District honors Ripley Farm

2016 Outstanding Cooperator of the Year award

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — For their efforts to bring fresh, locally-grown produce to the region since opening in 2009, the Ripley Farm was presented with the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) 2016 Outstanding Cooperator of the Year award during a tour and ceremony on Sept. 9. The annual honor recognizes a Piscataquis County landowner’s sustainable conservation practices.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

OUTSTANDING COOPERATOR OF THE YEAR — Gene and Mary Margaret Ripley, with their daughter Harriet, of the Ripley Farm in Dover-Foxcroft are the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District’s 2016 Outstanding Cooperator of the Year. The Ripley were presented with the honor on Sept. 9 for the sustainable conservation practices they use to grow MOFGA-certified vegetables, herbs and perennial flowers.

Farm owners husband and wife Gene and Mary Margaret Ripley oversee five acres of Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)-certified organic vegetables — as well as perennial flowers and herbs — that is part of the 38-acre property, located on the Merrills Mills Road off Route 7, where they live with their baby daughter Harriet.

The organic certification indicates the Ripleys use natural soil building practices to raise superior quality produce for their customers.The produce is 100 percent organic and is all grown on the farm.

“We grow five acres of mixed vegetables,” Gene Ripley said during a tour on the morning of Sept. 9. “We sell primarily here on the farm through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program,” he said, as well as selling through wholesale accounts.

Mary Margaret Ripley said the farm has a “pick your own area” for CSA customers, such as to select their own flowers and culinary herbs.

Ripley Farm places a special emphasis on growing, delivering and eating the highest quality vegetables. The Ripleys run their farm with one goal in mind — growing the best vegetables for their customers. When the CSA — in which families become members of the farm by purchasing a share of the summer harvest — began five years ago the Ripleys had 16 members. Now they have over 130 summer CSA members receiving over 30 types of vegetables and 35 winter CSA members receiving over 20 types of vegetables. These CSA members are primarily from the Dover-Foxcroft, Greenville and Bangor regions.

The Ripley Farm CSA program has additional perks. The Ripleys offer a variety flowers and culinary herbs, a weekly newsletter with updates on all the farm happenings and recipes for the weekly supply of fresh produce. On Ripley Farm’s website www.ripleyorganicfarm.com visitors can find an o cookbook with over 200 recipes, additional information about the vegetables supplied in the CSAs and all the past newsletters archived.

“This is our seventh season in Dover,” Gene Ripley said. He and Mary Margaret Ripley — who grew up in Washington County and Austin, Texas respectively and both attended Bates College in Lewiston — worked for several years at Fisher Farm in Winterport before coming to Piscatauqis County where they served as MOFGA journeypersons while starting their own farm. The journeyperson program provides hands-on support, training and mentorship for those pursuing careers in organic farming in Maine.

In 2015 Carmen Allen joined the Ripley Farm as an assistant farm manager. Sara Moody came aboard the operation this year to complete the staff.

“I’m thrilled to see people can work agriculture and make a living,” State Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) said to start the post-lunch 2016 PCSWCD Outstanding Cooperator of the Year Award presentation. Davis gave the Ripleys a Legislative Sentiment he co-sponsored with State Rep. Norm Higgins (R-Dover-Foxcroft). Gene and Mary Margaret Ripley were also presented with a sentiment from the office of U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine).

PCSWCD Board Chair Gordon Moore said the organization looks for cooperators who work with the PCSWCD and the Natural Resources Council of Maine when deciding who will be the recipient of the honor. He said the Ripley Farm “has done exemplary work and is an example for other folks in our region.” Moore added, “You have done wonderful work, you have come a long way real fast.”

“We see you as young farmers with strong values, you are leading the next generation of farmers who are coming up right behind you guys,” PCSWCD Executive Director Joanna Tarrazi said.

A pair of signs were presented, recognizing Ripley Farm as the Outstanding Cooperator of the Year. The sign includes farm mascot Chester the Carrot.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

HONORED BY THE PCSWCD — Mary Margaret and Gene Ripley hold a sign presented to them on Sept. 9 by Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District Chair Gordon Moore recognizing the Ripley Farm as the organization’s 2016 Cooperator of the Year. Looking on is PCSWCD Executive Director Joanna Tarrazi. 

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

FARM TOUR — Gene Ripley leads a tour of the Ripley Farm on the Merrills Mills Road in Dover-Foxcroft prior to lunch and the awards presentation. Five acres is used to grow organic vegetables which are sold through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and wholesale accounts.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

LEGISLATIVE SENTIMENT — State Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) presents a Legislative Sentiment to Gene and Mary Margaret Ripley recognizing them as the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District Cooperator of the Year.