ROCKPORT — Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT), a statewide land conservation organization, has announced that it will celebrate two landmark Midcoast Maine preserves – Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields – and provide updates on a $3+M campaign at an event to be held Saturday, Oct. 15, at Erickson Fields Preserve, 164 West Street, Rockport. 

The event will showcase a productive four-acre vegetable garden at Erickson Fields – operated by the Teen Ag Crew – which is on track to harvest and donate nearly 23,000 pounds of fresh produce for food pantries, share tables, free farm stands, and public-school lunches in the Midcoast area.

Attendees will also receive an up-to-the-minute progress report on a $3+M campaign for critical new infrastructure and equipment at each of the landmark preserves.

Aldermere Farm is undergoing a major renovation to accommodate the oldest continuously operated herd of Belted Galloway in the United States while improving accessibility to the public. Included are a dual-purpose barn and visitor center with an accessible vestibule, grain room, washroom, storage areas, office, and a balcony, providing a top-down view of the working barn below. 

Erickson Fields is adding a new open-air barn to house equipment that will be used for programing, gardening, and food distribution as the farm continues to engage in education and food security for members of the Midcoast community. 

The organization is working toward a December 31, 2023, deadline to meet a $3+M fundraising goal and recently extended its deadline in order to accommodate delays in securing a contractor.

“We’re proud to report that we have almost hit the $2M mark and are now nearly two-thirds of the way toward completion of this transformational campaign,” said MCHT Planned Giving Officer David Warren, in a Maine Coast Heritage Trust news release. “We look forward to giving our donors the latest updates and having everyone who loves Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields participate as generously as possible. Now is the moment to join this community effort.”

According to the release, the organization noted that it had experienced early challenges in attracting bids and securing a building contractor for the project. The demolition of the old barns at Aldermere is now complete. Earthwork for the new barn is finished, and new construction is about to begin.  

“It’s fall harvest time and there’s a lot to celebrate,” said Heidi Baker, General Manager of Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields preserves. “The Teen Ag Crew is harvesting at Erickson Fields right through early November, and the fall calves are being born at Aldermere Farm. We hope that families and supporters of local farming will come out for the fun.”

Baker continued: “The new visitor’s center at Aldermere Farm, the trail upgrades and new structures at Erickson Fields are dramatic improvements for our visitors and staff. We’re excited to share our plans with the community.”

Event Details

What: Aldermere & Erickson Fall Celebration (Free, family-friendly event).

When: Saturday, October 15 (rain date October 16) from 1:00 to 4:00 PM 

Where: Erickson Fields Preserve, 164 West Street, Rockport, Maine

Happenings: 

-Meet MCHT staff and get updates on the campaign 
-Check out the new barn in progress at Erickson Fields 
-Meet the Aldermere 4-Hers and their Belted Galloway cows from Aldermere Farm 
-Explore the Teen Ag Crew’s 4-acre garden 
-Harvest carrots with the Teen Ag Crew!
-Tour the gardens and learn about the thousands of pounds of produce grown here and donated to local food pantries
-Find out how your family can get involved with Kids Can Grow and build your own raised bed at home
-Hands-on demonstrations of how the produce is harvested, washed, and packed for delivery. 
-Self-guided tours at Erickson Fields. 
-Take a walk on the “Story Walk”
-Chat with members of The Knox County Gleaners and learn about the Community Wellness Program at Pen Bay Medical Center and our partnership programs that address food insecurity in our local communities
-Enjoy tasty local treats for sale, including ice cream from Stone Fox Farm Creamery and burgers made from your local Aldermere beef.
 

For more information about this event, Aldermere Farm, Erickson Fields, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust, visit, mcht.org and aldermere.org or call 207-236-2739.

Quick History of Aldermere Farm & Erickson Fields

Around 1800, the Daniel Barrett family began farming much of what is now known as Aldermere Farm, where they raised a variety of animals, fruit, and vegetables for local markets. In 1899, Albert and Helen Chatfield purchased the property for their family’s summer home. Their son Albert Chatfield Jr. inherited the farm in 1950 and began to employ organic methods of farming, eventually introducing a cattle herd of Belted Galloways. On June 14, 1999, Albert Chatfield, Jr. passed away, bequeathing Aldermere Farm to Maine Coast Heritage Trust.

Nearby Erickson Farm had been a dairy farm for generations, until the Erickson family stopped farming the land in the 1980s and welcomed Aldermere Farm to manage its fields for hay and grazing. When the Erickson family decided to sell the land, they worked with MCHT and Maine Farmland Trust to preserve the property.

Over two decades, Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s preserves at Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields have provided life-changing community gathering and learning place for children, families, and the greater Camden-Rockport community.

Aldermere Farm Stats

-Established in 1800, protected by MCHT in 1999
-Approximately 2000 visitors in 2021
-136 acres including fields, woods, wetlands
-Free, year-round programs for young people, including Farm Hands and the Aldermere Achievers 4-H Club
-Education and support for professional farmers
-Seasonal events and farm tours for the community and visitors
-Donates beef annually to local food pantries
-Beautiful places to walk, snowshoe, and ski
 
Erickson Fields Stats

-Established in the 1800s
-164-acres, with approximately 4 acres in mixed vegetable production, 8 acres in hay land, approximately 20 acres in pasture, and 1.4 miles of trails
-Donates annually over 25,000 pounds of fresh food for local pantries, schools, and businesses
-Home to the Teen Ag Program, where local high school students work planting, harvesting, and distributing food to local hunger relief organizations, schools, and businesses
-Runs programs that teach families how to grow their own vegetables
-A year-round family- and dog-friendly place where people can walk and run, garden, and enjoy nature
-A 1.8-mile wellness trail loop connected to nearby Beach Hill Preserve
-Community gardens and educational opportunities for young kids and their families
-Education and training on no-till, soil supported practices
 

ABOUT MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST 

MCHT is a dynamic, multifaceted organization with initiatives ranging from preserving coastal access for communities to high impact ecological work focused on reconnecting waterways and improving coastal resiliency to climate change. A leader in Maine’s nationally renowned land conservation efforts since 1970, MCHT maintains a growing network of almost 150 coastal and island preserves free and open to everyone and leads the 80-member Maine Land Trust Network to ensure that land conservation provides benefits to all Maine communities. Get involved at www.mcht.org.