Bowsprit Foundation

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BOWSPRIT FOUNDATION

Stewarding a living land and creating opportunities for young adults

through biodynamic agriculture and craft.

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WELCOME

Resident leasing farmers make their living from the land, while supporting the Foundation's live-learn-work mentorship programs for Maine youth. As the farmers steward the land year-round, Bowsprit Foundation is able to offer various opportunities for young adults which foster self-reliance and perseverance, interdependence and creativity.

Working in the fields, the forest, and the studio, program participants are immersed in a supportive environment, empowered by a community with decades of experience in farming, making, and mentoring; each of us benefit from sharing our work, our skills, and our meals.

Whether you are a high-school student looking for a fresh perspective, a teacher with a referral, or a craftsperson wanting to pass on your knowledge and make a difference in the world, we look forward to hearing from you and learning together.

Bowsprit Foundation functions as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, registered in Maine, USA.

Our tax identification number is 84-2824905

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OUR MISSION

Creating opportunities for young adults to gain practical-skills experience through agriculture, forestry, food preparation, and heritage skills.

Guided by Rudolf Steiner’s pedagogy, and social therapy, our programs aim to assist young adults in developing skills for independence; a capacity and willingness to contribute to their community; a sense of self-worth, and hopefulness for their future.

OUR PROGRAMS

Mentorship

Our mentors are local farmers, foresters, and craft-masters who have spent decades doing what they love. Mentorship offers a means of reaching our area's youth in ways that the traditional classroom often cannot.

Farming

Working in vegetable and fruit production, livestock management, and in the forest, participants engage in important and practical work alongside dedicated and knowledgeable farmers and foresters. This work fosters self confidence, and reflects Maine's traditional 'can-do' attitude.

Craft-Masters at Work - Traditional Skills

Seasonally, and over the course of a year, participants work with wood, clay, fiber, or metal, in workshops led by visiting craftspeople from Maine. Sometimes we invite guest mentors from further afield.

In the Landscape - Unity, Maine

Explore beautiful mid-coast Maine with us. We complement our daily work by taking opportunities to visit nearby ponds or creeks; by hiking the trails of Waldo County; or by inspecting tidal pools along Penobscot Bay. When we become able to provide residential programs (our eventual goal), evenings will include group discussion, singing, sketching and writing in journals, or attending open community dances.

GET INVOLVED

Join Us On the Land, Help Support our Programs

Bowsprit Foundation is seeking farmer-colleagues, donors, and volunteers!

For Farmer Colleagues:

Land is currently available for long-term lease - arable, pasture, and hay-land. Are you an organic farmer? Does this sound like a great fit for you? Do you know someone that might be interested?

Please let us know; click on 'contact us' at the top of the page. We’re actively building an experienced, competent, committed team who share common goals for the land, while managing their own independent farm businesses. Having an interest in working with at-risk youth is a deal-maker, and an interest in biodynamics is a plus!

For Potential Funders:

This farm project is an exciting and important addition to our community here in mid-coast Maine. Your donation, large or small, supports land access for farmers committed to regenerative agriculture, as well as helping to build living relationships between farmers, craft and business people, and young people from the region searching for real connection in their world.

There are a variety of ways to make a tax deductible donation to support Bowsprit programs. Use the Donate button at the top of the page; use the Contact Us button to reach us directly, we're always happy to talk about our work; email us to get on our mailing list, so that you keep abreast of our program information, and our latest fundraising campaigns.

If you, or someone you know, might be interested in learning more, please reach out. We’re almost always available for conversation!

For Volunteers:

Opportunities abound for people of all ages interested in being on the farm: from being an empathic presence during our programs, to keeping our tools honed between times; from historic-building consultation, to harvesting produce for the local food bank; there is something to interest everyone, and plenty of tasks to go around! Our volunteers are a needed and appreciated source of vitalization in our mission to provide affordable organic food to local people, affordable farmland to farmer families, and real work and learning opportunities for young people seeking guidance.

Farming in Community - Unity, Maine

Bowsprit is a multi-operator, organic, and/or biodynamic farming village on 540 diverse acres at the southern edge of the town of Unity, Waldo Co, Maine.

Help us make the farm at Bowsprit a vibrant place to live, learn, and work into a sustainable future.

Among many other great grass-roots organizations, Unity is also home to:

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)

The Ecology Learning Center

Daybreak Grower's Alliance

The trail-head of the Hills to Sea Trail

Unity Barn Raisers

a thriving Amish Community

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