Welcome to our searchable Farm Seekers directory. Click on Seeker’s name to get more info and contact info.
04/29/2018
2-4
- Doesn't matter
- Short-Term Lease
- Long Term Lease
- Lease with Option to Buy
- Work to Own (Gradual Transfer of Responsibility & Farm Assests)
- Partnership
- Joint Venture with eventual sale
The Maine Rice Project is based in Fairfield, Maine. It was founded in 2015 by Ben Rooney. The Maine Rice Project’s primary goal is to get more people in Maine growing and eating local, sustainably grown rice and other grains. We believe that integrated polyculture grains farming can increase profitability of small farms in Maine, while supporting the surrounding ecosystems and waterways.
The Maine Rice Project at Wild Folk Farm is the only commercial rice operation in Maine, and one of the largest in the Northeast. While Wild Folk has worked well as an initial location to pioneer rice growing in Maine and validate this as a genuine opportunity, the site is constrained by several factors that make it difficult to continue doing the research needed to optimize this polyculture paddy technology. One of the important takeaways from our experience at Wild Folk has been the realization that an effective paddy system is fundamentally site-specific, meaning that system design must take into account characteristics of the site where it is to be located. Designing a good rice paddy begins with selecting a good site.
Maine-grown rice is already commercial viable. We have seen a rapid rise in the demand for our rice, both from food and seed customers, in the last two years. The 2017 harvest was our largest yet, at 3000 pounds. Most of accounts, at restaurants, co-ops, and from individual sales, are requesting year-long supplies of rice, however demand has been so strong that by the end of 2017 we will be out of rice. Demand has significantly outpaced supply at this point, and the market is calling for increased production.
Why grow rice in Maine? Simply put, Maine has considerable wetland and clay-rich acreage, much of it on farmland that is quite fertile, but unusable for most forms of agriculture. Rice is a crop that grows well in these conditions, and thus could substantially increase the economic productivity of these farmlands. Many people think that Maine’s climate is too cold for rice growing. This is simply not the case. Rice has been grown for hundreds of years in Northern Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, and throughout eastern Europe in climates much the same, if not colder than Maine’s.
02/18/2020
10
- Yes
- Lease with Option to Buy
- Work to Own (Gradual Transfer of Responsibility & Farm Assests)
- Partnership
- Joint Venture with eventual sale
I am a disabled Navy SEAL Veteran practicing natural connections with the land by offering “Shinrin-yoku” or “Forest Therapy Walks”. Also, in collaboration with the land I work with and gentle horses. My farming interests are with herb gardening, fruit trees, bees and allowing the natural landscape to be as self-sustaining as possible utilizing certain German farming techniques; among others. I have dedicated the last 7 years to working with fellow Veterans by offering emotional, spiritual and environmental wellness connections with the land. Presently in search of a small piece of land individually or in collaboration with existing like-minded stewards.
Reference; Benjamin Grasso; M.D.
I've known Rob Foley for more than ten years. He is my dear friend, my brother, and my colleague in helping veterans survive in a civilian world. A Navy SEAL, with a long list of extraordinary accomplishments in his years of service and afterwards. Rob has found his gifts are truly in the world of wellness practices, and, especially, in his work with horses and veterans. His dream is to have a farm as a healing sanctuary for fellow veterans, using all of his many healing gifts and practices.
Tyler Pierce
06/17/2016
100+
- Doesn't matter
- Standard Sale
- Owner-Financed Sale
We each have 8-10 years of farming experience and are currently located on Townhouse Rd in Whitefield Maine. We are looking to expand onto more land in the vicinity, or to a property with good infrastructure such as an old dairy farm east of 95.
Michelle
03/04/2015
10+
- Doesn't matter
- Standard Sale
- Owner-Financed Sale
- Lease with Option to Buy
- Work to Own (Gradual Transfer of Responsibility & Farm Assests)
- Joint Venture with eventual sale
Born and raised in Freeport Maine my life experience leads me to pursue a business established in the garden, orchard and/or nursery field.
I have worked in real estate, marketing and manufacturing. Significantly, I worked in my family’s business in Maine. I recognize the hard work, long hours, passion and dedication required to build a business.
3+
- Doesn't matter
- Standard Sale
- Long Term Lease
- Lease with Option to Buy
I have been gardening and farming for over a decade. In 2006 I was a MOFGA apprentice at a permaculture homestead and tree nursery in Franklin Maine.
From there, I moved on to develop my own permaculture- focused homestead with livestock including poultry, dairy goats, honey bees, and meat rabbits, which I tended for 8 years. In 2013 I was accepted into the MOFGA Journeyperson program, which initiated 4 growing seasons of running my own cut flower farm, growing on a half acre and marketing to wholesale accounts, studio florists, farmer's market, CSA, and wedding design. In addition to my own farm, I have worked on 2 other flower farms in Maine as co-manager and harvest crew. With over 20 years of self-study in herbalism, today I am interested in focusing on permaculture and biodynamic growing of medicinal herbs and flowers. I am particularly interested in growing medicinals to be sold to established herbalists in the state, in addition to maintaining ample and diverse pollinator habitat including native and medicinal species.
50
- Yes
- Standard Sale
- Owner-Financed Sale
Lived and worked on two small family farms in Maine and Ohio, since childhood; grew herbs, veggies, berries/orchard, flowers, grains, established butterfly gardener and promote conservation.
Have some experience in preparing farm plan and marketing. took courses on anti- GMOS’; plants and human affairs; botany; conservation organic & sustainable methods