The Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm
TICKETS for DIRT "The Movie" Sept. 15 at Pequot Library - JOIN US
New England has a rich agricultural history, dating back prior to European settlement. In 1920, 215 farms supported the town of Fairfield. Yet, as the town of Fairfield continues to grow in size, the number of working farms around the area is in steep decline.
The creation of Fairfield’s Organic Teaching Farm will link to other ongoing Fairfield environmental initiatives including sustainable energy initiatives, recycling, composting, Earth Day, school garden programs, etc.
Demand for local organic produce is increasing dramatically locally and across the United States. Many communities have already established relations with farmers through their local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture associations) and farmer’s markets continue to sprout up in every town. Nearby towns have already created municipal farms, mostly notably the Ambler Farm in Wilton, CT, which can serve as a useful model for Fairfield.
Mission
We propose creating a working farm and organic educational center on town land in Fairfield, CT. The farm’s mission is to celebrate Fairfield’s agrarian roots by redefining our community for the 21st century through sustainable agriculture and responsible environmental stewardship. By creating this non-profit community-based agricultural resource and teaching center, Fairfield will become part of the greater global environmental movement that is creating a sustainable future for generations to come.
Vision
Our vision is to dedicate some of the town’s last remaining open spaces to teaching small-scale organic sustainable farming AND food production and to offer practical educational programs on organic food production to town members, local schools, community groups so they can become confident gardeners in their own right and teach others as well as a way to re-establish our deep ties to our collective agrarian past. Such an enterprise would be an affordable way for the town to empower its citizens with programs designed to teach the benefits of growing and eating local seasonal fresh local produce and will help reduce the town’s collective carbon footprint by lowering pollution associated with food transportation.
Other related projects would include bee-keeping, maple sugaring, pressing apple cider, medicinal herbs, their use and application, organic eggs from heritage chickens, food and manure composting, pie making, food, seed preservation and organic seedlings for spring planting. The farm would also generate additional income by multi-layered individual, family, group and corporate membership levels and the low-cost rentals of farming implements to farm members. The farm would also become a center for town events and seasonally-inspired activities including hay rides, BBQ’s, pumpkin picking, quilting and wreath-making.
Logo designed by Jennifer Cole
Website designed by Beth Bradley