Featured Farms
Long Table Farm
“We could not have afforded the purchase of the farm without the easement.”
– Baylee Drown, Long Table Farm owner and operator
Small farm, big impact for new farmers
In the age of industrial agriculture, 4.6 acres can be viewed as a drop in the bucket, but for Baylee Drown and her husband, Ryan Quinn, “Quinn,” their land in Lyme is just right.
Farmland easement donation
In 2017, they protected the land with Connecticut Farmland Trust (CFT) by donating an agricultural easement. Baylee and Quinn’s journey to owning Long Table Farm demonstrates the power of farmland conservation. Deborah and Rod Hornbake purchased the farm in 2012 to prevent the development of the land into several house sites. The Hornbakes are lifelong organic gardeners who were looking to actively support local agriculture. They entered into a lease-to-own agreement with Baylee and Quinn.
CFT, the Hornbakes, Baylee, and Quinn worked together to make sure the easement would allow for a successful farm. Baylee and Quinn bought the protected farm at its agricultural value instead of the development value and Long Table Farm has flourished.
Farming as a focal point for building community
Despite the small size of the farm, Long Table Farm provides Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares to 150 families in the area. Baylee and Quinn’s enthusiasm for innovation and regenerative agriculture have not gone unnoticed. In 2021, Baylee and Quinn received a grant from CT Department of Agriculture to build a barn. Another grant has funded a composting program that is open to Lyme residents and CSA members. Long Table Farm now has an electric tractor and solar panels, all in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.
 |
 |