Agriculture Commission Meeting: January 8, 2025

Jan 8 2025

7:00 pm Annex (small) and Virtual

6 Town Hall Dr, Princeton 01541

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Published on: August 04, 2025 at 4:24pm

Last modified: September 23, 2025 at 1:20pm

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680-657-589

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“The listings of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair 48 hours before said meeting, which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”

LIST OF TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED

Agricultural Commission 1/8/2025 Meeting Agenda

1/ Review & accept 12/18/2024 meeting minutes

2/ Updates/reminders/continued discussion & planning of 2025 presentations:

a/ Winter Presentations/Activities

I/ Raptors & Rodenticides Jan. 15 with Jan. 22 as weather date, 7pm

– Honorarium – Eddie

– Publicity – Eddie, Susan, Dylan

– Coordination of refreshments – Eddie, John, others

II/ USDA & MDAR Grants Program (2/12, 2/26, 3/12 or 3/26) – Eddie, Dylan

depending on availability of presenters.

c/ Spring Presentations/Activities

I/ March ????

II/ Small Farm Shared Experiences. April 23.

consider a focus for some of the program –

perhaps preparing for a farm inspection.

III/ Farm Day May 10, with May 17 as a rain date.

details to be worked out later.

topics for future presentations:

Bee Keeping

Backyard Fruits

Composting

Foraging

Horses

Solicit the public for other topics at Hey Day

3/ Continue discussion/reflection on current status of the commission and

member’s vision(s)/thoughts/strategic planning for the future

4/ New Business:

5/ Next meeting dates:

Wed 2/12, 7pm small room of annex
Wed 3/12, 7pm small room of annex

6/ Action Items for next meeting:

Commission Members present in person: Eddie Good, Chair, Vicki Braunhardt (Alternate), Susan Connell (Alternate), Lisa Prozzo (Alternate), and Dylan Stimson

Commission Members remote: none

Commission Members absent: Dianna Gruber-Markley, John Mirick, and Chad Steiner

Public Participation in person/remote: None

Call to order: 7:10 PM

Minutes

The minutes for December 18, 2024 were approved.

Programs for 2025

Raptors, Rodenticides, Collateral Damage, and Better Options

This is confirmed for January 15, 2025, with January 22, 2025 as a weather date. Eddie is arranging for honorarium. Eddie, Susan and Dylan in coordination with EAC are arranging for publicity. Eddie, John, Vicki, and EAC are arranging for refreshments.

Program on Grants

Eddie and Dylan are waiting to hear from USDA and MDAR. Program will be in February ( 2/12 or 2/26) or March (3/12 or 3/26) depending on what will work for presenters.

Program in March

Commission decided on program on backyard fruit trees. Eddie will arrange speaker.

Small Farm Shared Experiences.

The next one will be April 23, perhaps with a focus on farm inspections. Rev. Joelle of First Congregational Church is looking to involve the church in community activities. Commission decided to have April program there. Eddie will coordinate.

Farm Day

This will be May 10, with May 17 as a rain date. Details will be worked out later.

Future Program Possibilities

Bee Keeping in the fall, prior to Worcester County Beekeepers Association Bee School in January the grants program is in February.

Other possibilities include:

Composting

Foraging

Horses

Poultry

Herding Dog Demonstration

Maple Sugaring Demonstration

Strategic Planning

Rev. Joelle is interested in re-establishing Princeton Farmer’s Market at the First Congregational Church.

Dylan suggests a Princeton Agricultural Fair, 1-2 times a year

Continued coordination with other Princeton committees, Mass Audubon, and neighboring Ag Comms.

Discussion of strategic planning to be continued at future meetings.

Annual Report

Eddie will work on the annual report for review at February meeting.

Next meetings and events

Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 7:00 PM – Raptors, Rodenticides Program at Town Hall Annex

Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7:00 PM – regular meeting at Town Hall Annex with virtual option

Wednesday, April 23 at 7:00 PM – Small Farm Shared Experiences at Church

Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Eddie Good