PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 1, 2021
Land conservation programs do not just protect the environment, but also have a lasting impact on businesses and communities across the state. My business has benefited directly from farmland conservation. We purchased Bumbleroot Organic Farm six years ago with the help of an agricultural easement that simultaneously protected our historical farm from development and gave us access to land we otherwise could not afford. Funding for LMF is vital for preserving Maine’s forests, farmlands, working waterfronts and wildlife. Since its creation in 1987, LMF has protected over 600,000 acres, including 41 farms, 26 commercial waterfront properties and numerous working forest projects, which provide food and fiber for our communities. This type of conservation is more important than ever, as each year Maine loses 10,000 acres of natural and working lands to development. ~ Ben Whalen, Bumbleroot Organic Farm, Windham