Here is the link to this great article about having people stay on your and pay you for the privilege.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/dining/26farms.html
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Another way to encourage staycations and make money
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/08/25/dining/20090826-farmstay-slideshow_index.html
This was a great slide show about how a farm decided to make some money having people pay to stay at the farm. Heck they even have people paying to do some of the chores. Absolutely unbelievable!
This was a great slide show about how a farm decided to make some money having people pay to stay at the farm. Heck they even have people paying to do some of the chores. Absolutely unbelievable!
Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food
Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food
This a great article about the problems with our food chain. You have to ask are these huge farms endangering our health. As Russ Blakesly brought out at the town meeting, with his water polluted from one of these large operations, we need to ask ourselves whether this type of farming should be allowed in town. Is it ok to have large operations that confine large numbers of animals with all of the pollution that it causes?
This a great article about the problems with our food chain. You have to ask are these huge farms endangering our health. As Russ Blakesly brought out at the town meeting, with his water polluted from one of these large operations, we need to ask ourselves whether this type of farming should be allowed in town. Is it ok to have large operations that confine large numbers of animals with all of the pollution that it causes?
Developement Rights Purchased & New Ordinance Apporved
All of the measures that were proposed by the board of selectman were approved by the town last night.
There was some discussion about whether the ordinance, called the Right to Farm, was necessary because the town was subject to a state law that all ready said the same thing. Some other residents were concerned that the town is favoring one business over another and were extending special rights to the farming industry. A representative from the Connecticut Farm Bureau said that this was more of a Policy Statement by the town and many other towns (Woodstock and Guilford was considering it) had already approved the same ordinance. Probably the most poignant expression of opposition came Russ Blakesly who recited how a large Confined Animal Farm had polluted his water at his home. His feeling was that by approving the Policy Statement would allow large companies to bring in even more types of these operations and that we aren't encouraging family farms. This caused Mr. Smith from Cushman Farm to state that you can't make money with small operations.
There was some discussion about whether the ordinance, called the Right to Farm, was necessary because the town was subject to a state law that all ready said the same thing. Some other residents were concerned that the town is favoring one business over another and were extending special rights to the farming industry. A representative from the Connecticut Farm Bureau said that this was more of a Policy Statement by the town and many other towns (Woodstock and Guilford was considering it) had already approved the same ordinance. Probably the most poignant expression of opposition came Russ Blakesly who recited how a large Confined Animal Farm had polluted his water at his home. His feeling was that by approving the Policy Statement would allow large companies to bring in even more types of these operations and that we aren't encouraging family farms. This caused Mr. Smith from Cushman Farm to state that you can't make money with small operations.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Special Town Meeting
Tonight is the special town meeting to approve several purchases of development rights to properties in town. The first is vote on buying the developement rights to a farm called the Rechlin Property at 753 Waterman Rd. The total cost of this purchase is $50,000 or $7.06 for each man, woman, and child in the town. This would allow no access to the citizens in the town but allow for no developement.
The second request is for the release of $318,652 from a grant that was given to the town from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Farm and Ranchland Grant to purchase Conservation Easements on 3 properties. The first property the Cyr property at 1038 Trumbull Highway, the second at 595 Trumbull Highway called the Slate property, and third the Mindel property at 124 Norwich Avenue. All would allow the citizens to own the developement rights on these properties.
The third issue would ask the town to accept the Ordinance entitled Right to Farm Oridinance. The highlight of the ordinance is that the town would always favor the rights of the people to have a farm and farm with out harrasement.
In addition the town is being asked to allocate funds from the Town Capital Reserve account for work to be completed on Lake Shore Drive's Culvert to alleviate flooding issues and to buy a new Plow truck.
The second request is for the release of $318,652 from a grant that was given to the town from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Farm and Ranchland Grant to purchase Conservation Easements on 3 properties. The first property the Cyr property at 1038 Trumbull Highway, the second at 595 Trumbull Highway called the Slate property, and third the Mindel property at 124 Norwich Avenue. All would allow the citizens to own the developement rights on these properties.
The third issue would ask the town to accept the Ordinance entitled Right to Farm Oridinance. The highlight of the ordinance is that the town would always favor the rights of the people to have a farm and farm with out harrasement.
In addition the town is being asked to allocate funds from the Town Capital Reserve account for work to be completed on Lake Shore Drive's Culvert to alleviate flooding issues and to buy a new Plow truck.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Farmland saved in Lebanon
Governor Rell Announces State Preserving More Than 200 Acres of Farmland in Lebanon
07/28/2009 - Scanlon, Major Farms Among 6 Acquired for Preservation
Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state is completing the acquisition of development rights of two farms in Lebanon, assuring that more than 200 acres will be preserved for agricultural use.
The Governor said $702,600 to acquire the rights to the Scanlon Farm and $383,200 for the Major Farm were approved by the State Bond Commission in December 2008 and the funds are now being released to complete the purchase.
“Some of the most beautiful and productive farmland in the state is in Lebanon. This is valuable farmland the state and the town cannot afford to lose,” Governor Rell said. “My administration is committed to doing all we can to support a viable agricultural community, one that accounts for $2 billion of our economy.”
The Scanlon Farm acquisition includes 117.1 acres along Kick Hill Road. The Major Farm includes 95.8 acres near Old Route 2 and Camp Moween Road.
The State’s Farmland Preservation Program, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, buys development rights to farms – placing a permanent restriction on the use of the land. The land can never be used for non-agricultural purposes and farms will stay under private ownership and continue to pay local property taxes.
The other four farms include:
• 164.9 acres – River Bend Farm, Suffield/Granby. $1.4 million;
• 82 acres – Cella Farm, Wallingford. $1.2 million;
• 149.8 acres – Weigold Farm, Torrington. $674,190;
• 82 acres – Kuss Farm, Woodbury. $575,000.
The goal of the program is to preserve 130,000 acres of farmland with 85,000 acres dedicated to growing crop. The state preserved its first farm in 1979. Since then, the state has preserved more than 34,500 acres on 254 farms.
Most of the land preserved is considered prime farmland. In many cases, the state attempts to preserve land contiguous or clustered near other farmland to create a stable farming community. Farmland preservation also results in many environmental benefits by conserving key wildlife habitat and providing flood control in certain areas.
07/28/2009 - Scanlon, Major Farms Among 6 Acquired for Preservation
Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state is completing the acquisition of development rights of two farms in Lebanon, assuring that more than 200 acres will be preserved for agricultural use.
The Governor said $702,600 to acquire the rights to the Scanlon Farm and $383,200 for the Major Farm were approved by the State Bond Commission in December 2008 and the funds are now being released to complete the purchase.
“Some of the most beautiful and productive farmland in the state is in Lebanon. This is valuable farmland the state and the town cannot afford to lose,” Governor Rell said. “My administration is committed to doing all we can to support a viable agricultural community, one that accounts for $2 billion of our economy.”
The Scanlon Farm acquisition includes 117.1 acres along Kick Hill Road. The Major Farm includes 95.8 acres near Old Route 2 and Camp Moween Road.
The State’s Farmland Preservation Program, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, buys development rights to farms – placing a permanent restriction on the use of the land. The land can never be used for non-agricultural purposes and farms will stay under private ownership and continue to pay local property taxes.
The other four farms include:
• 164.9 acres – River Bend Farm, Suffield/Granby. $1.4 million;
• 82 acres – Cella Farm, Wallingford. $1.2 million;
• 149.8 acres – Weigold Farm, Torrington. $674,190;
• 82 acres – Kuss Farm, Woodbury. $575,000.
The goal of the program is to preserve 130,000 acres of farmland with 85,000 acres dedicated to growing crop. The state preserved its first farm in 1979. Since then, the state has preserved more than 34,500 acres on 254 farms.
Most of the land preserved is considered prime farmland. In many cases, the state attempts to preserve land contiguous or clustered near other farmland to create a stable farming community. Farmland preservation also results in many environmental benefits by conserving key wildlife habitat and providing flood control in certain areas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)