Farmland Protection | Food Systems

This functional plan presents strategies for farmland protection and agricultural development. It contains five overarching goals: 

1. Protect agricultural land, resources, and undeveloped lands with prime soils;
2. Protect key areas of viable farmland and important soils within using Agricultural Conservation Easements;
3. Promote economic innovation and sustainability in agricultural production and strengthen the Town’s capacity to respond to economic and climate trends and changes;
4. Leverage the Town’s natural resources and agricultural assets to establish an agritourism initiative, encourage support for agricultural activities, and provide ancillary means of income for farm operators and agricultural entrepreneurs; and
5. Promote the link between farms and food and agriculture and secondary income to increase awareness of farming by the non-farm community, grow the industry, and help ensure the long-term sustainability of farming activities.