Molly Friedland and Caleb Hawkins of Little Red Flower Truck. COURTESY OF BROOKLIN FOOD CORPS
BROOKLIN—The Brooklin Food Corps has announced Farmers Talk, a series of talks by the newest generation of Peninsula farmers. These farmers, relatively new to the immediate area, will share what they’ve learned so far about growing on the coast of downeast Maine. The series is inspired by, and celebrates, the robustness of our area’s small-farms movement, according to a press release. Like all BFC events, the talks are free and open to everyone. This programming is a collaboration with Brooklin’s Friend Memorial Public Library, where the talks will take place.
. Reid Calhoun of Moon Beam Farm, in Blue Hill, will launch the program on Saturday, February 14, with a discussion about starting a garden plot. He knows about new undertakings: he and his partner, Nikki Burtis, moved from Mount Desert to establish their one-acre farm here in 2025. (Saturday, February 14, 2 p.m.)
. In the second of the series, Troy Dickens of Tilth and Timber, in Castine, will discuss soil health. Troy and his partner, Cindy Dickens, do not use any pesticides, sprays, or chemicals, in order to improve soil fertility and build nutrients. (Saturday, February 21, 2 p.m. )
. In the third of the series, Caleb Hawkins and Molly Friedland of Little Red Flower Truck will discuss winter growing. They founded LRFT in 2021, and in 2025 they took a long-term lease at Brooksville’s Four Season Farm, which includes seven acres of cropland as well as nine greenhouses. (Saturday, March 7, 2 p.m.)
Also starting in February, the Brooklin Food Corps and Brooklin’s Climate Response Committee will co-host each of the nonfiction selections for the Friend Memorial Public Library’s semimonthly book club.
The series will kick off on February 25 with The Last Sweet Bite, by Michael Shaikh. Subtitled “Stories and Recipes of Culinary Heritage Lost and Found,” it combines reporting, memoir, travel writing, culinary history, and recipes to explore what conflict does to local cuisines. Those who are interested should gather at the library at 1 p.m. The BFC’s events page lists the other titles to be read. Readers are welcome to come to one meeting, some, or all—and even to bring a small dish inspired by their reading.
Molly DellaRoman and Tim Skillin of 5 Star Nursery and Orchard will teach the Food Corps’ annual spring-pruning workshop on Saturday, March 14, at 10 a.m., in the Brooklin School’s orchard. They will demonstrate how to prune fruit trees for health and good fruit production.This is very hands on, so attendees should bring tools if they have them, work gloves and safety glasses (or sunglasses) are recommended. Free and open to all. (Rain/snow day, March 15.)
And, finally on Saturday, March 28, the BFC will celebrate the reopening of its Seed Library with an open house. The Seed Library is lovingly installed in the Friend Memorial Public Library’s old card catalog, and the meeting will be there, from 2-4 p.m. This year’s seed-saving project will be herbs, and there will be instruction on growing and saving their seeds.
The BFC was founded to offer neighbors the resources and the knowledge needed to be an active part of the local food system, and to experience the joy that can bring.
For additional information, contact Pam McCarthy, pmaffeimccarthy@gmail.com, 917-453-0478.
Dining and Cooking