Type

Farm Land Trust

Agent

Nina Young

Company

Maine Farmland Trust

BELFAST, MAINE

Price

USD $ 254,000

Space (Sq. Ft)

2500

Description

This is a unique opportunity to operate a small farm less than two miles from downtown Belfast, on a beautiful riverfront setting surrounded by over 150 acres of conservation land.

A farmer has the chance to purchase a restored antique home on 3 acres of land and to lease an additional 60 acres of abutting land. The leased land consists of about 20 acres of rolling fields suitable for either crops or livestock, and about 40 acres of woods that can be sustainably harvested. This property is ideally suited for a small farm selling locally, either onsite and/or at other local market venues.

 The farmer would be assured a long-term lease (25 years, with an option to renew) and the flexibility to use the leased land for a broad range of agricultural practices and to install fencing and erect agricultural buildings on the leased land.

 The additional 60 acres is offered for lease rather than for sale because the land is owned by Coastal Mountains Land Trust (CMLT). CMLT purchased this property as part of larger parcel of riverfront land that cannot be developed, on which they plan to create a trail system ultimately extending along the riverfront to downtown Belfast. Leasing the land rather than owning it will place some constraints on the farmer, but these constraints will be more than offset by many special benefits, which include: 

• The opportunity to utilize 60 acres of land without needing to buy it. NOTE:  Lease costs (outlined below) will be minimal, far below the cost to pay off a mortgage on the land.  
• The opportunity to take advantage of CMLT’s plans to construct a system of walking trails on abutting land, which will attract people and attention to the site.  
• CMLT’s willingness to: 1) allow the farmer to construct a farm stand (if desired) on CMLT owned property abutting the house lot, where a dual-use parking lot could serve both the farm stand and the trailhead; and 2) allow the farmer (if desired) to recreate a farm pond on CMLT owned property at a site that was previously used for this purpose.  
• The opportunity to work in partnership with Maine Farmland Trust (MFT), which is leasing the land from CMLT and will be subleasing the land to the farmer. (MFT is committed to helping the farmer farm successfully on this land, to helping promote the farm operation and to serving as a helpful interface between the farmer and CMLT.)

 Purchase price (for house and 3 acres): $254,000

Please call for further lease details