"Business Planning for a New Claremont Farm"

Successful food and farm businesses are critical to our region’s economy, environment, and ability to keep everyone fed and healthy. This blog series looks at some of the hardworking, enterprising people in this sector and how they have been helped by the Agricultural Viability Alliance, of which Vital Communities is a partner.

Kate McNamee of Clover Meadow Farm graciously walked me around her flower beds in the rain as we chatted about her experience working with the Agricultural Viability Alliance (AVA). Clover Meadow Farm is a “u-pick” flower farm in Claremont, NH, that focuses on community-building, growing without pesticides, and improving pollinator and soil health. 

“We’re growing slowly,” she told me, but she has a lot of projects in the works and big ideas for the farm to go along with that sentiment. As we walked around she pointed out what she’s planted where, and what sorts of things she’s been doing to help improve soil health on the farm. She has garlic planted for the upcoming year and is hoping to have some more vegetables for kids to pick next season in order to help them connect to where their food comes from (though she’s had some battles with critters like gray squirrels along the way). On top of that, she is looking to move into the dried flower and dried flower wreath market next fall. READ MORE