Why

Starting From A Strong Position

Preserving The Character of The Barn

Building Plan - Renovation & Expansion

Dramatic Improvements

Frequently Asked Questions -Answers Straight From Dan

Project Budget

Financing Plan

Campaign Committee

With this phenonmenal growth over the years, the original barn structure has only been minimally expanded.

"The farm has indeed grown and flourished. It has become part of a network of institutions that could only be imagined in the mid-1980's, and as the commercial food supply ecomes more damaged and damaging, the CSAs are a living statement that something else is possible....I am very much attached to the awesome experience of standing in the midst of bounty and "pick-your own." Those are moments of reverence." -

Prescilla Drucker, Shareholder

"Knowing your wishes, we have worked hard to preserve the historical down-home feel of the barn by our careful choice of new materials and consideration of proportions of the structure and interior spaces. Knowing the needs of our farmers we have worked equally hard to provide them with adequate space for the production, storage, and distribution of Brookfield Farm's produce, storage for essential farming materials, and a workshop to maintain equipment. The barn will be designed to be used - it will be used well by the farmers, the shareholders, and by our many, many visitors." - Gordon Thorne

First Floor Plan:

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Our new barn, parking lot, head house, and equipment shed will provide:

• ENLARGED DISTRIBUTION AREA that is energy efficient, rodent-proof, an has adequate lighting
• ROOT CELLAR for year-round distribution of 120,000 lbs. of winter vegetables in a way that is energy efficient and sustainable
• CEMENT FLOOR throughout renovated barn to allow us to move 200,000 lbs. of produce each year with wheels instead of backs
• HEATED, ON SITE FARM OFFICE to administer our CSA, apprentice program, and Trust outreach to get the office out of the basement (dungeon) of our farm family's home and farmer closer to the farm.
• SAFER PARKING, TRUCK LOADING ZONE, PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION
• IMPROVED GREENHOUSES relocated for more parking, with new floor for additional winter storage of produce, with small "head house" connected to barn that will enable farmers to work out of direct 100F heat inside the greenhouse and allow for easier transport of heavy pallets to main barn area
• ENLARGED POST-HARVEST & STORAGE SPACE FOR PRODUCE that is energy efficient and takes into account worker health and safety.
• ENLARGED SPACE FOR STORAGE OF ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TOOLS that is rodent-proof (for seeds), efficient for work, and allows us to fully separate machines(oil) and food
• WORKSHOP TO MAINTAIN FARM EQUIPMENT that has adequate lighting, electric power, and ventilation
• NEW ROOF AND SOLID FOUNDATION
• COMPOSTING TOILET AND HANDWASHING FACILITY to replace the chemical sani-can
• IMPROVED FARMYARD SITTING AREA that has some shade and takes into account safety for children and the elderly.
• PHOTOVOLTAIC ELECTRICAL GENERATING SYSTEM to remain a model for sustainability

Why do we need a cement floor?
We move 200,000 lbs of produce every year - from field to cooler to farmshop. We have been doing this one 40-pound box at a time - one back at a time. With a cement floor, one person using a simple un-motorized pallet jack can move a 1000-pound bin of butternut squash by themselves with no strain on their body. Cement = Sustainability (of farmers) and Efficiency.

Why do we need a bathroom?
For years we didn't have a bathroom at the farm - farm workers peed in the woods or used the farmer's house across the street. Shareholders held it in! Then we felt we needed something for the farm workers (after Karen wondered how many times she has to clean the bathroom floor!) and the shareholders (after the 50th time a
child almost pooped his pants!) so we have had a Sani-Can for 5 years now. Those things are based on chemical treatment of sewage and are completely opposite what we stand for on the farm in terms of waste
management, organic recycling, and overall smart use of resources!

is the parking dangerous now?
Yes! Currently people back up toward incoming people leaving the farm shop - it's always been a concern - it won't take much to make the entrance the exit and change that aspect of parking.

Why do we need a Root Cellar - why not just a walk in cooler?
For years we have wanted to have 12-month distribution of food - not just 6, but we don't have the storage space. The storage space needs to be large enough for our community (about 1200 sq feet will fill
150,000 lbs of produce, which is roughly 30lbs per share for roots). We could build a big walk-in cooler - but it is more sustainable and time-tested to use the cooling power of the earth (not too hot, not too cold) and bury your veggies in a state of "suspended animation" - once built it will cost very little to maintain and use.

Why do we need to move the greenhouses? Aren't they fine?
We're moving the greenhouses because that will make more room for parking. In addition, the greenhouses need to be re-skinned anyway and if we put a new floor in the big one, we can use it for more storage of squash, sweet potatoes, onions, and garlic for winter distributions (another 30lbs per share). A small "head house" will
enable us to work in the greenhouse without working directly in the 100-degree heat and if the greenhouse is connected to the main barn with a walkway we can move a pallet load of squash without lifting it by hand OR starting a tractor!

is this going to lose the spirit of the place?
Let's remember this is a BARN we are building, not a store, not Atkins, not Bread & Circus. This is a working space for our project - it will be made of wood. It will be light and airy. The spirit of this place is the people who make it work - and they are not leaving or changing!

Are you only asking shareholders for money?
No! We have an extensive list of old and new friends of the farm whose relationships have been nurtured for over 20 years. We are also counting on their support for this project.

Is this going to raise the share cost?
Our capital campaign will not rely on share price increases for a source of funds. Share prices cover the annual operating expenses of running the farm. There will be a $25 share increase in 2004 that will merely serve to keep up with the operating costs of the farm.

Will this increase our operating costs?
No! We currently pay to rent our office space from Dan - we won't have to do that anymore, which will more than offset the costs of electricity and heat for an office. This barn is unheated, so there shouldn't be any more utility costs. And considering that we will be more efficient, in terms of labor and in terms of protecting supplies from rodents, we should save money!

Why do we sell shares to Boston?
Our farm center will always be too small to feed the number of people we can serve with our land base. It's only 250 feet long on a 4-acre lot. Providing shares to Boston allows us to grow more without having more cars in the parking lot! It allows us to provide each share more efficiently, because of economies of scale, and connects
Brookfield Farm to a wider network of people who support CSAs. The shareholders in the Boston area are not subsidized - they are charged for delivery, etc. In addition, sharing our food with people in a nearby urban/suburban area (not just keeping all the good stuff to ourselves!) serves the outreach function of the Trust.

$250,000

The project budget includes architect and engineering fees, site work, new construction and renovation. Fundraising costs will be kept at a minimum as the campaign will be volunteer driven.

$150,000 in Individual Gifts (or more to help us reduce borrowing!)

payable over 3 years, if needed

$50,000 in Grants

to be obtained over the next 3 years

$50,000 in Borrowing