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| By Levon Kinney Correspondent WILBRAHAM - Communities around the area have a long agricultural history that predates even some of the actual towns. Today many farmers are selling their farms for many reasons and the history is all but forgotten. "Wilbraham has been a farming community for years," Maura Lessard, co-chair of the Wilbraham Agricultural Commission, told Reminder Publications. "We want to bring awareness to its history and the present situation." With the recent sale of large farms in town including the Rice and Oaks Farms, along with smaller farms, the Agricultural Commission is teaming up with the Minnechaug Land Trust, the Conservation Commission, and others to give the town the ability to manage the balance between the farming and residential community. Lessard explained that the commission is taking the by-law passed by the state several years ago and making that general law more related to the community. A letter from Douglas Gillespie, Commissioner of the original state law, to the Commonwealth states the purpose of the law and why it is needed. "Farming in Massachusetts is a very challenging lifestyle. Success is dependant upon the weather, markets, land prices, and the ability to employ generally accepted farming practices without hindrance. All too often, concerned citizens, or well-intentioned local officials challenge a farm activity, and the need to defend the farm practices in itself is disheartening to a farmer," Gillespie wrote. Lessard added that the commission is still getting started and their main purpose is to make people aware of the changes in the town and the larger community. "People in Massachusetts have the right to farm," Lessard said. For more information about the state law visit www.mass.gov./agr/righttofarm/index.htm. |