Aldermere News
Aldermere Farm, in Rockport, will open its doors and barnyard on Saturday, May 6, introducing 12 new members of its beloved Belted Galloway herd and showing progress on a dual-purpose barn, visitor center, and series of substantial renovations both at the farm and at nearby Erickson Fields preserves.
Read the announcement that was published in The Courier-Gazette on March 23, 2023.
Maine Coast Heritage Trust … seeks volunteers for Kids Can Grow, a six-month comprehensive gardening program, teaching youth ages 7-12 how to grow nutritious vegetables, herbs, and flowers for their families in their own 3 x 5 foot raised-bed gardens at home using intensive square foot gardening techniques.
Cabin fever setting in? Looking for a sweet pick-me-up? This March, Maine Coast Heritage Trust invites all ages to learn about making maple syrup from scratch (sap) at Aldermere Farm, 70 Russell Ave in Rockport.
The series is part of the Climate Action Grant awarded by the Maine Governor’s Office on Policy, Innovation and the Future to the Rockport Conservation Commission.
“We have a lot to learn from people’s lived experience. Personal stories, like someone resorting to hitchhiking to get to the food pantry, shine a light on what the barriers to access are.”
During the Feb. 14 meeting, project leaders will share how they have used feedback received through pantries and other distribution sites to improve their outreach.
The Aldermere & Erickson Campaign raised funds for new infrastructure and equipment at Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields.
Families are invited to join Rockport Public Library’s Youth Services Librarian Stephanie Miller for a story walk through Erickson Fields Preserve.
Aldermere Farm & Erickson Fields Erickson Fields Preserves and Maine Coast Heritage Trust give thanks for community support.
[Gleaning] is a critical step in responding to food insecurity: gleaning activities both help to reduce food waste at the farming production level, by harvesting food that would have otherwise been left, and to more equitably distribute food throughout the food system.
Join Coastal Mountains Land Trust, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital’s Journey to Health program for a Happy Wanderers Hike on Thursday, August 4, at 10 a.m., at the Erickson Fields Preserve in Rockport.
“Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields were originally established as working farms, not as public preserves,” said Kate Stookey, president and CEO of Maine Coast Heritage Trust. “Yet for generations, they have done a remarkable job of welcoming thousands of annual visitors while fostering powerful connections between the food we eat and the land that sustains us.”
“I believe strongly in fostering the curiosity, work ethic and knowledge needed to thrive out in the world. I have experienced so many kids gain these skills by working, playing, and learning through the lens of agriculture, and there are few better (or more beautiful) places to do that than Aldermere Farm.” – Calder Gladstone
At the KCFC meeting, presenters will be introducing MFA to the broader food collective, talking about local food distribution needs and the collaboration between Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Maine Farmland Trust and Midcoast Farmers Alliance, and brainstorming with participants how the proposed project can increase food security.
“In a single growing season, people can learn skills and habits that serve them well for life. It’s gratifying to be part of that process.” – MCHT volunteer Marina Schauffler
Erickson Fields will host a six-month session of Kids Can Grow, a program introducing families with young children to growing vegetables for healthy eating.
Knox County Food Council hosts a virtual group discussion with Candice Richards from Knox County Emergency Management Agency.
“We want to make sure we’re serving the people in our community to the best of our ability,” says Heidi Baker, Manager of Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields.
Erickson Farm Manager, Aaron Englander, will demonstrate Korean Natural Farming, an agricultural method that encourages self-sustaining, closed loop systems through minimizing external inputs.