Rutland Area Farm and Food Link -; community farm and agricultural resource center

Rutland Area Farm and Food Link -; community farm and agricultural resource center

Summary

The Rutland Area Farm and Food Link is working towards a diverse and thriving agricultural industry in Rutland County, supported by the county’s residents and communities. The major project we are focusing on to meet these objectives is a community farm and agricultural resource center, a working farm that will provide a starting place for new farmers. By providing farm space and equipment for beginning farmers to rent, the focus is on building their markets, developing a strong business plan, and determining efficient and effective growing techniques. This will ensure that when they do make the transition to a farm of their own, they will be investing in an economically viable, pre-existing business. In addition, the Farm will be a learning space for the public to reconnect with agriculture and food production, and a resource center serving farmers from across the county. To compliment the location based Farm, RAFFL is also focusing on expanding the local market for locally produced foods through buy-local publications, community dinners highlighting local foods and farms, and a branding campaign to help consumers identify food grown within the county. These efforts have been coined the “5-10-50-100” campaign designed around the concept that within 5 years Rutland County consumers will buy at least 10% of their food that has been produced within 50 miles of where they live, contributing toward the State’s goal of adding $100 million to the local economy via purchase of local agricultural products.

Objectives/Performance Targets

• The SARE funds awarded to the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link, along with additional funding from two other sources, made it possible to hire a half-time coordinator to help organize our efforts and implement projects. The additional capacity our organization has gained with this hiring will allow us to reach the following objectives laid out in our SARE grant proposal:

  COMMUNITY FARM AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE CENTER OBJECTIVES

  Identify and obtain land for the community farm and agricultural resource center site
  Continued publicity of project to stakeholders
  Community Visioning Sessions to further define and prioritize project components
  Develop Master Plan for the land
  Develop Equipment and building needs list
  Work with Intervale Foundation to set up operational procedures and management scenarios, and business plan.
  Create marketing materials to attract community farm and agricultural resource center farmers
  Identify and work with established area farmers to set up mentoring program with new farmers
  Identify staffing needs for farm management and operations

  5-10-50-100 CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES

  Work with GMC “Environmental Economics” and “Building Sustainable Communities” classes on Economic Analysis and measurement indicators
  Work with GMC Environmental Communications class on marketing approach and materials
  Public awareness materials distributed—press releases, newspaper articles, buying guide, website with farm locator

Accomplishments/Milestones

Over the past three months, while working under our SARE grant, we have taken on many activities important to reaching the project’s overall milestones.

These include:

Efforts to make the Community Farm and Agricultural Resource Center a reality have focused on finding a piece of property upon which to locate the project. This process began in January 2006 with a public visioning session to identify important components of the project that would direct the land search.

The Land Search Committee, comprised of RAFFL board president Greg Cox, RAFFL coordinator India Burnett Farmer and Vermont Land Trust staff Bob Baird, met 10 times to identify an outreach strategy, discuss potential properties and meet with interested land owners.

The Land Search Committee also met with the Planning Commissions of Rutland Town and Clarendon to gain project support and identify town level farmers with an understanding of agricultural land in the area.

Co-hosted (with the Rutland Town Selectboard) a public informational meeting on the Farm to increase public awareness of the project and seek leads on potential farm properties.

Mailed information on the Farm project and land characteristics to over 160 large land owners in Rutland Town and Clarendon Vermont.

Created GIS maps for six potential properties with soils and other property features, and visited properties to determine appropriateness for project.

Other activities regarding the creation of the Farm have been put on hold until a location for the project has been identified. Site planning, equipment and building planning, business planning and outreach to new farmers is all dependent on the characteristics of the property we ultimately obtain.

Reaching out to the consumer and farmer community through our 5-10-50 Campaign has been a driving force directing RAFFL activities over the past growing season.

These include:

Distributed and promoted RAFFL’s first ever “Locally Grown Guide” for Rutland County. The “Guide” was created over the spring of 2006 with the help of Green Mountain College students and professors. Over 8,500 copies of the guide, which educated consumers on why buying locally grown food was important, how to eat seasonally, and the farm stand, farmers market, retail store and restaurant locations where local food could be purchased, were distributed throughout the County. Forms to update listings in the guide were distributed at RAFFL’s 2nd Annual Farmers Gathering, held December 5th at Green Mountain College. Other activities taking place to update the Guide for 2007 include extensive farmer and consumer surveying, in part focusing on the effectiveness of the 2006 guide.

The Locally Grown Guide was complimented by a branding campaign for Rutland County Agriculture. Heart of Vermont Agriculture stickers and informational signs were mailed to 16 Rutland County Farmers and also distributed at the Rutland, Poultney and Fair Haven Farmers Markets. The Rutland Area Natural Foods Market also joined in the campaign by using RAFFL produced Heart of Vermont Agriculture display materials in the store. The effectiveness of these activities was also measured through farmer and consumer surveying activities.

Promoted 5-10-50 challenge and other RAFFL activities with Marli Rupe on Lakes Region Radio Coffee Break talk show, through press releases, and news coverage in area newspapers.

Hosted “Building Community Through Local Food: a Harvest Celebration with Frances Moore Lappe”, on September 22, 2006 RAFFL (in partnership with many other community organizations) hosted a large community meal of locally sourced products for close to 300 people. An important part of the meal was the presence of farmers serving their respective menu items. This served to highlight the farming community, and encouraged many discussions between farmers and those attending the event. The meal and informational fair followed a talk by Frances Moore Lappe, a world-renowned author and researcher on local food issues. At the event, an additional 8 people signed up to receive RAFFL information, and over 20 people took the “Localvore Challenge” a commitment to eat entirely local foods for a day or a week in October.

Co-hosted, with Green Mountain College, the “2nd Annual Farmers Gathering”, held December 5, 2006, attracted over 100 attendees to explore the challenges and opportunities for institutional purchasing of locally grown food by leading a discussion between interested farmers and producers, institutional buyers, distributors and consumers. A gourmet pizza menu, made from entirely local ingredients, was featured.

Local Consumption measurement – determination of consumer buying habits regarding locally grown products and changes from past years.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

COMMUNITY FARM AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE CENTER

Since January 2006, the Land Search Committee has spoken with 19 property owners to inform them about the project and gauge their interest in possibly using their land for it.

Since September 2006, we have received 8 inquiries from property owners interested in possibly siting the Farm on their land. All 8 inquiries were generated from outreach associated with the September Public Meeting and mailings to Rutland Town and Clarendon Land Owners.

The Land Search Committee took a driving tour of all farm possibilities in Rutland, Clarendon and West Rutland.

Land Search Committee has visited three potential farms to meet with the property owner and assess the potential for the farm to meet the project’s needs.

5-10-50 CAMPAIGN

Built relationship with 27 separate local farms and value added producers by sourcing ingredients and highlighting their operations at local food dinners.

Distributed LOCAL CONSUMPTION TRENDS QUESTIONAIRRE and received 92 completed surveys. These surveys provided information on Rutland County consumer buying habits, as well as the effectiveness of RAFFL activities and projects.

Survey Highlights include:

82% of respondents bought more locally grown products and services this past year than the year before
Respondents are primarily buying Local Goods at Farmers’ Markets (81%), Farms and Farmstands (72%) and Retail Stores (67%)
49% of respondents asked at a retail store or restaurant where a food item was grown

Of the respondents that increased their purchases of local goods, 63% attributed the increase at least in part to RAFFL efforts, 28% attributed the increase to use of RAFFL’s Locally Grown Guide, 27% attributed the increase to attendance at one of RAFFL’s local dinners
87% of the respondents that increased their local purchases this year believed RAFFL services benefited them
38% of all respondents feel that the local community IS MORE AWARE of local food and farming because of RAFFL programs

25% of all respondents feel that the local community is somewhat more aware of local food and farming because of RAFFL programs

Only 3% of all respondents feel that the local community is NOT more aware of local food and farming because of RAFFL programs
A total of 75 respondents increased their purchasing of locally grown products and services this year, adding between $24,900 and $58,564 to the local farm economy.

These 75 respondents in total bought at least $145,000 in local farm products and services over the 2006 growing season.

At the 2ND ANNUAL FARMER’S GATHERING, farmers, institutional buyers and community members worked to identify 7 actions that RAFFL can take during 2007 to help local farmers connect with local institutions interested in purchasing local food.

These actions are:

Website – use our website as an information hub bringing together farmer, consumer and organizational resources regarding agriculture. Site will seek to link current resources, not reinvent the wheel. Encourage farmers and buyers to use VFN, send parents and schools to VT-FEED website, list useful information for farmers looking to sell to institutions.

Guest Speakers – host quarterly speaker series to provide useful information – cafeteria food service director, Black River Produce representative, Rutland Regional Medical Center nutritionist…Also provide information fair at these meetings with handouts and resources for attendees.

Host a two part workshop on farm to restaurant table, the first workshop held at the farm, the second at the restaurant.

Provide Co-op and other interested retailers in farmer profiles produced by GMC class for use as marketing/promotion piece.

Host 5 farm tours during summer months (May to September). Set up now, and print schedule in 2007 Locally Grown Guide.

Form a committee to work on Institutional purchasing issues and continue work started with Farmers Gathering.

Publish email (and mailed version when needed) newsletter 4 times a year. Include RAFFL update, Volunteer opportunities, events, project status, and legislative update from John Malcolm.

OVERALL OUTCOMES

RAFFL’s board of directors are themselves working with RAFFL’s coordinator to implement the many projects outlined here. Over 450 working hours from board members, dedicated community members, and staff members of our partners have been leveraged through the work of RAFFL’s half time coordinator. In addition, we have been supported through the work of over 50 volunteers at our various events. Please refer to meeting sign in sheets attached.

We are especially excited at the progress of the Community Farm and Agricultural Resource Center. Outreach efforts throughout the fall seem to be paying off, with a noticeable increase in inquiries from interested property owners. Currently, we are working closely with a property owner in Clarendon Vermont to determine whether a partnership is appropriate. This property is ideally suited for the project, and the owner’s interest and support for the goals of the Farm is very positive. As much of the strategic and budgetary planning activities have been waiting for the identification of the specific parcel of land we will be working with, we look forward to a busy spring if an agreement can be reached with this landowner.

Over the past year RAFFL’s visibility has increased, as seen through surveying and in feedback at RAFFL events. Another sign of increased community awareness is the level of interest being shown in a number of RAFFL board seats opening in February. We look forward to new ideas and energy as we move into 2007.

Collaborators: