STATE — The just-released results of the 2022 US Agricultural Census show that Maine lost approximately 15% of its farmland between 2012 and 2022. This is happening at a time when the global food system is increasingly under stress from the impact of climate change and unrest. At the same time, Maine is experiencing increasing in-migration and a housing crisis. A recent study found Maine needs at least 84,000 new homes of all kinds by the end of the decade to meet current and future demand.
This webinar will address how local communities can address this dual challenge: how can Maine’s communities promote farm viability and farmland protection through municipal planning, while also enabling housing and growth? What lessons have been learned and how can they inform discussions in other communities tackling these issues?
We will speak with three ‘farmer-planners’ who have been at the frontlines of helping their communities navigate these issues.
State Representative Kathy Shaw of Auburn
David Asmussen, of Bowdoinham
Jeremy Kasten, of Berwick
This webinar is organized by GrowSmart Maine, in collaboration with Maine Farmland Trust, and is sponsored by Kennebec Saving Bank.
The webinar will be held on Tuesday, March 26 from 4:30-6 p.m. ET, Online (a webinar link will be provided upon registration). The Cost for Non-member registration is $25; Member registration is free.
If you are, or your business or organization is already a member of GrowSmart, please contact Amanda Vermillion at membership@growsmartmaine.org for a code to register for free.
To register, visit https://growsmartmaine.org/blog/forums/webinar-creating-community-farming-and-housing/. Please help us spread the word about this event by sharing this invitation with friends, colleagues, and anyone interested in exploring this topic.
Not sure if you’re a member of GrowSmart Maine? Please feel free to reach out to Amanda L. Vermillion at membership@growsmartmaine.org. To find out more about becoming a member, visit https://growsmartmaine.org/join/.
At GrowSmart Maine, we are committed to fostering knowledge, collaboration, and innovation.
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