Area Hayfields Support Many

The preservation of Aldermere Farm by A.H. Chatfield Jr., meant that136 prime acres in the heart of Camden and Rockport were preserved for environmental and agricultural purposes. Indirectly, preservation of the Farm has helped to continue the agricultural heritage, if not preservation, of several hundred acres of prime farmland throughout midcoast Maine. The 63 acres of open fields at Aldermere are used exclusively for grazing the Farm’s Belties and the hay used to feed the cattle comes from other farmland throughout the area. Aldermere Farm staff care for and harvest parcels throughout Rockport, Camden, Lincolnville, Hope, and Belfast. More than just producing feed for the Belties, Aldermere has taken on the role of supplying hay to a number of farms. Twenty-five farms raising cattle, horses, alpacas and sheep buy hay from the Farm and Aldermere partners with local farmer Horace Rokes by filling his barn with mulch hay that is sold to local landscapers. In 2008 Aldermere produced 904 of the large round bales and 10,114 traditional square bales. All of the hayfield owners generously provide their land to Aldermere and in return the Farm cares for the land keeping it productive and in many cases helps maintain highly valued pastoral vistas. While some of the land is protected by conservation easements, many of the landowners face the same development pressures seen throughout the region. Thus when opportunities to preserve local farmland like the Erickson Farm project occur, it benefits so many to make it happen.