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WINDHAM — GrowSmart Maine and Maine Farmland Trust are teaming on a public forum — Growing Farm Friendly Communities: How to create municipal agricultural commissions & other tools to support farms in your town.
The forum will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at Windham Town Hall, 8 School St., Windham.
Maine’s food system and local food movement are growing and provide unique economic and community development opportunities in rural and suburban areas. Attendees will come away knowing how to enable their community to work together with current and future farmers to protect and build on Maine’s agricultural heritage and potential. Join our six expert presenters to learn how you and your hometown can welcome and retain small agricultural businesses.
Community and municipal leaders share policy approaches and practical ideas for ways communities and farmers can benefit from working together. Stephanie Gilbert, farm viability and farmland protection specialist with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry will moderate the panel discussion, followed by audience questions and answers and networking. Panelists include Bud Benson, Standish town planer; Mark Hews, president, M. E. Hews and Company; Rod Melanson, Topsham planning director; Kate Newkirk, co-chair, Winslow Agriculture Commission; Matt Randall, agricultural compliance supervisor, DACF.
The event will cost $15 for Maine Farmland Trust & GrowSmart Maine Members and $25 for the general public. To register online, visit growsmartmaine.org.
