In 2006, the North Amherst Community Farm (NACF) was created to preserve one of the last working farms in North Amherst, MA.  Thanks to generous contributions from many of you along with town and state support, we now own this 30-acre farm which is protected from commercial development in perpetuity.   Our 18-year partnership with Jeremy Barker-Plotkin and David Tepfer, the managers of Simple Gifts Farm, has resulted in the construction of a year-round farmstand, the renovation of the farmhouse, active greenhouse and other buildings, an irrigation system and much more.  By combining our collective efforts, NACF and Simple Gifts Farm have formed a successful public-private partnership that promotes sustainable and organic farming methods, provides healthy farm products to the region, educates the community on food and farming issues, and helps preserve the agricultural heritage and character of the North Amherst Village Center.

In many ways, our efforts have been successful.  Nevertheless, the continued financial viability of any small organic family farm struggling to survive in New England is threatened by the corporately controlled industrial food system.  Two years ago, our farm partners, Jeremy and David, decided to sell their financial interest in the farm.  For the past two years they have negotiated with several potential buyers, but at this point have been unsuccessful.  The farm and farmstand were operated at a limited scale last year but since both farmers have accepted other jobs, the farm is not currently in operation.  NACF is in a position where decisions must be made about what’s next. 

The current situation is that we, NACF, own the land and Simple Gifts Farm owns the value of the buildings and equipment.  Simple Gifts has not been able to identify a suitable buyer for their interests.  One of the things we are thinking about is that NACF could acquire the farm buildings from SGF and then look for a successor farming enterprise who could lease the farm without first having to come up with what amounts to a hefty down payment. This idea is in a formative stage but has the advantage of giving NACF more control over how the land is used.  It also has the promise of greatly expanding the number of prospective successor farmers.

Of course, NACF doesn’t currently have the financial wherewith-all to purchase the buildings and equipment currently owned by Simple Gifts.  However, there is our wonderfully remodeled and renovated farmhouse, which could serve as a very solid revenue generator.  Our original intent for the farmhouse was to serve as an affordable accommodation for farm workers.  Renting the farmhouse at market rate would prevent this original purpose for a while but could serve our larger mission in the long run.   The NACF Board of Trustees has not made any decisions regarding this idea but we think that it is worth exploring.

We acknowledge that this news may be surprising to many of our most loyal supporters and Simple Gifts CSA customers.  We have been quiet for the past two years, while Simple Gifts was in negotiation with potential new farm managers.  But at this point, we felt we needed to share the situation with you, even as we have many still unanswered questions.  You should know that we are committed to the long-term vision of maintaining a working, organic farming operation in North Amherst. 

We appreciate that this email probably prompts more questions than it answers.  So please contact us below with any specific queries or suggestions that you have.

PLEASE CONTACT Bruce Coldham at bcoldham155@comcast.net
or call 413-348-6706