The Aldermere & Erickson Campaign

You’re invited to join a transformational campaign to enhance these community preserves and working farms to foster greater connections between people, the food we eat, and the land that sustains us all.

MCHT seeks to raise $3.8 million for critical infrastructure updates and equipment upgrades. Thanks to early and generous donors, we’re well on our way to the goal and your support today brings us that much closer!

Let Heidi tell you what the campaign is all about in the video below!

Community Preserves Changing Lives

As Maine Coast Heritage Trust preserves, Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields have become life-changing community gathering and learning places for the greater Camden-Rockport area.

Through these exceptional preserves and the generosity of donors, we’re connecting thousands of people to the outdoors, feeding our community, educating youth, supporting fellow farms, and demonstrating sustainable farming practices.

See what we offer at Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields today

At Aldermere Farm
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Free, year-round programs for young people, including Farm Hands and the Aldermere Achievers 4-H Club
Seasonal events and farm tours open to the public
Donated beef for local food pantries
Beautiful places to walk, snowshoe, and ski
A powerful example of sustainable farm operations dating back to the 50s
Education and support for professional farmers, including insights into regenerative farming and other land resilience practices

At Erickson Fields

Agricultural programs including Teen Ag that produce over 20,000 pounds of fresh local food annually for pantries, schools, and businesses
A year-round family- and dog-friendly place where people can walk and run, garden, and enjoy nature
A 1.8-mile wellness trail connected to nearby Beach Hill Preserve
Community gardens and educational opportunities for young kids, their families, and other community members - Education and training on regenerative agricultural practices like cover cropping and no-till farming, which build healthy soils and ecosystems

But we could do so much more. Aldermere Farm was originally designed as a private working farm, not a public preserve, and maintaining and growing both agricultural preserves as community resources comes with a cost.

Safer, more Efficient, and Inclusive Preserves

Maine Coast Heritage Trust seeks to raise at least $3 million from the community for critical new infrastructure and equipment that will enable us to better serve the Midcoast community for the decades to come. Here’s what a successful campaign will make possible:

A new barn and visitor center at Aldermere Farm

This new structure will increase operational safety and efficiency for staff, support youth programs, serve as a demonstration facility for other farmers, and allow us to welcome more visitors to learn about the farm and MCHT’s coast-wide work. This wheel-chair accessible and solar-ready structure will open to the main barn, with a balcony to look out over day-to-day activities at the farm.

A facility to house breeding bulls at Aldermere Farm

This new structure will keep cattle safe and facilitate sharing services and equipment with other farms.

A shelter in the pasture on the north end of the property at Aldermere Farm

This new structure will prevent over-grazing of the farm’s pastures.

An open-air barn in the garden at Erickson Fields

This structure will replace a temporary tarp building (now ten years old) and allow staff to keep equipment on site⁠—freeing up time for programming, gardening, and food distribution.

New roadside barns at Erickson Fields

The current roadside barns will be redesigned/rebuilt to allow staff and program participants to wash, pack and distribute produce more safely and efficiently, and enhance food security efforts. The current roadside barns are 75+-year-old farm outbuildings originally built for livestock.

New and improved signage at both preserves

Engaging signage will educate visitors on a wide variety of topics such as sustainable farming, history of the land, invasive plant management, and the myriad benefits of land conservation.

Essential new equipment

A truck and tractor will drastically increase efficiency and impact at both preserves.

Investment in the endowment

Investments in the endowment for these preserves will ensure there is funding to maintain these essential infrastructure updates.

“Over the years, we’ve done as much as possible with what we have, but it’s time to make a significant and meaningful investment in these preserves. I just know the impact of this campaign, if successful, will be tremendous for everyone in our community.”

—Heidi Baker, Farm Preserve Director

Make a Difference for Places You Love

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Have unanswered questions? Check out our FAQ page to learn more.

Your gift today will bring us that much closer to a successful campaign, extending the reach and impact of Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields and ensuring future generations stay connected to the land, our rich farming heritage, and one another.

Thank you for your generosity!

For more information, please contact:

David Warren
Planned Giving and Major Gifts Officer

207-522-9228

Heidi Baker
Farm Preserve Director

207-236-6374

Or check out our FAQ page