Ensure local food options are available in Mattapoisett

Hello Mattapoisett and beyond!

I'm guessing at this point, I am a complete unknown in the local community, so for those of you who don't know, I grew up in Mattapoisett and have known Farmer Mike for well over 50 years. I have visited Wyandotte Farm several times in the last 14 years and the bacon is to die for!

Over the years, Mike has always been there for me and I know it's the same for many other individuals and organizations. For this, and for everything else he has done for Mattapoisett (Harbor Days, K of C, etc.), I can't let his efforts to provide local, organic food options to the town get steamrolled. This is critical, everyone should know where your food comes from. Big Ag/Food is no different than Big Pharma or Big Tobacco - they don't care what their products do to the public. Look around - obesity is soaring, significant health issues are commonplace, chronic disease is ravaging our children. In fact, Europe and other countries won't take many of our crops because they are full of banned chemicals and unhealthy to consume. Local operators are the best way to get reliable, healthy food and Wyandotte Farm is one of them.

Mike has run into significant challenges with the Town government. They have shut down his farm stand at 84 North St. and they continue to put up roadblocks to keep him from re-opening. He has been asked to respond to several administrative requests and each time he does, the request is changed and he is forced to start over. Mattapoisett is a "Right to Farm" community, Wyandotte is a farm, and the stand on North St. is nothing more than an expansion of the operation. Nothing illegal or inappropriate for a location that has had an existing farm stand for many years.

This fundraiser is intended to support Mike and Wyandotte farm while he works through Town requirements (which actually may or may not be necessary given that Wyandotte is a protected farm entity per the Dover Amendment under Massachusett State Law). With the farm stand shut down, Wyandotte's revenues have been significantly impacted and it is becoming very difficult for Mike to continue fighting. Needless to say, he has been complying with the rules placed on the farm and will continue to do so until this issue is resolved.

My hope is that all of you will be willing to help and collectively we can ensure that Mattapoisett continues to support small business and have local food easily available. Please donate what you can and forward this along to others who might also be willing to help. Local farms are the backbone of communities and we should do everything we can to save them.