Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm Withdraws Lease Request

Calling yet of their plans the final straw, the proponents of a plan to bring an organic teaching farm to two acres of town property in Fairfield are calling it quits.

In a statement released Tuesday, the backers of the Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm said they received notice last week that Fairfield’s third selectman called for another round of review and approvals for the long-delayed project.

With the news of the nonprofit organization’s lease application withdrawal, members also said they would cancel the planned “Harvest Supper” event, which itself would not have used any produce from the in any case, as amid so many delays, what was in the fall.

What follows is the full statement from members of the Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm:

The Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm (‘FOTF’), an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has decided to withdraw its request for a short-term lease of two (2) acres of town property on which to start a model sustainable production garden.

After 18 months of presentations, discussions and negotiations, (and nine months following its agreement to find a suitable location), the Conservation Commission voted to endorse the draft lease on July 21st. Last week, however, the FOTF was notified that, at the request of the Third Selectman, the ‘whole idea’ would be subject to yet another level of review and approvals.

Two growing seasons have come and gone since the FOTF first approached the town with its proposal.  Since then similar production gardens have been started in Westport and Bridgeport with strong town-government support. 

As its gift to the town, the FOTF had planned to host Fairfield’s first ‘farm to table’ meal on September 10, 2011. The FOTF had hoped to use the “Harvest Supper” as a means of raising funds to build the garden. Without a signed lease, the FOTF is a farm without land, and as a result, the Harvest Supper event has been cancelled.

In less than one year, more than 1,000 Fairfielders have participated in FOTF-sponsored activities. The FOTF will continue to work in partnership with local libraries, schools and civic groups and hopes to find a location on which to establish a model sustainable organic production garden.

Please continue to visit us at www.fairfieldorganicteachingfarm.org and on Facebook.