Brooklin 
Accomplishments
Farmland Forever Program
The Route 15 corridor is identified as prime agricultural soil
Blue Hill Heritage Trust has conserved over 1600 acres of farmland on the Blue Hill peninsula, most of which is located in the Route 15 farmland corridor extending from North Blue Hill into Orland, though its ‘Farmland Forever’ program. This program has focused on protecting prime agricultural soils from development through the use of conservation easements, both donated and purchased. In addition to preserving the soil resource for agricultural uses, these conservation easements have helped build a local agricultural infrastructure and have also protected scenic, wildlife habitat and cultural resources.
Blue Hill Heritage Trust began its farmland protection work in 1989 when it accepted a gift of a conservation easement on a parcel of farmland in the Route 15 corridor. While concern about the decline of active farmland in Hancock County and its conversion to residential housing began as early as the 1970s, it was the work of the State’s Agricultural Viability Program in the 1980’s that raised awareness of the issue. Most importantly, during that time the Hancock County Soils and Water Conservation District formally identified the prime agricultural soils in the Route 15 farmland corridor as worthy of preservation as a significant agricultural and cultural resource.
In 1998 members of the Trust’s Board of Directors, under the leadership and foresight of Paul Birdsall and Lorenzo Mitchell, established a Farmland Preservation Committee to explore the issues and options for protecting local farmland in the face of increasing development pressures and the absence of any local zoning. That same year the ‘Farmland Forever’ program was born and named. It provided one focus area for the Trust’s work and quickly led to additional proactive protection of farmland, including the Trust’s first purchase of development rights. In 1999, Blue Hill Heritage Trust was presented the Maine Land Heritage Award at the annual state land trust conference for its then innovative work in local farmland protection. 'Farmland Forever’ also became a component of the Trust’s Peninsula 2000 capital campaign, during which it raised funds to purchase additional conservation easements on farm properties with prime soils and agricultural potential.
The Route 15 farmland corridor continues to be a focus area for the Trust’s ongoing land protection efforts. It now protects a total of thirteen agricultural properties, two of which were added in 2007, and nine of which currently host active farming operations. Farms with Blue Hill Heritage Trust Farmland conservation easements currently produce a wide range of goods including vegetables, blueberries, milk, eggs, flowers, grains, beef, pork, and chicken. The Trust also continues to promote the link between local foods and conservation, most recently through a Map & Guide to Local Farms which includes a map and information on purchasing products from these farms.
Large map of farms in the Farmland Forever program (1.7MB JPEG)
Guide to Local Farms - A list of farms, their products, locations and contact information (6KB PDF)
