| Why Support Falmouth's Farms? |
Why buy locally grown produce?
Local fresh products taste better and are better for you - they retain more of their nutrients if picked when ripe;
Buying locally grown produce supports local farm families;
Purchasing locally grown foods helps to protect a variety of flavors,
traditions and plant & animal genetic diversity thereby
establishing new varieties, enhancing resistance to pests and the vigor
of the plant crop;
Local produce flavors that characterize distinct growing regions allow us to retain our ethnic cooking traditions;
Supporting
local farmers helps preserve open space and supports a clean
environment. Selling farmland for development becomes less likely as
the value of direct-marketed fruits and vegetables increases;
Buying locally grown produce is a way for each of us to vote with our
dollars to ensure the kind of future we want for our community - a
future that includes farms, healthy food, clean air, soil and water.
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| Wet harvest of cranberries on the Reservior bog on John Parker Road. Photo by Leslie Lichtenstein. |
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| Sheep at Peterson Farm. Photo by Leslie Lichtenstein. |
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| Status of Agriculture in Falmouth
Falmouth has 28,254 acres;
39% (11,029 acres) of that is zoned for agriculture;
We have lost almost 90% of land in active agriculture since 1950;
Today we have been able to identify about 500 acres of farmland in Falmouth, including:
- 169 acres of cranberry bogs;
- 159 acres of other active farmland, including 23 acres of tree farms;
- 137 acres of historical farms (Peterson & Bourne Farms);
- 35 acres of horse farms.
The Town of Falmouth owns 151 acres, or 30% of the amount of remaining farmland in Falmouth.
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Why should you join us?
To stop the loss of productive farmland;
To support the Falmouth Agricultural Commission;
To collaborate with local markets and restaurants as outlets for local produce;
To bring about a Buy Local campaign;
To establish marketing opportunities for farmers;
To support farming infrastructure;
To assist farmers in leasing purchased agricultural lands;
To promote sustainable energy production options;
To educate the community about agriculture;
To support a local farmers market;
To bring speakers on farming topics to our community to aid farmers and inform local citizens;
To raise the priority of agriculture and farmland protection among community goals;
To increase community awareness of farms and their business needs;
And to promote an understanding of farming and farming as a career option in our schools.
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| The Cape Cod Winery on Sandwich Road. Photo by Leslie Lichtenstein. |
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Want to join us? Click here
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