Meet Modern Farmer's Guest Instagrammer: The Buckle Farm

While attending Unity College in Maine, Jim Buckle had a revelation: local food tastes better. Although he didn’t come from an agricultural background, it wasn’t long before he began farming. Nearly 20 years later, he’s still at it.

“After one summer of apprenticing at Snakeroot Organic Farm in Pittsfield, Maine, I fell in love with the taste of fresh, high-quality food. I wanted to be able to share that taste with as many people as I can,” says the 38-year-old Buckle.

After college, Buckle started a farm in Montville, about 15 miles from Unity, which he later sold to a young couple who still operate it under the name After the Fall Farm. From there, he moved to Boston, where he managed Allandale Farm for nearly a decade.

The Buckle Farm, now in its fifth season, began life on a small plot of leased land in Dighton, Maine. After a few years they did well enough to buy their own place back in Unity, where they “will remain forever,” says Buckle.

Buckle’s next revelation was the fact that not everybody could afford the fresh food he and his fellow farmers were growing. His answer was to begin to donate as much of his produce as he could during the growing season to feed the less fortunate.

The farm is run by Buckle and 29-year-old Hannah Hamilton with the help of three others, growing a mix of vegetables, herbs, flowers, heirloom apples, pears and pork. Seven acres are dedicated to vegetables; three acres to apples and pears; and two acres for pasture for their pigs.

“Our products are available on the farm in Unity, at various restaurants, shops and farmers markets in both Maine and Boston,” he says. “The crew at The Buckle Farm look forward to being your farmers!”

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Website: www.bucklefarm.com

Hey farmers, want to take over our Instagram feed for a few weeks? Shoot us an email at [email protected].