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<div>Support Second Drop Farm: Help Us Fight for the Protection of a 270 year old Historic Farm in The Berkshires!
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<div>We are the Second Drop Farm family. We are a three-generation family of parents, children, and grandparents working side-by-side. When we became the new keepers of the historic Bradley Farm (established 1762), we didn’t just buy land, we took on a promise to protect a piece of Berkshire history. But today, that promise is under threat, and we are reaching out to you with heavy hearts.
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<div>What started as our dream family farm has slowly become a nightmare of selective targeting. We recently made a public announcement that the town of Lanesborough has served us a cease and desist order on our Airbnbs also known as short term rentals, on the farm. Their argument is that short term rentals are not allowed in the town of Lanesborough. Yet the town of Lanesborough has no bylaws mentioning that rule, the town of Lanesborough has adopted the right to farm law which would allow farms to have short term rentals as part of agrotourism, the town of Lanesborough graciously takes our 9% sales tax for our ‘illegal’ rentals along with the several dozen other short term rentals in Lanesborough. Yet after a public records release we found we at the time were the only short term rental targeted.
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<div>Despite the farm’s long history of serving the public, established in 1762. The Town of Lanesborough also claimed last year that the existing farm store and commercial kitchen of the former Bradley farm were "not zoned" for us to use, forcing us to operate out of a 10x10 pop up tent while we fought for the same rights previous farmers had. We had to continue paying a mortgage for a farm store and kitchen that comes with Lanesborough’s high property taxes but we’re being told we couldn’t open. We bought the farm with it having been listed that there was an operating farm store. By the grace of god our family worked hard to raise money for an architect which we were told by the town that we needed to open, which we later found out we never needed. We proudly opened our farm store and coffee shop despite what was thrown at us. We have been misinformed time and time again by the town of Lanesborough this has affected us emotionally and financially.
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<div>Why We Need Your Help
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<div>We believe in agrotourism, creating a space where people can connect with the land and the history of the Berkshires. But the legal fees required to fight these battles and the financial losses have put our farm's future at risk.
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<div>We are raising funds to cover:
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<div>* Legal Fees: To challenge the cease-and-desist and ensure our right to operate as a farm under Massachusetts "Right to Farm" laws.
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<div>* Operational Expenses: To help us recover from the months we were forced to remain closed or limited in our capacity.
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<div>* Preservation: To ensure Second Drop Farm remains a farm and a public resource for generations to come.
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<div>Stand With Second Drop Farm
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<div>This farm has been a place of commerce and community since the 1700s. We are the current stewards trying to keep that light burning and bring back life to this farm.
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<div>Every dollar helps us stand up to selective enforcement and ensures that local farming remains viable in Lanesborough.
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<div>Thank you for standing with our family and the history of this farm.
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<div>— The Second Drop Farm Family
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<div>A behind the scenes look of farm life from one of our farmer at Second Drop Farm
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Michael Greenberg

Anonymous

Tully Hall

harrison goodale

Jerome Martin

Scott Danek

Rebecca Barnini

Kay Judge

Lindsey Blanchard

Jess Kielman

Susan Bouchard

Kathryn Tate

Justice for a 270 year old Historic Farm in The Berkshires

Justice for a 270 year old Historic Farm in The Berkshires

Still $34,325 to go. Help us build momentum.