Forever Farm Event at ALT Katherine Breton Preserve in Lisbon
September 13, 2011
For Immediate Release
Friday, September 2nd 2011
Contact: Erin Herbig, (207) 542-7654 erin@mainefarmlandtrust.org and
Jonathan LaBonte (207) 782-2302 jlabonte@androscogginlandtrust.org
Maine Farmland Trust and Androscoggin Land Trust to host
"Forever Farm" Event at Katherine Breton Preserve
Lisbon- Maine Farmland Trust and the Androscoggin Land Trust are partnering to celebrate Maine farmland preservation in Androscoggin County by hosting a public celebration at the Katherine Breton Memorial Preserve on the Ferry Road in Lisbon on Tuesday, September 13th from 5 to 8pm. The Breton Preserve, located along the Androscoggin River, is currently part of the larger farming operation of Rick of Belanger and Sons in Lewiston. The event is free and open to the public.
Maine Farmland Trust (MTF) is a statewide non-profit organization working to permanently preserve and protect Maine's agricultural lands, and to keep Maine's farms farming. Androscoggin Land Trust (ALT) protects, through land conservation and stewardship, the important natural areas, traditional landscapes, and outdoor experience in the Androscoggin River watershed and, while it owns the Breton Preserve and has kept a portion of its land in agriculture, has partnered through its service area with MFT to seek opportunities to conserve farms
Tuesday evening's event will celebrate a new program titled "Forever Farms". "Forever Farms" is a way to celebrate the growing success of farmland protection efforts in Maine. Over the next several months, signs that read "Forever Farm" will be installed on farmland in Maine that has been preserved through agricultural easements. Agricultural easements ensure that the land will forever be available for farming.
Through this signage, a new website, and six events across the state, Maine Farmland Trust and its partner organizations will raise public awareness about what we've already achieved in Maine, while generating excitement for future farmland preservation.
"There is a lot to celebrate about farming in Maine, including the fact that more and more farmland owners see the value of permanently protecting their land and their legacy," explains Maine Farmland Trust Executive Director John Piotti.
"While ALT has worked for over two decades on land conservation in the Androscoggin River watershed, in particular surrounding Maine's second largest urban area in Lewiston-Auburn, we are proud to stand as a partner with Maine Farmland Trust to ensure that local farmland protection remains a priority in this region. It is fitting to host this event in the Town of Lisbon, given that this community has long championed conserving local farms and ALT has now protected 500 acres of farmland in Lisbon alone," states Jonathan LaBonte, executive director of Androscoggin Land Trust.
The "Forever Farm" event will include prepared local produce, organic grilled chicken of Tide Mill Farm in Edmunds, wine from Bartlett Maine Estate Winery of Gouldsboro, beer from Andrew's Brewing Company of Lincolnville, and ice cream treats provided by Dolcelino's of Camden. Maine fiddler Hope Hoffman will perform live music.
Visit www.foreverfarms.org for more information about the Forever Farms program and www.mainefarmlandtrust.org to learn more about ALT and androscogginlandtrust.org to learn more about Androscoggin Land Trust.
Photo: Katherine Breton Memorial Preserve in Lisbon
Photo Credit: Androscoggin Land Trust