A sketch showing the current and future locations of the Codman store (click to enlarge).
In its last of its planned major capital projects, Codman Community Farms will relocated its farm store to a much larger space in an adjacent barn.
The store once occupied a corner of C barn and expanded to more of the barn during the pandemic, sine it offered an open-air space with in cashiers. It will move to the front of B barn to the north. That space was used mainly for hay storage in past years, but is now used for general storage and operations for the farm store since the farm no longer offers retail sales of hay, said Caroline Fiore, CCF president. This will open up the main C barn again for community use.
“The improved Farm Store space will be designed in a way that honors the character of the historic barn while providing critical infrastructure updates,” Fiore said. One of the primary goals is providing an insulated, cli ate-controlled space for the store staff and customers as well as back-end operations and a multi-purpose work area for all Codman employees Farm store staff work in two different locations: B barn for storage and prep, and C barn for the retail space.
“Neither of these areas are conditioned, so staff are subject to the harshness of winter and the heat of summer. Our currently uninsulated space also creates issues for food storage, as extreme temperatures and conditions within the barn can impact food quality and increase spoilage,” Fiore said.
The farm is refining design plans for the project and working with local builders to obtain accurate cost estimates, she said. It will be funded by the farm using money raised for that purpose during its 50th anniversary capital campaign in 2023, as well as a recent $600,000 state grant. The hope is to begin construction in early 2026.
“The Farm Store relocation is the last remaining major capital project that’s part of our vision for multiyear infrastructure improvements,” Fiore said. Completed projects include new roof on the barns and solar power installation, a new septic system, a new commercial kitchen, farm house insulation, conversion to solar hot water systems, generator installation, driveway renovation and community courtyard, education pavilion, and renovation of restrooms.
Installation of a new sprinkler system, which has to be in place before work on the store can begin, is nearly complete. That project was funded with $400,000 from the town’s Community Preservation Act fund and $100,000 from CCF fundraising. For the store, the farm expects it will have to raise at least another $400,000 to supplement the state grant. The work may trigger the need for structural repairs and improvements and CCF may seek additional money from the town at some point, CCF board member Craig Nicholson told the Select Board earlier this month.
Fantastic news!
Many thanks to all who have supported ag.in Lincoln these past decades, and to the CCF boards, over the years,who have made sure there was a far in the heart of Lincoln, and esp. to Pete Lowry, farmer-extrodinare, and the current CCF board for bringing this project from vision to fruition.
Thank you!