As more focus is put on farm-to-table and local farming, so too will the focus be placed on Lincoln County's farmers.

Maine Farmland Trust's Stacy Benjamin said Maine has seen a rebirth of sorts in community farming and now seeks to bring those farms together with a December 4 forum in Waldoboro.

“The goal is to share information with farmers, municipal and community leaders, and interested citizens about topics they may not hear about in their busy day-to-day lives,” she said. “We hope the speakers give new ideas to attendees, and help them to think about their farming, their farmland or their community in a new way.

“We also hope to hear from attendees and out the opportunities and challenges they face and their vision of the future of farming in Knox and Lincoln Counties.”

The forum, which will be at 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the cooperative extension office in Waldoboro, is part of Maine Farmland Trust's effort to establish farm-friendly communities throughout the state, Benjamin said. In 2011 Maine Farmland Trust, American Farmland Trust and Mainewatch Institute released, “Cultivating Maine's Agricultural Future – A Guide for Towns, Land Trusts and Farm Supporters.”

“Maine Farmland Trust received some grant funding to help distribute the guide and provide support to communities interested in further exploring the strategies suggested for better supporting local agriculture,” Benjamin said. “The Building Farm-Friendly Communities program developed from there.”

Benjamin has been reaching out to organizations throughout Lincoln and Knox Counties to see if there are any collaboration opportunities available. That was where the idea for the forum came from, Benjamin said, adding that the agenda was crafted to represent the interests of local farmers, land trust members and farm supporters.

For more information, visit www.mainefarmlandtrust.org.