THE BOWDOINHAM NEWS Volume 13, Issue 4 www.bowdoinham.com July & August 2015 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Bowdoinham Farms as organic growers. year, however, is all about building the By Wendy Rose Bethany and Eric will provide a full markets,” Eric says. “The soil is so good, range of organic produce through a and we have great community support.” Community Supported Agriculture Even though this is only their first year, griculture is one of Bowdoinham’s (CSA) model starting this summer. Cus- they are employing one part-time and largest business sectors; this is our tomers can buy a share of the weekly one full-time employee while putting in third year featuring Farms! It harvest for a 24 week season for $375 full-time hours themselves. Both also Ais impressive to see how many of them (good for a family of 2) or a larger share have part-time jobs off the farm, but provide a living income to the families for $585 (good for a family of 4 and up). want to eventually have the farm sup- who run them and how many people Up to 40 shares are available. Shares port them. they employ. will be delivered weekly to workplaces, “Not only do I want to feed people such as FHC healthy food, but I want to run a suc- Harvest Tide Organics in Bowdoin, cessful business,” Bethany adds. “I like Bethany Allen & Eric Ferguson and central sites working hard, getting up early—the Harvest Tide Organics is one of the in Portland, whole lifestyle of farming.” Eric espe- newest farms in Bowdoinham—part Lewiston, and cially enjoys meeting the challenges each of the growing sector of farms run by Augusta. In ad- day brings and seeing the fruits of his la- young, energetic individuals who wish dition, they will bor. “I like the instant gratification and to make a full-time career in agricul- supply organic getting to engage in a practical science,” ture. Bethany and Eric have worked in produce to the he says. They both agree that they enjoy farming for many years. Eric started wholesale mar- being a part of the Bowdoinham farming when he was in high school in Fye- ket such as The Crown of Maine. Local community because of the encourage- burg, Maine and continued his interest customers can visit them at the farm on ment, collaboration, and support they by majoring in environmental studies Thursdays or purchase fresh produce have received. in college. Bethany has always been through Brian Smith’s Farm Cart at 219 If you want to contact Bethany or interested in nutrition and food access Main Street in Bowdoinham on week- Eric, you can call them at 508-789- and has worked on those issues in an days from 4-7pm starting June 29th. 2233. Check out their website at www. urban setting. After serving on farms Bethany and Eric agree that their harvesttide organics.com in order to in the Bowdoinham area, they were able greatest need is for more infrastructure learn more, to email them, or to sign up to start up Harvest Tide Organics on 45 at their farm site. Water, a cooler, a for a CSA share. leased acres at 148 Center Point Road in greenhouse, and processing facilities are Continued on page 2. November, 2014, and are now certified all part of their plan for growth. “This INSIDE Open Saturdays Business Spotlight 1-3 Cub Scout News 9 Food Pantry News 12 Open Farm Day 4-5 Skatepark Update 9 Long Branch News 13 8:30am to News from Merrymeeting 6 Recreation News 9 Town “Tax Club” Plan 13 Arts Center 12:30pm News from Advisory 10 Community School News 13 News from Bowdoinham 7 Committee on Aging Historical Society Water District News 14 Legislative News 10 Farmers’ Market 7 Open Burn Permits 14 at our new location: CEO Corner 11 Tonka Truck Challenge 8 Municipal Election 14 Mailly Waterfront Park Town Committees 11 Boy Scout News 8 Summer Concert Series 15 Spirit of America Award 11 News from the Library 8 Community Calendar 16 Visit us on Facebook! BCDI New 12 1 Bowdoinham Farms couple of raffle quilts she has recently cre- Lizzy’s path to farming evolved from Continued from page 1. ated that will benefit local causes. her initial interest in medicine. She saw Debbie and Dick can be reached at that health issues, such as obesity, can be 666-5684. addressed at the front end through access Havenridge Farm to healthy foods. “I’d rather produce the Debbie & Dick Spaulding Helios Horsepower Farm food and work on the access issue than “I love the creative aspect of farming, Lizzy Koltai treat the disease,” she says. Her volunteer the process of taking something from the work on a farm in high school and at a Working with Mo- farmer’s market during college were her start to the finish,” ment and Gaila, the Debbie Spaulding initial training ground, and she saw that two draft ponies she farming could be a career choice. The says. As a talented acquired in 2013, Lizzy quilter and artisan, MOFGA Journeyperson program, work is carving out a unique on other farms, and the great support she Debbie brings her niche for her farming creative talents to has gotten from area farmers has given her operation located on the knowledge and courage to take the the farm operation the White Road. “I she and her husband started on their 37 leap. “I am so grateful to have the oppor- love working with the horses,” she says. tunity to lease this land in Bowdoinham,” acres at 727 Ridge Road back in 2008. “I have to stay focused and grounded.” Until now, their farm has mostly provided she says. “This area has such an amazing Lizzy and the horses are learning the ropes support network.” The morning of our meat and produce for their own use, but together on the five acres she is leasing it has grown to the point where they are interview she had been tapping into some from George Christopher. The horses of that local expertise by speaking on the able to sell some of the surplus. power the plowing, harrowing, bed prep, Dick is making a transition from his phone with a master draft horse handler and cart the vegetables. “The plowing is who had given her needed guidance. career as an electrician and enjoys working my favorite thing,” Lizzy says. “Working with their herd of low lying black angus “When I started, I could have given with the horses is dynamic, always chang- you 100 political reasons why farming cattle, a smaller breed of black angus. ing, and really fun,” she adds. Meanwhile, Debbie has been experiment- was a good thing to do,” she adds. “Now, Last season was her first round of I would simply say I love it. I get to be ing with a permaculture garden that has experimentation, and this year she is 11 varieties of garlic along with broccoli, outside, produce healthy food, and work cultivating a full acre of fall storage crops with wonderful animals.” cabbage, celery, and other produce. Hav- such as baby beets, husk cherries, heir- ing a permanent cover of hay or wood You can reach Lizzy at 231-1976 or loom flint corn, dry beans, and Parisian email her at [email protected]. chips on the garden protects their soil market carrots. She is able to sell much of from dry, windy conditions and maintains this crop wholesale to value added food the moisture. “I seem to be really good Hobart Farm producers such as Turtle Rock and Gra- Brian Hobart at germinating plants,” Debbie says, “and cie’s Garden. Relishes, chutneys, pickled get almost 100% germination. Dick says beets, jams, sauerkraut, and cornmeal, are Throughout Brian’s I don’t have a green thumb, but a golden just a few of the delicious products that multi-faceted career in one,” she laughs. result. Lizzy also sells some of her items, construction, public Havenridge Farm is participating this such as cabbage, to places such as the Bath works and political year in Open Farm Days on July 19, and Natural Market and Goranson’s Farm. office, he has always Debbie is looking forward to using it as “I’ve been able to establish myself with a maintained a farming an educational opportunity. “I like to quality product from the get go which is operation which has brought him great share what I’ve learned about raising garlic great,” she says. satisfaction. He is now focused on selling as well as permaculture farming. In the By not taking on debt, working at an hay. While he has a steady base of cus- future, I’d like provide education for folks off-farm job, and keeping her costs down, tomers, he can add new ones if they are who want to raise their own produce” Lizzy has been able to handle the start-up willing to pick the hay up from the field. “The farm has taken on a life of its costs and nearly break even in her first While most of Brian’s customers are horse own,” Debbie adds. While it is mostly a year. This season, she is able to work full- owners, many use his hay for mulch. He hobby farm for now, she is interested in time on the farm, and is hoping to see a delivers to Harpswell, Litchfield, Top- learning new techniques and seeing where small profit. Her goal is to get 6 acres in sham, and, of course, locally in Bowdoin- her experiments will take her.