Photo courtesy of Maine.gov

A small group of interested Central Maine residents braved the last week to hear Maine Farmland Trust Executive Director John Piotti speak about the future of farming in Maine at the Charles Bailey Public Library in Winthrop. In one hour, Piotti made a compelling case for Maine’s future as a food producing engine in the region. Piotti’s road show has already stopped in Union, Rockport, and Augusta.

Piotti’s vision is for farming to be the centerpiece of a sustainable future for Maine, and to create through grassroots community discussions (yeah, I went there) a “barely restrained mob” of Mainers who will support policies that support farming. For me, the most moving aspect of Piotti’s vision is its inclusiveness. He avoids the battles that some of us have found frustrating: organic vs. conventional, local vs. commodity, slow food vs. production breeds. Instead, he identifies the common interests and even interdependence of the various farming methods and models.

Check out Piotti’s 2011 TEXxHarvardLaw talk, “Can New England Feed Itself?” here and check out his roadshow if it comes to a library, luncheon, or living room near you.