I’m writing this letter in the first weeks of the new year—a new year not unlike all the new years prior, filled with possibility, uncertainty, hope, trepidation, expectations, fears…(fill in the blanks.) Of course January 1 is an arbitrary date chosen as the beginning of the year when in reality every new day is the first day of a new year. Every day is a new beginning. And “new beginnings” are the subject of this letter, in particular new beginnings at Hope’s Edge Farm.
You have received this email because you have had some association with Hope’s Edge over the past 20+ years. Now Hope’s Edge has a new tale to tell. First, just two weeks ago Holly, with support from Land for Maine’s Future and Maine Farmland Trust, transferred a conservation easement on the farm to Georges River Land Trust. The easement insures that Hope’s Edge will be protected as farmland forever and can never be subdivided. This means that just as you may have been fed from the produce grown from these soils, so may your great grandchildren and beyond. We are proud and happy that we have finally achieved this milestone, as it has been in the making for at least 15 years. Some of you helped us along the way with letters of support.
As many of you know, my role as farm steward has been in transition over the last half dozen years as outlined in my 2024 letter. Over the six years I have reduced the acreage under production and hence the amount of produce being harvested. Now, in another new beginning for Hope’s Edge, we wish to announce the arrival this spring of new farmers. In late 2023 Holly and I began a serious search for the person(s) to take over farm operations, bring the land back into full production and help provide the stewardship that the conservation easement will require.
With the help of Maine Farmland Trust’s FarmLink program and New England Farmfinder, Philip Prevosto and his partner Carmen Major found us and we found them. We are thrilled to be entering into this relationship with the next generation farmers. In our initial interactions with Philip and Carmen, Holly and I found that we had a common perspective and a common vision for the farm’s future and we very much liked the energy they conveyed.
Philip has composed a separate letter (below) to be emailed in conjunction with this one, introducing himself and Carmen, briefly describing their farming experience in Vermont, their farming philosophy and their plans for the coming season. When they move to Hope in March, they will live in the newly-renovated cabin in the northwest corner of the property.
For me personally, this means that I will be able to step back further though not entirely from many of the farm activities. For the time being I will maintain responsibility for the sheep and for hay making. Also, after all these years I have become accustomed to having dirt beneath my fingernails and so I plan to retain some garden beds for my own use. Any future relationship with the Knox County Gleaners and with Primo restaurant- the two markets I’ve been growing for most recently- is still to be determined. Of course, I also will be available to Philip and Carmen and any additional crew if and when they may need my dirty hands.
In addition to informing you of these “new beginnings”, this letter and Philips’ letter are intended to drum up some support for this renewed farming venture under new stewardship, in which you may be interested in participating. Philip and Carmen are making a big move and will most definitely need that support as they adapt to a new environment, a new farm and a new community. Stay tuned for more information about how you may participate.
Wishing you a blessed new year – today and every day.
Very sincerely yours,
Tom
