BEECH FARM A project of College of the Atlantic Beech Hill Farm is an 84-acre organic farm owned and operated by College of the Atlantic. The farm has approximately six acres of vegetables, herbs, flowers and strawberries in production, as well as heirloom apples and forested land. The farm was donated in the spring of 1999 by COA alumni, after ten years of successful operation. Beech Hill Farm is certified organic by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). "Part of COA's mission is to foster growth and development of informed and thoughtful citizens, who are also effective and inspired agents of social change. Since everyone is hooked into a large and changing food system, I feel that knowing about all the elements between field and fork are vitally important for responsible decision-making." Dr. Suzanne Morse COA Faculty in Applied Botany About Beech Hill Farm and COA College of the Atlantic's ownership of Beech Hill Farm is a logical extension of the college's educational mission, vision and philosophy. COA is an innovative four-year, liberal arts school that offers both the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Philosophy in Human Ecology. COA is committed to operating the farm for organic agricultural production that supplies local businesses, the farmstand and COA's kitchen, as well as offering students applied educational opportunities. COA plans to expand current courses to create an agricultural ecology curriculum to help provide a solid understanding of current issues in sustainable agriculture, and provide direct Maggie and Lucian exposure to farming and Smith, Farm Managers gardening. Students have the option of incorporating Beech Hill Farm into indepen- dent and group studies, volunteer work, community outreach and education, work study, senior projects, or summer internships. what is "Certified Organic"? The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association promotes the production of safe, high quality food in a manner that does not harm the environment and preserves or improves soil fertility, soil structure, and farm sustainability. MOFGA certification standards and on- farm verification help to assure the public that food with the MOFGA label has been grown by nationally accepted organic standards. what we grow, and when it's harvested The produce we have for sale at the farmstand is what we have harvested that day, SO each product is the freshest it can be. Here is a sample of what we have to offer and the months they are likely to be available. Items available throughout the season: Lettuce Herbs Salad mix New potatoes Kale Mustard greens Spinach Arugula Carrots Beets Radishes Bok Choi Cabbage Flowers Greenhouse tomatoes Available in July Strawberries Zucchini Cucumbers Peas Beans Summer squash Broccoli Available in August Corn Onions Leeks Melons Eggplant Peppers Garlic Heirloom tomatoes Available in the fall Winter squash Pumpkins Root crops - rutabaga, celeriac why buy organic? When you eat organically grown produce, it tastes better, it's better for you and you are supporting local farms and the local economy. By supporting organic agricul- ture, you are participating in a more sustainable farming practice and the growing of crops without harmful herbicide and pesticide use. Visit MOFGA's website for more information www.mofga.org Beech Hill Farm's Livestock Beech Hill Farm received the generous donation of six Scotch High- land Cattle in December 1999. Scotch Highland Cattle The cattle are a rare breed of livestock from northern Scotland. They are well adapted to Maine's climate and do not require winter housing beyond a windbreak. Since they are very efficient grazers, they are able to utilize and thrive on low quality forage. At Beech Hill Farm the COWS are kept in pad- docks and rotationally grazed through the fields where cover crops have been planted or in areas of pasture renovation. In the winter they feed on bailed hay. The females will be bred in the summer and will calve in the spring. Steers will be grown as breeding stock or sold as gourmet beef through the farmstand or wholesale to COA's kitchen. Pigs and chickens are seasonal additions to the farm. The pigs are being used to break new ground and prepare land for production. The hens will begin laying in August and their eggs will be available at the farmstand in August and through the fall. Farmstand Hours of Operation 8 am until 5 pm Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays Hours will be reduced in the fall. How to get to Beech Hill Farm From the head of Mount Desert Island: bear right onto Route 102 at the traffic light; head toward Southwest Harbor until you reach Somesville. Follow Route 102 through a traffic light until you reach a blinking light, where you will turn right (Somesville Fire Station will be on your right). Proceed to the Beech Hill Road (less than 1/4 of a mile on your left). The farmstand is 1.5 miles after your left turn and will be on the right side of the road. From Route 3 in Bar Harbor: Follow Route 3 to Route 233 toward Southwest Harbor. Turn right at the intersection of Route 233 and Route 198 and head toward Somesville. Turn left at the traffic light and follow the directions above. From Southwest Harbor: Follow Route 102 towards Ellsworth; turn left at the blinking light in Somesville and follow the directions above. Beech Hill Farm Information: Beech Hill Farm Box 171 Beech Hill Road Mount Desert, ME 04660 207.244.5204 Email: BeechHillFarm@ecology.coa.edu www.coa.edu/beechhill/ COA Admission Information: College of the Atlantic 105 Eden Street Bar Harbor, ME 04609 207.288.5015 Admission: 800.528.0025 Email: inquiry@ecology.coa.edu www.coa.edu Beech Hill Farm Box 171 Beech Hill Road Mount Desert, ME 04660