Agricultural Commission

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Commission Description:
The Marshfield Agricultural Committee was established in February 2006. A few short years later it was reestablished as a Commission and has adopted the mission statement as follows:

“The duty of the Agricultural Commission is to represent the Town of Marshfield’s agricultural community and interests."

This commission shall serve as facilitator for encouraging the pursuit of agriculture in Marshfield: promoting agricultural based economic opportunities for the Town, act as mediators, advocates, educators and/or negotiators for the general public and in an advisory capacity on farming issues for established Town Committees and Departments, work for the preservation of both town owned and privately owned agricultural lands, and pursuing all initiatives appropriate to creating a sustainable agricultural community.”

Since that time the Commission has drafted and had approved at town meeting a “Right to Farm” bylaw. The purpose of this by-law is to state with emphasis the Right to Farm accorded to all citizens of the Commonwealth under Article 97 of the Constitution, and all state statutes and regulations thereunder including but not limited to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, Section 3, Paragraph 1: Chapter 90, Section 9: Chapter 111, Section 125A and Chapter 128, Section 1A. We the citizens of Marshfield restate and republish these rights pursuant to the Towns authority conferred by Article 89 of the Articles of Amendment of the Massachusetts Constitution, (Home Rule Amendment)”.

This General By-Law encourages the pursuit of agriculture, promotes agriculture based economic opportunities, and protects farmlands within the Town of Marshfield by allowing agricultural uses and related activities to function with minimal conflict with abutters and Town agencies. The By-Law applies to all jurisdictional areas within the town.  

For a complete text of this by-law contact the Town Clerk for a copy of the Town By-Laws.

In addition the Agricultural Commission sponsors two Community Garden sites.  One is located on conservation property at Mounce Meadows off Union Street, the oher is at Coast Guard Hill Recreation Center (CGH). Mounce's Meadow Gardens (MM) consist of 20 plots, in 20' x 30' with some of those divided further into 20' x 15' sizes, and CGH consists of twenty 4'x8' raised bed gardens for smaller home gardeners or beginners.  Both are for use by anyone wishing to grown their own produce or flowers organically (no chemical pesticides, fertilizers or herbicides) See our link to the left side and above for an application to join our gardeners.  2023 is using the same 2022 application form.  Some plots at CGH are for programming at the Rec Center and unused ones are used to grow food for the Marshfield Food Pantry.  Marshfield residents have priority for plots.  

 

Commission Members

NameTitleTerm Expires
Lorrie Dahlen

Chair

6/30/2024

Annie Massed

6/30/2026

Karen Vieira

6/30/2026

Ed Duane

6/30/2026

Kristen Webb

6/30/2025

Caleen Alexanderson

Alternate

6/30/2025

Delia Delongchamp

Alternate

6/30/2026