While attending Congresswoman Chellie Pingree’s Press Conference to announce her Local Farm, Food, and Jobs Act, we were truly impressed with remarks offered by Warren Knight of Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook, Maine. Mr. Knight kindly shared his speech with us.

Good Afternoon.

My name is Warren Knight and I am speaking today on behalf of my family and our extended family, our
wonderful employees, who live and work at Smiling Hill Farm. I was thrilled to be invited to attend today and
honored to be asked to speak as this is an issue that has defined our family farm’s existence. The local food
movement.

GrowSmart Maine has been working with a broad coalition of environmental and land use planning organizations monitoring and engaging with the legislative-appointed LURC Reform Commission.  Earlier this month, Jenn Burns Gray of Maine Audubon presented to the...

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Garett Ballard-Rosa Smart Growth America is now offering free technical assistance to local communities interested in building stronger local economies while protecting human health and the environment. A recent informational webinar on...

GrowSmart Maine is pleased to announce that the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has awarded 11 grants totaling $3.5 million, to be matched with $11,245,325 of local funds for Communities for Maine’s Future Program downtown revitalization projects.

GrowSmart Maine is pleased to announce two new opportunities for communities interested in smart growth strategies.

First, applications are now being accepted for free technical assistance from Smart Growth America. This program has been made possible by a five-year grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide direct assistance to communities across the nation to develop local strategies to grow in ways that benefit families and businesses while protecting the environment and preserving a sense of place.

AUGUSTA, Maine – The LURC Reform Commission, established by the Maine Legislature to recommend possible reforms to the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC), will hold its next work session later this week and will include two public listening sessions.

Project Canopy Assistance Grants are available to state, county, and municipal governments, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations for developing and implementing community forestry projects and programs. Project Canopy, a cooperative partnership...

Maine has two ongoing Sustainable Communities Programs, one in Northern and Downeast Maine and one in Greater Portland.  Please reach out to our Senators to ensure these regional planning initiavies can continue!   Please contact Senators Collins and Snowe...

From maine.gov: The LURC Reform Commission was formed through a resolution passed by the 125th Maine Legislature to make recommendations on how to carry out land use planning, zoning and permitting in the 10.4 million acres of unorganized towns and plantations of...

As I walked down the dirt drive, jaunty notes of live bluegrass wafted over on the gentle breeze.  The scents of fresh hay, fields of flowers and barnyard intermingled with sizzling chicken bbq.  Laughter, lively conversation and intermittent applause...