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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Meg Bodnar
508.645.3520
FARM INSTITUTE HAS NEW HOME AT THE HISTORIC KATAMA
FARM
FARM Institute Site at Herring Creek Farm Sold
EDGARTOWN, Mass. (February 15, 2005) – The FARM Institute's 10-year lease for restoration
and revitalization of the 200-acre former dairy, Katama Farm, was
approved yesterday by the Selectmen of Edgartown. The FARM Institute
closed on the sale of its current location, a seven-acre site at
Herring Creek Farm, on December 31, 2004 and will be moving to the
Katama Farm in the spring of 2005. The purchaser of The FARM Institute
site at Herring Creek Farm is Herring Creek Acquisition Company,
LLC, whose Manager, Robert Hughes, is an owner of adjacent farmland.
Hughes will, according to the deed on the property, preserve the
site as a working farm.
For the past 18 months, The FARM Institute and the Town of Edgartown
have been working together to create a partnership to renovate and
reinstate operations on Katama Farm in order to revive an important
piece of the island’s heritage. Katama Farm played a significant
role in the history of farming on Martha's Vineyard. Its history
goes back to World War I when families grew army and navy beans
there. Arthur Hillman brought sheep in to the northern fields after
buying the property for $5,000 in the 1930's. Elisha Smith started
with 6 dairy cows on the farm when he first rented from Mr. Hillman
in 1943. Shortly thereafter Elisha was able to purchase most of
the 50 by 100 foot lots of the southern pastures for $20,000 and
assemble the complete farm as we know it today. As part of the 35-farm
Martha's Vineyard Dairy Cooperative, it remained a highly productive
50-cow dairy, and also helped fill the shelves of island grocers
with corn and potatoes.
In 1979, with remarkable foresight, The Town of Edgartown and the
Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs jointly
purchased the entire property for the purpose of agriculture, conservation
and passive recreation. Since then, the Conservation Commission
has leased the property to farmers for dairy and beef production.
The FARM Institute now holds a 10-year lease on the land where it
will conduct its educational programming for children and restore
the historic public space as a working farm and community agricultural
resource center.
"We are excited to have this opportunity to work with the community
in bringing new life to this vital resource", said John Curelli,
executive director of The FARM Institute.
The FARM Institute signed a 10-year lease for Katama Farm which
allows for three successive 10-year renewal periods. All permanent
farm structures will be limited to a 5-acre parcel on the northeast
portion of the property, near where the current buildings exist.
The FARM Institute will remain on site at Herring Creek Farm while
it prepares Katama Farm for operations and will move its cattle,
goats, sheep, chickens, offices and classrooms to Katama Farm this
spring. FARM is planning a grand opening celebration at Katama Farm
in May.
"The re-opening of Katama Farm as a working farm calls for
a community celebration", said Sam Feldman, chairman of the
board of The FARM Institute. "Through the efforts of The Town
of Edgartown and The FARM Institute, everyone can enjoy a preserved
public space and piece of island heritage. Children will have the
opportunity to experience a working farm."
The FARM Institute was one of the parties involved in the purchase
and preservation of the 215-acre Herring Creek Farm in 2001, which
remains the largest conservation real estate transaction on the
island and in the state.
The FARM Institute, a working farm and children's education center
currently located on Herring Creek Farm in Katama, is slated to
move to the 200-acre Katama Farm in spring 2005. The FARM Institute
is committed to advancing the teachings and rich tradition of farming
on Martha's Vineyard through real life experiences on a working,
organic farm. FARM does this by educating and engaging children
in sustainable agriculture, and promoting the culture and efforts
of all farmers on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The move to Katama
Farm will further FARM's mission by operating the historic farm
as a unique education center for the entire community. For more
information, call the FARM Institute at 508.627.7007 or visit FARM's
website at www.farminstitute.org.
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The FARM Institute - Post Office Box 1868 - Edgartown,
MA 02539 - (508) 627-7007
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