City farm open house fetes conservation effort

Permanent conservation of the farm was celebrated earlier this month. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - More than 75 guests attended the Hope Farm Open house on July 25 hosted by husband and wife owners Joseph and Charleen Sanborn, in conjunction with the Rochester Conservation Commission.

Located on Peaslee Road in Rochester, the open house was held to celebrate the permanent conservation of the farmland and to highlight the benefits of locally grown foods by supporting local agricultural. In addition, the goal of the event was to acknowledge the financial support given by the City Council and the New Hampshire State Conservation Committee through a Moose Plate grant to help fund the transaction costs of the project.

A variety of homemade treats were available, including the crowd favorite, chocolate-bacon ice cream from Lone Oak Ice Cream made with Hope Farm's own farm-raised pork.

Also, Fran Chadwick of "Fore & Aft Baking Company" sold baked goods, and Doug LaChance of "Stump City Cider" offered tastings of hard cider, pressed from apples grown in Rochester. Loads of informational brochures about land conservation and best management practices were supplied by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, South East Land Trust, and NH Fish and Game.

Rochester Conservation Commission members Deborah Shigo, Meredeth Lineweber, Mike Kirwan, Mark Jennings, Roger Burkhart, Mike Dionne and Kevin Sullivan (both of whom are also NH Fish and Game employees), gave out information about: invasive plants; informed visitors about other farms in Rochester, explained the importance of conserving land and farms, and discussed funding options.

Roger Burkhart and Mark Jennings offered tours of the farm, and encouraged visitors to be active in the New Hampshire outdoors and talked with them about the roles and responsibilities of NH Fish and Game.

Anna Boudreau of Truslow Resource Consulting was present and spoke about her role on this project as the City's natural resource consultant, and Rochester Chief Planner Seth Creighton was onsite to answer any land-use related questions.

Charlene Sanborn summarized the day by saying that it was "full of happy customers", and that she and her family are grateful for all of the hours the Conservation Commission members volunteered to make this easement come to fruition, and encourages all to "thank the Conservation Commission and give them the credit they deserve".

Hope Farm is open most Thursdays thru Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., produce and meat. Children are welcome and the Sanborns encourage them to visit the pigs, chickens, and other livestock. Please visit the "Sanborn Hope Farm" Facebook page for more information.

The Rochester Conservation Commission strives to protect working farms and ecologically important land. To learn more or to discuss conserving your land, please contact Chief Planner Seth Creighton, at the Rochester Planning Department, 603-335-1338, with any questions.