A Farm for New Americans

New Roots Cooperative Farm has secured a new 30-acre farm in Lewiston, Maine, with support from Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) and Land for Good. MFT and New Roots intend to develop an agreement that will allow the farmers to purchase the land at a future date, and maintain secure access in the meantime. This parcel opens up many opportunities to the immigrants who will own and run it. They will have space for their farm businesses and cooperative to expand, and owning the land allows them to have a farm stand and consider their own housing options. Jonah Fertig, one of our cooperative developers who is helping the project, celebrated with Erica Buswell of MFT (and formerly a CDI board member), Daniel Ungier of Cultivating Community, and the farmers. “It was a little cold and snowy, but it was exciting to see the possibility with the first New American owned cooperative farms in Maine,” Jonah said. “It’s a huge step forward for these farmers.”