Slow Money Maine started 2012 with the pleasant surprise of its largest group to date at a highly energized gathering. About 70 people attended, many for the first time, and it seemed clear that everyone could have comfortably spent the whole afternoon networking!
Bonnie began with an offering of hope and shared intentions for the New Year by describing a Martin Luther King Day celebration at Sheepscot General Store on Uncas Farms in Whitefield. The event brought together over 65 people and represented Knox-Lincoln Co-operative Extension, 4-H, Food Corps, Americorps and Food Warriors from Cultivating Community. Hearing presentations from children who’d recently returned from a Belted Galloway event in Kentucky; sharing a potluck lunch with many locally grown foods included; meeting on a beautiful farm that is protected by MFT and has its previous owner (Austin Moore) mentoring young people who currently manage the farm and store that includes over 25 local growers and producers; seeing the selection of drawings and words tying together Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” with local food systems – all captured the essence of SMM elements and provided inspiration and hope for our intentions and actions in 2012.
We then heard from the following major presenters:
Ben Slayton/Farmer’s Gate in Wales: Ben spoke of the steady growth of his retail butcher shop in its first two years of operation. He stated the need for $30K for marketing and branding to improve sales and disseminate information. He emphasized the importance of long term relationships with vendors, the art of preserving traditions and his selectivity about raw materials. He also mentioned the complexities of the business in terms of finding exceptional producers, dealing with an inconsistent supply related to seasonality, geographic location and choosing a handcrafted approach to production. Many people got to sample his tasty sausages! Contact info: ben@farmersgatemarket.com; 749-5544
Penny Jordan/Jordans Farm in Cape Elizabeth: Penny shared the blessings of being a 4th generation farm family in the Cape Elizabeth area, with a huge customer base. She discussed her online market, of over 900 subscribers, that grossed $40K in sales in the first year of operating; the bus used as a mobile farm market as a means of providing access to fresh vegies for seniors and businesses; and the need for an additional site in S. Portland to meet consumer demand. Her farm currently deals with 25 different farms and vendors, with about 75% of products offered coming from producers throughout the state for most of the year. Contact info: pennyjordan@jordansfarm.com; 671-5341
Paul Dobbins/Ocean Approved, a seaweed business in Portland: Paul gave a bit of history about the seaweed business which is a 5.4 billion dollar market globally. He described the farming and processing of kelp and the three seaweeds that are native to the Gulf of Maine, all used in their products (including the kelp slaw that was a snack offering at our gathering). He mentioned the growth of the business as an LLC run by him and Tollef Olson, with revenue streams from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, seaweed sales for research purposes, food products and seed sales to other farmers. Ocean Approved currently includes 70 retail outlets and 3 leased farms with attention being given to teach food service staff how to use kelp in varied forms. Expansion plans for the business are under consideration, including management and investment opportunities. Contact info: pdobbins@oceanapproved.com; 409-6485
Gray Harris/CEI: Gray spoke about a project being done in collaboration with The Carrot Project that measures the impact that business planning and financing have on farm viability. She also described CEI’s Rural Healthy Food Financing Initiative that is focused on creating access to healthy affordable food in “food deserts”, with a 75% emphasis on funding retail food operations in low income areas. CEI is partnering with Wholesome Wave on this initiative. CEI is also working to reduce its current interest rate on agricultural loans to further support farmers and food system entrepreneurs. Contact info: gharris@ceimaine.org; 882-7552
John Piotti/Maine Farmland Trust/Unity Food Hub: John gave a detailed update on the Unity Food Hub plan to renovate a former grammar school in Unity for a vegetable aggregation and minimal processing facility intended to help area farmers access broader markets. The business plan is being finalized and Board approval is expected at the end of this month. The powerpoint that he presented has full details. Contact info: piott@uninets.net; 338-6575
Additional updates were provided by:
Jan Anderson/Costal Farms & Food Processing Company in Belfast: Jan has at last received a million dollar loan from Farm Credit (due to sign next week) and has raised private investment capital to proceed with the project. Yay team!!!!!! Contact info: jdanders5@gmail.com; 338-1429
Sarah Greer/MaineStock: Sarah has shifted her focus from Maine Stock to a retail butcher shop in the midcoast with Andrew Flamm; John Van Inwagen spoke about Maine Stock and is still planning to move ahead with that business, pending financing, though the plan no longer includes a slaughterhouse component. Contact info: bleeckergreer@gmail.com; 542-0964……john@mainestock.com; 462-0711
Will Hopkins/Cobscook Bay Resource Center in Eastport: Will shared that the new facility is close to completion, requiring $40K for office space and $155K more to outfit the commercial kitchen. The success of the Cobscook scallop fishery has attracted boats from other parts of Maine where there are very few scallops left. As a result, the DMR chose to close productive areas which will hopefully allow for replenishment in time for next season’s harvest. Contact info: willhopkins@myfairpoint.net; 853-6607
Marada Cook/Crown O’ Maine and Northern Girl: Marada gave brief updates about Crown O’ Maine’s full and productive year (including the first-ever loan from RSF to a Maine business and the birth of her 3rd child!) and the spinoff of Northern Girl, a vegie processing facility in Aroostook County which Chris Hallweaver is managing. Frozen vegetables have been produced and distributed to several markets since the facility opened in the Fall. Contact info: marada@crownofmainecoop.com; 316-5321
Linzee Weld/No Small Potatoes: Linzee gave an update on functioning of the investment club and loans made to date. Club leaders have begun a waiting list for new members. Linzee has been in discussion with other regional groups about forming clubs with the hopes of having 10 in the coming year. She also clarified the club’s lending focus on farmers and food businesses that source primary ingredients locally. FMI, check www.nosmallpotatoesinvestmentclub.com Contact info: lzweld@maine.rr.com; 829-6636
Bonnie encouraged everyone to engage in ongoing and new ways in SMM activities in the coming year and she included the following possibilities: Buy more local organic food. Get to know your farmers and community food enterprises. Offer skills through our TAP team. Invest in local farms and food businesses through loans, equity and grants. Encourage individuals and foundations to give tax-deductible gifts to non-profits that can then direct those funds to for-profit businesses in the ag sector. Work with schools, hospitals and other institutions to promote local food use. Support non-profits that support farms, farmers and food system enterprises. There’s a place for everyone to be involved and make a difference. To a nourishing year for all!!! Our next gathering will be March 21st at the Arboretum. Hope to see you there!
