Kittery Land Trust announces 2013 as “Year of the Farm” with an upcoming series of community events. Due to the storm, the Rustlewood Farm hike for February 9th has been rescheduled to Sunday, February 10th; see note below:
2013 is shaping up to be the “Year of the Farm” for the Kittery Land Trust. The group is well on its way to conserving Rustlewood Farm, a 300-acre dairy farm on Wilson Road owned by Ken and Richard Johnson. The brothers have been working with the Kittery Land Trust to conserve the land so that its rich agricultural soils and extensive fields and woodlands will always be available for producing food, protecting water quality, and providing wildlife habitat. To increase understanding and appreciation of the importance of local farmland, KLT is planning a series of diverse events throughout the year including walks, talks and demonstrations. All events are free and open to the public.
“We are excited to roll out a series of fun, informative events throughout the year that will put the spotlight on local farms,” says KLT Executive Director Christine Bennett. “We hope this series will help people understand why the conservation of Rustlewood Farm is such a big deal for Kittery.”
Some of the upcoming events include:
• Saturday Feb 9, 10 am & noon at Rustlewood Farm – Join Kittery Land Trust & Great Works Regional Land Trust on a hike or ski/snowshoe (weather depending) to explore the uplands and wetlands of Rustlewood Farm. Renowned tracker and naturalist Dan Gardoqui, Executive Director of White Pine Programs, will lead the excursion. Because there is no parking along Wilson Road, please park at the Church at Spruce Creek. A van will shuttle back and forth to the farm, leaving the church at 10 and noon.
• Saturday March 2, 4 pm at Kittery Community Center – KLT will screen “Betting the Farm”, a new film by Cecily Pingree and Jason Mann. The film follows several dairy farmers in Aroostook County as they struggle to form their own milk cooperative, Maine’s Own Organic Milk. Bill Eldridge, CEO of MooMilk, will join the screening for questions and discussion.
• Saturday March 30, 1 pm at Kittery Community Center – Kathy Gunst, cookbook author and radio personality, will discuss how to use local foods to create delicious, healthy meals all year ‘round.
• Saturday April 20, 4 pm at Kittery Community Center – In celebration of Earth Day and the 50th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson’s seminal book Silent Spring, KLT will screen “A Sense of Wonder”. The 55-minute film explores Rachel Carson’s love for the natural world and her fight to defend it.
• Sat May 11, 4 pm at Kittery Community Center – KLT will screen “Farming 101”, a recently-completed film that explores the history of the farms that once lined Wilson and Goodwin Roads in Kittery and Eliot, of which Rustlewood is one of the last. Producer Peter Randall will join the screening for questions and discussion.
• June 1 (rain date June 2) at Rustlewood Farm – KLT will hold its second annual Open Farm Day with hayrides, cow-patty bingo, demonstrations, and other fun events for the family. With any luck, participants may be able to witness the birth of another calf just as they did at Farm Day last June.
For more information about these and other events, please visit www.kitterylandtrust.org
Rescheduled for Sunday, February 10th:
Hike, Ski or Snowshoe Rustlewood Farm, Sunday 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. Join the Kittery Land Trust and Great Works Regional Land Trust on a hike or ski/snowshoe (on the fresh snow we are supposed to get!) to explore the uplands and wetlands of Rustlewood Farm. Please park at the Church at Spruce Creek (31 Wilson Rd). A van will shuttle back and forth to the farm, leaving the church at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public and will take place snow or shine (no rain date). What to bring: weather appropriate clothes and cross country skis or snowshoes, if you like.