Organic Farm Flourishes with Help from AMA Program

Fort Hill Farm is a small, 20-acre farm located in New Milford, Connecticut. The certified-organic farm produces herbs, flowers, fruit, and vegetables – including arugula, mizuna, red kale, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, sugar snap peas, winter squash, sweet potatoes, leeks, garlic tomatoes, and eggplant.

Owner Paul Bucciaglia – a beginner-farmer who has been operating for three years – uses a broad range of biological farming approaches, including on-farm composting and extensive use of cover crops to control weeds and improve soil organic matter. Through the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program, he has installed an irrigation well, deer fence, and implemented an Integrated Pest Management Plan to protect water quality. These conservation practices have helped reduce the farm’s risk of crop loss due to lack of water, wildlife damage, and insect and disease problems.

Fort Hill Farm’s markets include two farmers markets, several natural food stores, and a 200-share CSA. (Community Supported Agriculture is an arrangement where share-holders purchase a share of produce from the farm. In return, from June-October they receive a weekly box of seasonal, farm fresh, organic produce along with farm and nutrition information and recipes.)

The land, located along the main stem of the Housatonic River, is rented from the Nature Conservancy under a long term lease. Bucciaglia helps preserve the water quality of the river, while making fresh food available to local residents.

Fort Hill Farm is located in the Connecticut Highlands Region. The U.S. Highlands Conservation Act of 2004 has designated this region an area to preserve open space for its benefits to water quality protection and passive recreation. Fort Hill Farm’s conservation practices will help protect agriculture as part of the eco-region.

Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) provides cost share assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations. Producers may construct or improve water management structures or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality; and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming.

12/21/05

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