2016-02-25-CFC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes of the Community Farming Committee, Thursday February 25, 2016 Hadley DPF Building Members Present: Michael Bliss, Raul Marques, Charles Lamb Not Present: Alan Wrigley Others: Carolyn Goldstein (LexFam), Allison Guerette Meeting called to order at 8:05pm by the chair. 1)Discussion of Committee representative to be liaison to LexFarm Board (postponed to future meeting) 2)Discussion of possibility of LexFarm farming former agricultural fields off Waltham Street under control of the Conservation Commission Raul said that he had talked to the Conservation Commission chair (Phil Hamilton) about Wright Farms and he said that they had considered community gardens there. Carolyn pointed out that there’s a lot of synergy between the LexFarm community and the conservation community. She believes it’s worth having a conversation about the status of farming on Conservation lands, even if it’s just to know what the timeframe is. Michael believes there is a wetlands clock running on Waltham St that grants an agricultural exception. If farming doesn’t continue, then that exception times out and it reverts to non-agricultural land. Committee agrees that it would be worthwhile to open a dialogue with Phil Hamilton in the future. 3)Discussion of Committee member and designation of new chair: Tom Olivier has just resigned from the Committee; Chairman Michael Bliss intends to resign shortly. Motion: Charles Lamb to be chair following Chairman Bliss’s resignation. 3:0 in favor. 4)Report from LexFarm They’ve hired a new assistant farm manager. Alana Coleman. She’s farmed at Cricket Road in Concord. She starts on March 1 and will work full time, year round. She’ll handle the green house. She has a specialty in lettuces and greens and extended growing season. She and Tim will be expanding what is grown on the farm. They’ll manage cover cropping and the farm stand and the whole CSA program. The new model will be more similar to the original model with Waltham farm stands. LexFarm feels this will be better for the customers to see their farm stand when they come to the farm stand. They aspire to have a fall CSA. They are also interviewing for a part time educator. They have had several