YES’s
1. great idea
2. I love it if we can afford it
3. I think it is a wonderful idea, I hope that the community will be able to farm the land as well as the store, if such an option were available the community through the store.
4. ✓+
5. Fabulous idea
6. Great idea/ fantastic use of land that BENEFITS the community and environment.
7. very supportive
8. Great! go for it!
9. GREAT
10. Use as farm land
11. I am ALL for it. Please purchase it and keep it thriving for all of us. Thank you.
12. I am 100% in favor!
13. I think it is a great idea!
14. Great idea
15. GOOD IDEA
16. I love farms & think it is a forward thinking move for our town & state.
17. Go for it.
18. I am in favor of the purchase
19. YES!
20. Great!
21. Excellent idea!! Truly visionary. Something that can serve as an example around the state and nation. a remarkable way to preach about lowering dependency on oil, protecting our land, i.e., being good stewards of the earth, and Offering customers high-quality, fresh nutritious food.
22. Excellent
23. FABULOUS!
24. Sounds good.
25. nice idea for a community based “project”
26. GO FOR IT
27. Yes, do it!
28. Excellent idea! Go for it.
29. good idea!
30. Good idea
31. Excellent!!
32. Great idea! It shows great foresight! I can’t wait to hear more. I hope the Maine Farmland Trust & DRA can lead the way.
33. good Idea!
34. Sounds like a great idea. Please continue to try to make this happen
35. I like it!
36. I like it!
37. Great Potential!
38. We think it would be a wonderful idea and support it.
39. GREAT!
40. I am in support. Our community could participate in farming together.
41. Sounds good as well as finding the upstairs
42. Exciting! Would love to see it as a community space all about health, wellness, preservation of open, natural spaces.
43. Go for it, but be careful, do not lose sight of core goals
44. It sounds like a great way forward especially if it would make local organic produce more affordable.
45. sounds good
46. Wonderful! Yes. Do want more details on how this could happen financially.
47. Wonderful opportunity for the people of this community and for the store.
48. Definitely – Great idea
49. Wonderful idea – Yes!
50. go for it
51. great possibility – hope it moves forward.
52. Great Idea!
53. I think it is a great idea
54. YES
55. I think it is a good idea
56. good idea
57. I think it is a tremendous idea. I very much hope that Rising Tide is able to purchase the property and make this idea happen. I think it is a good Idea and a unique opportunity for a local co-op that would set it apart from others. I think you could grow some of your won produce, use it for educational purposes for the public (an example of sustainable organic farming, environmental stewardship) and also protect the land from future development. Put in a community garden, use it like MOFGA uses the common ground fair demonstrations composting. It not only would be good for Rising Tide but good for the community.
58. Think its great!
59. GO FOR IT!
60. buy it
61. Yes! I think this is a great idea and that the Rising Tide is THE organization for this.
62. terrific Idea!!
63. Fully in favor.
64. Terrific
65. I think it’s a very exciting idea that should be actively pursued. It could be a great fit for Rising Tide Go for it!
66. Buy it now! yes
67. SOUNDS LIKE AN AMAZING IDEA!
68. Go For it!!! We are an economic driver of the finest kind… Think BIG it’s monumental move!
69. I think it’s a great way for us to engage w/ the community & be more involved in conversations about local/regional food supply.
70. Yes, Absolutely. Brilliant idea
71. Yes, it will be a wonderful show place for local products. (But provided conditions make sense.)
72. Yes!
73. I think it fits w/ the long term vision of RT. Expanding access & production of locally produced food would be great & it could be an amazing educational opportunity. I fully support the idea
74. a fine idea
75. GO FOR IT
76. good idea – more “local” veggies and opportunities to serve the community and participate in the co-operative.
77. I’m all for it.
78. Great idea!
79. GO FOR IT
80. great idea!
81. I need to know more, but I’m leaning positively toward it.
82. Sounds like a great idea
83. Good idea
84. I think it’s a great idea conceptually and worthy of serious study. (It would also be – although not a primary consideration – a way to prevent another “box store war”, …)
85. I think it is a good idea based on the cost/income.
86. Sounds good, as much as I know right now. I cannot make the infor meeting….but look forward to hearing more! thanks!
NO’s
1. Having worked at RT for the last 6 years, my first thought is that RT management ought to get (& keep) their ducks in a row with running the current store, before biting off another huge chunk that they can’t handle.
2. No Not a good thing for Rising Tide – outside our core activities.
3. I’m strongly against it. The co-op is spreading too far from its original mission. Stay focused on store sustainability. Do what you have already started better: 1. Pay down your det. 2. Reduce future costs thru better energy efficiency i.e.: heating & cooling – will also reduce carbon footprint. 3.Make the garden you already have really attractive & invite the town sidewalk to go thru it. (w/ vote for community candidates write-in : “Fund to build side walks as far as Rite Aid & have it be beautiful as it goes thru our garden. Have the garden attract pedestrians to the sidewalk.
4. It does not seem to be expenditure for this coop when other organizations are making sure the land will not be developed.
5. Don’t know yet. Don’t want to risk the Rising Tide Co-op fund this.
6. I don’t support this – there are many farms around that do this job.
7. I think it is a large risk and I believe that the store needs more attention that it is not getting from general management. We need to do this right and then maybe move on to that later.
8. BAD IDEA. HIGH VALUE LAND, NEAR MAJOR ROAD (POLLUTANTS) NOT IDEAL FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE)
9. Poor use of co-op resources.
10. I think it might be spreading ourselves a bit thin but I want to learn more about the possibilities
11. I’m all for preserving this land as farm land but don’t see why the co-op would buy, unless to assure sustainable, organic farming methods.
12. Not really interested in doing that
13. I like the idea but I would hate to RT to compete with local farmers.
14. Proceed with caution
15. don’t know enough about it. Need to work on this store some before taking on new projects. Needs some improvements.
16. With what money? Rising Tide has yet to complete all the planned improvements on this new building, and this would make it more unstable financially. The DRA would be a more appropriate owner/steward for the farmland property.
17. No. Too long to get up & running. “let the local farmers do their thing”
18. I really do not know enough information but I feel it could be a financial risk.
19. Maybe too much – too soon- will you use it for more than a store I like current location.
20. Use money to pay down debt on Rising Tide
21. I do not think this is a good idea. I think the co-op should support farms already here. I also think there is a need for a business plan to be presented if it goes further. Members should see a business plan before we can approve or disapprove. No business plan + no approval.
22. Go slowly – I would prefer to see a local farmer buy it.
23. No Way! Not with all member loans are repaid & upstairs finished & rented etc. etc. Do not risk losing the store to do a “good thing”.
24. other interest/concern: I hope you will _____out the upstairs space and start making it available to the community. Work this investment **
25. insufficient information to respond, but superficially it sounds outside of RT’s charter.
26. I’m not sure it is the place for Rising Tides efforts or finances.
27. No –
28. I am concerned about the financial cost to the coop, eventhough I think it sounds like an interesting idea of potential help to the coop & community.
29. I think it’s too premature. The Coop needs to continue to focus on the store, membership development, & involvement, paying off our debts, and resting out the upstairs space. It’s an interesting & forward – thinking idea which represents too much risk, & a diversion of energy from the store.
30. I think it should go to a local farmer though Maine Framer Trust, or lease to local farmer.
31. Very Skeptical
32. Open land – nature trails – all season – not in favor for offering to farmers –
33. A housing need for people 55 – over in this area near town.
34. N/A
35. I would prefer to see energy & funds put into finishing the second floor of the store, the property we already own.
36. RT should not purchase the property outright. RT could create a loan fund to assist area farmers in purchasing land and facilitate to enhance local production.
UNDECIDED/MIXED FEELINGS
1. I think that it is a good idea if it doesn’t take resources energy, and concern from the store, which should remain the top priority.
2. I would leave it to the discretion of the Board and those that have done the research – I trust them to make the right decision.
3. I’d like to hear more.
4. If this piece of property is to be altered – gardening is a good option. How would it be paid for? If local produce is the goal – who garden there? What happens to the produce grown on the property? How will the natural landscape be altered?
5. Don’t know enough to say
6. I plan on attending the upcoming meeting
7. I don’t have enough inform to agree or disagree
8. Great idea – as long as we can carry the debt.
9. Haven’t read about it yet, but ______is making me do that.
10. don’t know enough
11. concerned that it might be taking onto much for the organization.
12. I would love to see it happen but realize it will take lots of money and work
13. As a new member and new mid-Coast resident, I’m not familiar enough with the details to comment specifically. However, while I’m in agreement with the goal as the intent, you need to be careful ________ ___________ a management obligation that is so different from running a retail operation.
14. Not sure I have enough information to comment. Could be a really good opportunity but I don’t want the membership to lose sight of what we’re about – a wonderful local grocer More info needed.
15. Great opportunity. Needs to be carefully thought through.
16. Have no idea
17. not sure
18. sounds good on first thought, need more info
19. I like the idea but am concerned about debt management
20. O.K. as long as no financial risk to store
21. It sounds like a great idea – would like to know more. how you would fund and how it would be used. In a future newsletter, perhaps – or meeting?
22. I need more information. will Rising Tide work in partnership with existing farmers?
23. Still weighing info – I will communicate w/ Board
24. Good direction if RT has the funds and the people /energy to do it all. How about an inventory of fallow local farmland that owners would b willing to lease for organic agriculture & especially 4 season growing – put farmers and land – growers together.
25. It’s a cool idea and I agree with being creative and “dreaming big”. My only caution would be the prices for all Rising Tide items be kept as low as possible.
26. While I think it’s great to be looking towards the future, I would like the co-op to be more solidified in its current position (esp. re: debt from new store) before tackling another larger project. I would like to see money, that might have been used for Phillips farmland used to support local farmers in other ways – maybe grants?
27. I would like it to be farmland. Not stores or developed”. Whether Rising Tide should/cold own it is another issue. I don’t know if we can raise the money. How would we make use of it as a farm?
28. Need more information do what with it?
29. I need to learn more about what it will entail for Rising Tide & the member/owners. but I do think it’s a good thing to look at & question.
30. I like the idea of keeping the land open & undeveloped, and if this is the best way to do that, I support it. However, I have some misgivings abut R.T. essentially competing with local farmers. But if RT buys the land Y leases it to a farmer, maybe that is a way to help young farmers get started. – A Maine Farmland Trust – say – project, sell approach also seems viable.
31. An innovative idea – one that should be investigated further – and if financially feasible – should be considered.
32. not familiar with issue
33. I think it is a good idea provided the plan does not negatively impact the local farmers who now supply product to Rising Tide. Keeping farmland open and out of development will become more important as time goes on. I am proud to belong to an organization that is willing to support local food supply.
34. For what purpose? I’m not familiar with the Phillips Farmland property.
35. Concerned about spreading the coop too thin. Want an emphasis on education about sustainability local food, natural foods instated of taking on more debt and activities. Great idea otherwise.
36. Let’s be carful not to get too deeply in debt. I like the idea of having an R.T. farm but I worry about the economy
37. If we can afford the upkeep
38. Tentatively, positive in depending upon potential debt level to both store and member/owners.
39. Talked w/ Mark at the tea with the board
40. Don’t have enough information on his to comment.
41. Dunno anything abt. it!
42. I love the idea of the property being preserved as farmland and put into cultivation. But wonder if that is R.T. job or should R.T. support farmers interested in it by helping their collective’s buying etc. It sounds like a potential to get too scattered. Let the farmers farm & the markets buy and sell. RT can certainly help farmers by keeping the consumer educated about products/locality etc… now easy answers….we trust RT to be a strong voice for health in the community and will support any decisions.
43. to use for what?
44. While I applaud the idea of keeping the property tree from “Big Box” development. I have many reservations about RT involving themselves in farming ventures. My questions are numerous; who will pay for the infrastructure of such an operation? Where is the business plan and farmer whose input is necessary for such an endeavor? What about eh empty space above the store? What about the time/energy that we desperately need from the managers in this store. A farming venture would make Scott /Maryanne even more inaccessible. A hire………(sorry cut off ballot)
45. Hope you can?
46. Well worth investigating
47. Sounds like a wonderful idea, as long as we can afford it! Would love to hear more.
48. PROS: good to preserve the land for farming, good to provide for community farm/garden lots. Cons: Can it be made to pay the taxes?
49. Would like more information
50. Yikes
51. Great – as long as it does not compromise the farms we presently support. I worry about that.
52. Dream big is great – but THIS MUST BE considered with strong financial analysis – the store is already likely leveraged – and should not consider increasing leverage without paying back/down member loans and other obligations.
53. I have mixed thoughts: it sound like a good idea but with the weak economy I wonder if it should be done.
54. Other interest/concern: I hope you will _____ out the upstairs space and start making it available to the community. Won’t this investment conflict with buying the farmland?
55. I’m divided. I am told you have a lot of debt now. If I had a lot of debt I would not purchase more property. Then again, prices are historically low. It is a very good time to buy.
56. don’t know didn’t get the newsletter didn’t have working email til recently.
57.
