AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE WORK SESSION

August 12, 2009

Present: Al Cyr, Charlie Galgowski, Bill Palmer, Kathleen Paterson, Vicky Wetherell, Jennifer Kaufman

Notes on discussion of potential projects for a farm viability grant (due Nov. 13) and for future projects with or without a grant

1) Workshops options: ag. regulations, session for land owners on protection options, or presentation to Town Council (new members after election) on farmland preservation and contribution to economy

2) Ag. Committee listening session for ag. producers, perhaps with a speaker, on a Saturday morning in winter, perhaps at the Grange

3) Possible partnerships:

 with Farmers Market (20 vendors—4 of them from Mansfield),

with schools (an edible school yard or local foods in cafeteria, but problem of coordinating crop season with school year)

with Eastern Highlands Health District (healthy eating initiative)

with UConn groups (Kathleen has a list)

4)  promotional display, map with brochure like parks guide with photos and information on each farm.  Where would it be placed?, permanent or movable?, brochure with map of farms.  Website for town’s farms (see Woodstock’s website). Table at Know Your Towns Fair.

5) Business incubator for new farmers

6) Farm tour (bike tour, bus tour to start and end at Farmers’ Market, possibly as part of Walktober in 2010, possible scavenger hunt and/or door prizes of local produce)

7) Uniform signs at farms (with name and start-up date), perhaps a regional Last Green Valley project

8) Regional projects

Survey or listening session for region’s ag. producers, regional project and/or workshop

At Septenber 1 meeting, make list of towns to meet in January to find out if there is interest in regional projects