agriculture and flora

Letter to the editor: town working on zoning rules for small farmers

November 30, 2015

To the editor:

These remarks were intended for presentation at the State of the Town Meeting on November 14. Unfortunately, time constraints prevented us from getting to them.

At the Annual Town Meeting in March 2011, the town passed “The Right to Farm” bylaw, a new section of the town’s general bylaws. This was done to broadly inform residents of state law regarding agriculture and to recognize the town’s general support of farming. Since that time, the Planning Board has been working together with the Agricultural Commission to bring our zoning bylaws (ZBL) into conformance with state law, while making refinements that reflect our local needs and circumstances.

State law provides for very modest local control over agriculture practices on properties greater than 5 acres. Therefore, our efforts have largely been focused on properties less than 5 acres. We are also respectful of rights currently held by residents, especially those enjoyed for personal use, such as keeping a backyard pony, a few beehives, or a small flock of chickens.

Our ZBL already allows for the raising and sale of produce (defined by our Zoning Board of Appeals as plant-based—vegetables, fruit, etc.) by an owner or tenant. But what should be done regarding the small farmer raising livestock and selling animal products, on less than 5 acres? These include sheep farmers, beekeepers, and poultry raisers, among others.

Our primary focus has been attempting to craft a permitting process under a definition of commercial agriculture, possibly based on sales per acre. This is still very much a work in progress. We are trying very hard to strike a balance between the needs of small farmers and non-farming residents. Public hearings on our proposed amendments will be scheduled in the near future and we look forward to your feedback. We hope to be ready for the March 2016 Town Meeting.

I would especially like to thank Lynne Bower, Jim Henderson and Ari Kurtz of the Agricultural Commission for their hard work. Please feel free to contact any of us if you have questions or concerns.

Bryce Wolf, Planning Board vice chair
52 Birchwood Lane

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Truck instead of cowboys used in this Lincoln cattle roundup

October 30, 2015

The Red Devons have their last Lincoln meal before heading out west.

The Red Devons have their last Lincoln meal before heading west (click to enlarge).

The cattle truck leaves Page Farm Road in Lincoln (click to enlarge).

Some of the purebred Red Devon cows that have been part of the Lincoln agricultural scene for over 25 years now have a new forwarding address in Wisconsin, where they should feel right at home.

The cattle, which are owned jointly by Codman Farm along with Ken Bassett and his wife Mary Helen Lorenz, have been gazing on public fields around town since the first handful came from a herd in Maine in the late 1980s. The herd eventually grew to number more than 40. Earlier this month, eight yearling heifers, four adult cows and three calves were sold to a Red Devon farm in Spring Green, Wis., to expand its breeding program.

Though some of the Lincoln cows are now Midwesterners, the Red Devons have deep New England roots—their ancestors came here from England in the 1600s close on the heels of the pilgrims. Examples of the breed can be seen as oxen pairs at historic sites such as Mt. Vernon and Sturbridge Village, Bassett said. As a breed, they’re known for their gentle disposition, ease in calving, and ability to thrive on grass without supplemental grain or other diet supplements, so they are an excellent source of grass-fed beef.

One might wonder if the cows will miss the architectural as well as agricultural atmosphere in Lincoln, which boasts the Gropius House among its stock of historic homes. Not to worry, though—the relocated bovines are now grazing on idyllic Lincoln-like pastures that happen to abut the farm/estate know as Taliesin East, the home and studio of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

(Perhaps in the future, some adventurous Lincoln cows will make a longer trip in a rocket rather than a truck, all the way into Earth orbit… which would make them the herd shot ’round the world.)

Gazing and grazing… the Lincoln Red Devons joined this herd in Wisconsin, who are admired by the grandchildren of their new owner. Photos courtesy Ken Bassett

Garden Club beautifies Station Park with native plants

October 9, 2015

Left to right: Lincoln Garden Club members Cathy Moritz and Ann Park, NEWFS intern Lauren Weeks, NEWFS Horticulture Director Mark Richardson, and club members Janet Ganson and Patty Hilpert.

The Lincoln Garden Club recently created and installed a new flower bed with over 400 plants native to Massachusetts at the town-owned Station Park where Lincoln Road meets Ridge Road.

“This native plant bed is a great example of how we can apply more sustainable landscaping practices at our homes without giving up on beauty. The choice of plants will bring different colors to Station Park at every season,” said club co-President Belinda Gingrich.

“Native plants attract pollinators, such as insects, birds and mammals, which restores nature to a more heathy state,” added co-President Agnes Wiggin.

The Lincoln Garden Club (LGC) paid for the project with donations from people who supported the LGC Garden Tour in June. Installation was made possible through the combined efforts of club members; New England Wildflower Society staff; students and teachers from the Minuteman High School; and the town of Lincoln.

The new native flower bed at Station Park.

The transfer of the existing plants, the design of the new bed and its installation was done during July, August and September. The design and list of native plants can be found on the LGC website. Lauren Weeks wrote a maintenance plan that Club members will use in the future, when caring for the bed as it grows.

New England Wildflower Society intern Lauren Weeks, who designed the bed, will give a short talk and answer questions about native plants at the Park on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend. For other questions about the project, please contact LGC member Cathy Moritz at 781-259-3161 or cathymoritz@gmail.com.

Keeping things sheep-shape (Lincoln Through the Lens)

October 6, 2015

This photo of Lincoln resident Ellen Raja on her farm was featured at #23 in September’s Photos of the Month gallery in the Boston Globe.

Ellen Raja repaired a fence where sheep graze in Lincoln. (Photo by Joanne Rathe/Boston Globe Staff)

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.

Letter to the editor: be on the lookout for the Lindentree robin

July 14, 2015

To the editor:

At the end of one of the June rains, I found a very “dead” little juvenile robin in our storm drain—except that he wasn’t, as I discovered when fishing him out. I dried him off, scraped off the unseemly gob of blood and something smooshing together the toes on his right foot, and took care of him. He willingly survived and became a personality at the farm for adults and children alike as they fed him worms, stepping around him as he hopped on the ground doing robin-like things. He was named Albert.

On the night of July 3, several days into his adolescent freedom stage, he disappeared, and we hoped he wasn’t part of someone else’s meal. However, I received a call from our neighbors several days later describing the visit of a robin who landed on their guest’s head, causing consternation and entertainment as he stayed for awhile. And then he moved on—so we are hoping that he’s appeared elsewhere in Lincoln.

Albert’s habits may change as he grows older and more birdlike; however, he is prone to landing on heads and shoulders and seemed to be comfortable with people. If he visits you, we all here at Lindentree Farm would love to know where he has been—sort of tracking him. He has deformed toes on one foot and slightly bent ones on the other where one of them has healed up. Please drop us a line at lindentreecsa@gmail.com if you should happen to see him. Thanks!

Sincerely,

Moira Donnell (co-owner, Lindentree Farm)
10 Old Concord Road

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Five Corners flora (Lincoln Through the Lens, 7/1/15)

July 1, 2015

Axel and Maite Fay prepared the historic Five Corners flower pot for Fourth of July festivities. Photographer Rob Jevon writes, “There has been lots of thoughtful commentary on improving signage at Five Corners. But I think many would agree we are fortunate to have a centerpiece that is pretty close to perfection. Thanks to all the neighbors and generations who help maintain an endearing emblem of what makes Lincoln Lincoln.”

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to news@lincolnsquirrrel.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.

Milk it for all it’s worth at Dairy Day

June 8, 2015

dairy Drumlin Farm is celebrating National Dairy Month with Dairy Day on Saturday, June 13 (rain or shine) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The barns will be open on this special day for up-close access to our favorite dairy animals and the tasty treats they help us produce.

Highlights include exclusive milking access to Drumlin Farm’s dairy cows (while milk supply and cows’ patience last!); crafts and games for kids in our Get Moovin’ zone; cheese, butter, and ice cream making demonstrations; up-close viewing of our heritage breed cattle; and free hayrides to celebrate the crowning of the Drumlin Farm Dairy Princess. The Posto Mobile wood-fired pizza truck will be on hand to provide tasty picnic lunch options for purchase made with fresh Drumlin Farm produce, and Reasons to Be Cheerful will have plenty of local ice cream to enjoy.

Schedule of activities:

All day – Ice cream and pizza truck; farm stand and country store; Get Moovin’ crafts and games; livestock display
10-11 a.m. – Cow milking (while supply lasts)
10 a.m. to noon – Ice cream making demonstration
11:30 a.m. to noon – Dairy Court hayride
Noon to 2 p.m. – Cheese-making demonstration
12:30-1 p.m. – Goat milking demonstration
1:30-2 p.m. – Dairy Court hayride
2-3 p.m. – Cow milking (while supply lasts)
2-4 p.m. – Butter-making demonstration
3:30-4 p.m. – Goat-milking demonstration

Tickets for this special fundraising event are $8 for Mass Audubon members, $10 for nonmembers, children under 2 free, and can be purchased by calling 781-259-2206 or online at www.massaudubon.org/drumlinprograms.

Lincoln resident dies in tractor accident

May 6, 2015

Lenore Travis

Oxbow Road resident Lenore Travis, who died unexpectedly late last month, was remembered for her agriculture-focused volunteer work and as a longtime member of the Shady Hill School community.

Spotlight on CCF volunteer Savannah Snell

January 2, 2015

Savannah Snell and her porcine pals at Codman Community Farms.

The following item is reprinted from the Codman Community Farms newsletter with permission.

Savannah Snell, a Lincoln resident and senior at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, is a volunteer animal feeder at Codman Community Farms and has been coming in once a week for the last two years. Savannah connected with the farm when she participated in the Farmer’s Helper program through the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department in grade school.

As she got older and would stop by to buy eggs and milk for her family, she realized what a great community resource CCF is. One day she decided to check off the volunteer box on the payment envelope. Office manager Barb Rhines called and farmer Eric Robichaud trained her to work with the animals.

Savannah makes sure all the animals have food and water and has gotten to know them. Opal the Donkey is a favorite and she will spend up to half an hour scratching and playing with Opal. The pigs get to know her too and enjoy having their snoots rubbed. (Note to casual visitors: please don’t try this yourself; a finger through the fence can look like a carrot to a pig!)

At L-S, Savannah started the L-S Aid for Animals club, which raises money for local shelters and whose members volunteer at domestic animal shelters and farm animal rescue organizations. She rides horses and can’t remember a time when she didn’t love animals. Savannah is a great volunteer upon whom the Codman staff and animals depend.

When the cows come home (Lincoln through the lens, 11/25/14)

November 25, 2014

Jim, an English Lineback ox, takes a snack break during his recent walk from Minute Man National Historical Park, where he and some other bovins graze on open space, back to their home with the Travis family on Oxbow Road. Jim and another calf were a birthday surprise for George Travis 13 years ago; he now weighs about 3,400 pounds (Jim, not George). The Travises own several other English Linebacks along with some Highlands and Irish Dexters and periodically move them back and forth to the Minute Man land. — Photo by Harold McAleer