LYNDEBOROUGH – There are a lot of farmers of various kinds in town and they have decided to form an association, to work together, to offer each support to become more successful.

“We are still in formation,” Bob Newton, one of the organizers, said at the second meeting of the group on Feb. 24. He is also a member of the Planning Board.

The goals of the group, listed at their first meeting on Jan. 28, include sharing knowledge and equipment, creating a farmers’ market, holding a farm tour in the future, looking into bulk feed discounts, finding grants, supporting agriculture in Lyndeborough, classroom outreach, and helping with business forms, taxes, and insurance. They decided to hold monthly meetings, currently at the library, but will probably move outdoors, into somebody’s garden or orchard, when the weather is warmer.

Discussion of those goals continued at the second meeting which was attended by ten residents. Finding a location for a market was a top item. The area around the old Town Hall in Lyndeborough Center was suggested as being large enough, centrally located, and on a well-traveled road. The group will have a tent there at Community Day on Aug.25.

Also of interest were current bills in the legislature affecting growers. Available online classes were mentioned, as were area butchers.

Any farmer in Lyndeborough is invited to join the group. What is a farmer?

“Anybody who has an agricultural business, who raises something for sale of personal use,” Newton said. “As part of their business or lives.” Those areas include livestock and chickens, vegetable and flower gardens, and bees.

Size or type doesn’t matter. Several of those present raise chickens and the price and availability of baby chicks was a concern.

Farmers in Wilton and Greenfield are also invited to join. Newton stressed that this is a private organization. Although they have a Facebook page for announcements, personal information is shared only among members.

The next meeting will be held on March 24, 3 p.m., at the Tarbell Library. For information, contact lyndeboroughfarmersassociation@proton.me.

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