other updates this week...

The Charleston Correctional Crew is back working this week on our new hardwood floor on the 2nd floor using recycled hardwood from the building along with native hardwood flooring, cut and donated by Sam Brown.  They are doing a great job!
Dave Pearson (our DRDC VP) went and got another load of flooring from Sam today to keep the guys working through the end of the week!


I want to thank Prez Roger Brawn for all his work too... He opens and closes the Fossa building most days for the crew and runs tools back and forth to Tillsons.  Plus, he has to listen to me complain, get excited, just vent and keep me calm :)


Tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 29, Jeff Nichols from Maine Rural Partners is coming to interview me, farmer & DRDC Board member Ernest Rollins and some of the Charleston guys for a video & info on their website.
I will let you know later where it will be, but it is for their InspireME feature.


Tomorrow afternoon, one of the engineer firms made an appointment to see the Fossa Store to put in a bid for the "bad" wall that is leaking to be added to the RFP going out later in March for a General Contrator(s) to finish the inside.


I am getting excited again so see our project moving forward again.  This take 2 steps forward and 1 back is getting very old!  
I really hope for a summer opening!!!!

New Newsletter format

I have been procrastinating on creating a nice template on either Constant Contact or MailChimp.  Walter B. said I should give MailChimp a try, so finally I got to it.  I read directions and more tutorials, imported almost 100 names & emails, worked and reworked the template and finally came up with something that I think represents the Dexter Community Farm Project, Dexter Regional Development Corp and Fossa Store.  
Some of the great features are:  I don't have to send out 3 email groups anymore; it comes with great stats; and once the template is done, just fill in the content the next time. Yippeee
Hope you like it....
If you are reading this and would like to be added to the Newsletter/email list, email me at
 judy@DexterFarmProject.com and I will add you.

Click here to view the new newsletter

RFP for Structural Engineer

postponed meeting tonight

Hey all...
Hope you are having a good winter and staying away from the flu season...  Well I have good/bad news.
There is no meeting tonight.  We are assessing the situation of our leaking wall in the new part of the building at the Fossa Store and how we are going to proceed. 

Dave, Roger and I are going to check out the adjoining building next door tomorrow, which is the culprit that is creating out leak where the  building connect and also getting a splash back creating and additional leak. 

The architects apparently did not consider that designing the new part of our building the same way it was, would leak just like it did before.  Hummm????   It is very depressing, but it will be fixable! 

I met with the roofing contractors, the General Contractors, a construction adviser&  Dave in December and they all went up on the roof and took lots of pictures. 
You can see the pictures (click Piscasa photo album).

The rain/moisture comes off the Dexter Cafe building and then goes in their wall, then leaks into our wall. 

So, we may have to take our wall down and bring it in a little bit;  while water proofing the outside as they build it up.  We will loose a  little floor space, but better to get it fixed and no be beholding to our neighboring building forever. 

BUT, we will have to have an engineer redo the plans to reconstruct this plan.

Good news is, Jason has the bids ready to go to start construction, but we have to get this water problem fixed first (or the solution) so that it can be fixed as we work inside.
We are still aiming at opening this early summer, but these are the dark
days before the sun shines!  It is going to happen~!!!!

The DRDC board of directors will be meeting next week and figure some of this stuff out and we will be bringing it to the rest of the Farm Project members in March.  I will let you know.
I will be calling the directors today, or you can call me. 

Stay warm and talk with you soon.
Judy 

USDA Extends Conservation Stewardship Program Sign-Up to January 27

Dover-Foxcroft, ME – January 13, 2012 – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Juan Hernandez has announced that the cut-off date for the current Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) ranking period has been extended to January 27, 2012. Producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship are eligible for CSP payments. 

“We want to make sure that people who want to be considered for CSP during this first ranking period have the time they need to complete their applications,” Hernandez said. “CSP is a very popular program and I encourage interested producers to apply at their local NRCS office as soon as they can.”

Administered by NRCS, CSP provides many conservation benefits including improved water and soil quality, enhanced wildlife habitat and conservation activities that address the effects of climate change.

Producers are encouraged to apply for CSP throughout the year to be considered for current and future application ranking periods. Those who apply by January 27, 2012, may be eligible for current available funding. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland and nonindustrial forestland.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if CSP is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contracts obligations and potential payments. It is available from the Dover-Foxcroft NRCS office and at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp.

Landowners can sign up for this program at the Dover-Foxcroft USDA Service Center/Natural Resources Conservation Service office, at 42 Engdahl Drive, Pine Crest Business Park, Dover-Foxcroft,  Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm. For more information about CSP and other NRCS conservation programs, visit the Piscataquis County USDA Service Center at 42 Endgahl Drive, Pine Crest Business Park, Dover-Foxcroft, call 564-2321, or go to www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.

USDA Accepting Applications for Irrigation Assistance

Dover-Foxcroft, – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maine has announced that they have received Fiscal Year 2012 Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program funds for irrigation assistance to private landowners in Maine. Approximately $294,000 will be made available to both large- and small-scale irrigators.  The deadline for applications is February 10, 2012.

AMA, administered by NRCS, is available in 16 states where participation in the Federal Crop Insurance Program is historically low.  AMA assists agricultural producers to manage risk and voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation practices into their farming operations. 

“This program gives landowners an additional opportunity to construct or improve their water management structures and to mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices,” said Juan Hernandez, State Conservationist for NRCS in Maine.  “This will benefit not only the landowner, but their neighbors and community as well.”

Under AMA, contracts will have a one to ten-year contract period, and the practices must be maintained for the life of the practice.  There is a $50,000 per year payment limitation per participant. 

The sign-up for AMA is available on a continuous basis.  Landowners can sign up for this program at the Piscataquis County USDA Service Center/Natural Resources Conservation Service office, located at 42 Engdahl Drive, Pine Crest Business Park, Dover-Foxcroft.  Applications received by February 10, 2012 will be considered for funding in Fiscal Year 2012.

For additional information about the AMA program or for other NRCS conservation programs visit the Maine NRCS website at www.me.nrcs.usda.gov., or call the Dover-Foxcroft office at 564-2321, Monday - Friday, 8am-4:30pm.

meeting cancelled

We are cancelling tonight's Dexter Community Farm Project/DRDC meeting.  Some key people are sick, have other meetings, need more information and besides it is going to be COLD!
If you have any questions, always feel free to call or email me at judy@DexterFarmProject.com
Stay warm!!!