Forestry & Agriculture Goal:
To preserve the town’s character by preserving its working farms & forests.
While there currently is little land dedicated to these practices, forestry and agriculture do play a role in Mount Desert. They provide swaths of undeveloped land that protects wildlife habitat, wetlands, and other critical natural resources. This undeveloped land is also essential for maintaining the rural feel of the town, which draws the visitors that are central to the town’s economy. Forestry and agricultural practices provide a link to historical land uses, particularly forestry, as timber was one of the resources that first drew settlers to the island. Neighboring towns on the island have more opportunity for agriculture, and Mount Desert should provide appropriate outlets for sale of agricultural products in order to support this and to provide Mount Desert residents access to
local foods.
Objectives:
1. Promote the economic viability of working farms and forests. Working farms and forests are our town’s best means of maintaining the character of our rural areas.
Strategies:
a. Support efforts of landowners to permanently protect their working forest and farm lands, whether through participating in the Farmland and Tree Growth Tax Programs or through other means.
b. Create an educational program with other communities on the island that highlights the importance of maintaining natural resource based occupations (working farms and forests) as the most effective tool for keeping rural areas from being developed.
2. Promote easy access to a local food supply, including fruits, vegetables, and seafood.
Strategies:
a. Update Land Use Ordinance to support small-scale farming, and local food production and distribution.
b. Ensure school food service budgets are sufficient to provide healthy, local foods.
c. Allow use of public land for farmer’s markets.
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