or install mobile; 1 new house plan - earn equity. Eventually 3 separate homes. Apprentice cottages planned.

Equipment and machinery

Available

Equipment and machinery details

Functioning milking machinery. No tractors or tillage equipment at this time.
Tenure Arrangement

Tenure arrangement

Property for rent
Other

Property for lease

Long-term affordable lease options. 1 year trial. Common land. Potential for leasing infrastructure as well as potential for building equity in individual farm entities. All farm operator applicants need to have a viable business plan (simple is best); start-up/incubator or experienced - all are welcome.
Additional Information

Description

Looking for Colleagues!
Farm Opportunity in Unity, Maine.
    Farm family involved in biodynamics and the Camphill movement for many years, are
seeking fellow lessees (families encouraged) to join a new organic agricultural venture in mid-coast Maine. Our personal focus is to grow vegetables and fruit using biodynamic methods, monitoring the regeneration of the farm in its entirety, and working with the local community through our educational impulse (see below).
    We are primarily looking for a small-herd dairy farmer and/or cheese maker, a baker (lots of locally grown grain available in this part of the state) and/or someone interested in a forestry-based business to complement our vegetable operation. Other ideas warmly welcomed. An interest in biodynamics is a plus.
The 480 acre farm sits at the edge of the hamlet of Unity, home of MOFGA (the oldest organic-certifying organization in the country) and the annual Common Ground Fair. Unity is a rural college town with a resident population of 2,137.
    Our long range plan is to convert the old dairy farm to fully certified biodynamic
management, while conducting university-level research monitoring soil health over
the long term. We are working to set up a multiple-operator lease arrangement w/equity building potential which will encourage colleague-ship and foster collaboration. NB. We are not forming a "commune" but a down-at-earth community farm with independent farm businesses sharing and collaborating where practical.
    We have formed our own non-profit organization, Bowsprit Foundation, based at the farm, which provides seasonal educational/life skills programs for disadvantaged youth, aged 16-20. Our mission is to be of value to the community by focusing on local food security, and to provide educational support of young people through farm/traditional skills practicums, rooted in the farm community. Please see website: bowspritfoundation.org 

All serious inquiries welcome.

Please call Graziella Cervi at 207 342 2345 (landline),
or Peter Brady at 207 801 1642 (cell).
Or email : [email protected]

This farmland opportunity is also posted at:

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