Adv Board presentation to Ag Com 2-2-10
Bean/Allard Advisory Board report to
Agricultural Commission
February 2, 2010
Purpose of the Bean/Allard
Farm Agricultural Advisory
Board:
To provide consultation, resources and expertise to the Northampton
Agricultural Commission to help forward a proposal on the agricultural use/s
of the Bean/Allard Farm.
•
Peter Barrer, Board President, Newton Angino Community Farm
•
Michael Docter, CSA farmer, founder Food Bank Farm
•
Ben Grosscup, NOFA, Keep Farming
•
Rebecca Fletcher, Equity Trust
•
Dan Kaplan, founder Brookfield Farm
•
Phil Korman, Exec. Director, CISA
•
Meg Taylor, Hampshire College Farm Camp
•
Lynda Simkins, Exec. Director, Natick Organic Community Farm
•
Cris Coffin, New England Director, American Farmland Trust
Summary of work completed thus far:
Met twice since early January
Invited all farmers we have identified who are interested in CSA-farming on
the Bean/Allard land to attend our Board meeting and provide input.
Compiled a list of "visions" we heard articulated at the first two Bean Farm
Task Force public forums as they related to farming.
AND…
Interviewed and reviewed the organizational history of
four particularly relevant Community Farms to help us
learn lessons and understand the potential for a
Bean/Allard community farm.
1.North Amherst Community Farm, Amherst, MA
2.Intervale Center, Burlington, VT
3.Natick Oranic Community Farm, Natick, MA
4.Newton Angina Community Farm, Newton, MA
AND…
Discussed with Clem Clay of the Trust for Public Land the limitations and
opportunities for carrying out the public vision of a Community Farm given
that the APR-land will NOT be owned by the City of Northampton.
Drafted a proposal for the ownership and mission of the Bean/Allard
farmland.
Proposal
The Bean/Allard APR land should be sold to a non-
profit organization whose vision is to bring to life a
Community Farm on the property that:
feeds local people, including disadvantaged
populations
uses sustainable practices,
provides food-based & farm-based education,
allows some level of public access, and
gives lessees the opportunity to build equity in the
farm infrastructure and enjoy the security of a long-
term lease
The Non-profit will:
Own the property and steward the "community
vision" of the property.
Be responsible for crafting and evaluating RFPs to
attract appropriate farmers &/or farm education
programs.
Contractually obligate its lessees to follow guidelines
related to practices, access, etc.
Plans needed before a Non-profit is considered a suitable buyer
Capital Sources PlanLand Use PlanInfrastructure Plan
Eg. Eg. Eg.
60% of land operated by Watering source
Short-term
CSA farmer
GrantsBarn
(eg. 2 years post
40% operated by short-
FundraisingGreenhouse
purchase)
lease tenant farmer
Membership
Lease income
FundraisingEg.Eg.
Grants60% CSA farmFarmerhomestead
Long-term
Membership20% incubator farm Public bathrooms
Lease income Farming 20% farm education Community Kitchen
(eg. 10 years post
incomeprogram
purchase)
Product sales
Program income
Next Steps
The Advisory Board will:
Present this proposal in greater detail at
the BFTF public forum February 8, 2010,
solicit public feedback, and revise the
proposal as needed.
Seek to work cooperatively with the ZRC rep, Peter
Flinker, as well as the students of the CSLD on site design
with the goal of maximizing the agricultural potential of
the land, and ensuring a healthy co-existence of farm &
recreational land.
Meet with TPL to discuss timeline for the sale
of the APR land, and the role TPL will play in
helping to realize the above proposal.
Seek to identify a non-profit organization to
purchase the Bean/Allard APR land and fulfill
the community's vision for a community farm.