Welcome
Resident leasing farmers make their living from the farm, while supporting the Foundation's live-learn-work mentorship program for Maine youth. As the farmers steward the land year-round, Bowsprit Foundation offers seasonal two-week intensives, fostering self-reliance and perseverance, interdependence and creativity.
Working in the fields and in well-equipped studios, program participants are immersed in a supportive environment, empowered by a community with decades of experience in farming, making, and mentoring; each of us benefit from sharing our work, our skills, and our meals.
Whether you are a high-school student looking for a fresh perspective, a teacher with a referral, or a craftsperson wanting to pass on your knowledge and make a difference in the world, we look forward to learning together.
Bowsprit Foundation functions as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, registered in Maine, USA.
Working in the fields and in well-equipped studios, program participants are immersed in a supportive environment, empowered by a community with decades of experience in farming, making, and mentoring; each of us benefit from sharing our work, our skills, and our meals.
Whether you are a high-school student looking for a fresh perspective, a teacher with a referral, or a craftsperson wanting to pass on your knowledge and make a difference in the world, we look forward to learning together.
Bowsprit Foundation functions as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, registered in Maine, USA.
Our Mission
Creating opportunities for young adults to gain practical-skills experience through agriculture, forestry,
food preparation, and traditional crafts.
Guided by Rudolf Steiner’s pedagogy and social therapy, our programs aim to assist young adults in developing skills for independence, a capacity to contribute to the community, and a sense of self-worth and hopefulness for their future.
food preparation, and traditional crafts.
Guided by Rudolf Steiner’s pedagogy and social therapy, our programs aim to assist young adults in developing skills for independence, a capacity to contribute to the community, and a sense of self-worth and hopefulness for their future.
OUR PROGRAMS
Mentorship
Our mentors are local farmers, foresters, and craft-masters who have spent decades doing what they love. Mentorship offers a means of reaching our area's youth in ways that the traditional classroom often cannot.
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Farming
Working in vegetable and fruit production, livestock management, and in the forest, participants engage in important and practical work alongside skilled and knowledgeable farmers and foresters. This work fosters self confidence, and builds on Maine's traditional 'can-do' attitude.
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Craftsmasters At Work
Participants work with metal, wood, clay, or fiber, in workshops led by craftmasters from Maine, who enthusiastically share their expertise and enthusiasm for their work. Sometimes we invite guest mentors from further afield.
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In the landscape
Explore beautiful mid-coast Maine with us. Quiet days are spent swimming in local ponds and creeks, hiking the trails of Waldo County, or inspecting tidal pools along Penobscot Bay. Evenings may include group discussion, singing, writing in journals, or attending open community dances.
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GET INVOLVED
Join Us On the Land, or Help Support our Programs
Bowsprit Foundation is actively seeking farmer-colleagues, donors, and volunteers! For farmer Colleagues: Land is currently available for long-term lease - arable, pasture, and hay-land. Are you an organic farmer? Does this sound like a great fit for you? Do you know someone that might be interested? Please let us know; click on 'contact us' at the top of the page. We’re actively building an experienced, competent, committed team who share common goals for the land, while managing their own independent farm businesses. Having an interest in working with at-risk youth is a deal-maker, and an interest in biodynamics is a plus! For potential Funders: This farm project is an exciting and important addition to our local community here in mid-coast Maine. Your donation, large or small, supports land access for farmers committed to regenerative agriculture, as well as helping to build living relationships between farmers, craft and business people, and young people from the region searching for real connections in their world. There are a variety of ways to make a tax deductible donation to support Bowsprit programs. Use the Donate button at the top of the page; use the Contact Us button to reach us directly, we're always happy to talk about our work; email us to get on our mailing list, so that you keep abreast of our program information, and our latest fundraising campaigns. If you, or someone you know might be interested in learning more, please reach out. We’re almost always available for further discussion. For Volunteers: Opportunities abound for people of all ages interested in being on the farm: from being an empathic presence during our programs, to keeping our tools honed between times; from historic-building consultation, to harvesting produce for the local food bank; there is something to interest everyone, and plenty of tasks to go around! Our volunteers are a needed and appreciated source of vitalization in our mission to provide affordable organic food to local people, affordable farmland for farmer families, and real work and learning for young people in need of guidance. Where we are located: Bowsprit is a multi-operator, organic, and/or biodynamic farm association on 500 diverse acres at the southern edge of the town of Unity, Waldo Co, Maine. Help us make the farm at Bowsprit a sustainable place to live, learn, and work, for years to come. [Among many other great grass-roots organizations, Unity is also home to MOFGA www.mofga.org; a thriving Amish community; The Ecology Learning Center www.ecologylearningcenter.org; Daybreak Grower's Alliance www.daybreakalliance.org; the trail-head of the Hills to Sea Trail www.hillstosea.org; and Unity Barn Raisers www.unitybarnraisers.org] |
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Contact Us
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