SUDBURY, MA — A town board created to protect Sudbury's farming interests is back at work after a seven-year hiatus.
The five-member Agricultural Commission held its first meeting since 2019 on Sept. 24. The commission elected Victor Sulkowski as chair and Laura Abrams as vice chair.
The group is working to identify the town's agricultural properties, connect with farmers and develop ways to support operations ranging from commercial farms to backyard chicken coops and beekeeping.
Sudbury Town Meeting established the commission in 2005 to represent the farming community, encourage agriculture and promote agriculture-based economic opportunities.
The commission's current members are Abrams, Sulkowski, Kelly Culver, Allison Goldfarb and Joshua Joslyn. All five were appointed by the Select Board.
Abrams is president of J.P. Bartlett Co., a family-owned wholesale greenhouse. Culver operates WG Stables, Goldfarb runs the equine-based North Light Coaching practice, Joslyn owns The Cheese Shop in Concord and Sulkowski operates The Water's Edge, a small farm, stable and contracting business.
The members began setting their priorities during the September meeting. Those included creating a registry of agricultural properties using information from the assessor, health department and other town offices. The commission also discussed contacting owners of land classified for agricultural or horticultural use under Chapter 61A, properties covered by Agricultural Preservation Restrictions and local Farm Bureau members.
Sulkowski said the commission intends to consider smaller-scale agriculture as well as established commercial operations.
"I think the definition of farming has changed," Sulkowski said in an account of the commission's work written by Select Board member Dan Carty. Sulkowski said residents collectively raising chickens or producing eggs can have an impact comparable to a small farm.
At its Oct. 22 meeting, the commission received guidance from Pete Westover, a technical assistance consultant working with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Members discussed farmland protection funds, potential use of Community Preservation Act money and coordination with the Conservation Commission and other town boards, according to Carty's account.
The commission is also considering outreach to Sudbury schools and possible participation in farm-to-school programs. Members identified the state's Farmland Action Plan as a potential guide for their work.
That plan focuses on protecting farmland, increasing access to agricultural land and improving farm viability.
The commission plans to meet monthly. Its next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Flynn Building, with remote participation available.
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