Hunt Chase

I’ve been farming for about 20 years in Western Massachusetts, most recently on my farm called Cure for Boredom. Over the years I’ve grown a mix of vegetables and herbs on small parcels of leased land, using sustainable and organic practices. Much of my focus has been on building healthy soil, experimenting with cover crops, compost, and low-till methods, and trying out new approaches like living footpaths and aquaculture in greenhouses. Farming has always been both my livelihood and my way of being rooted in community. Alongside the farm, I’ve worked with neighbors, food pantries, and local organizations to get fresh produce to people who need it. The work has taught me how important it is to be flexible, creative, and deeply connected to the land. Now, as my partner Joy and I think about the future and raising our family, we’re looking forward to the chance to settle on a piece of land we can care for long-term, continuing to grow food and contribute to the community around us.

Yes, we have a clear vision for our farm’s future. Our goal is to build a diversified, small-scale farm rooted in sustainable practices and community connections. Over the years, we’ve seen that resilience comes from both healthy soil and strong relationships, and we want to bring those lessons forward into the next chapter of our work. We envision a farm that produces a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and value-added products using organic methods. Our focus will be on soil health, crop diversity, and practices that reduce tillage and protect the land for future generations. We also plan to integrate innovative approaches like aquaculture and closed-loop systems that connect animal, plant, and soil health in mutually supportive ways. Financially, our plan is to build a balanced model that includes sales through farmers markets, wholesale accounts, and direct community distribution. Just as important, we want the farm to play a role in local food security by donating surplus produce and working with food pantries and schools, something we’ve done for many years. In the long term, our goal is to establish a permanent home for our family and the farm, creating stability after years of working leased land. We want to put down roots in Maine, raise our children close to the land, and grow into a farm business that not only sustains us but also contributes to the health, resilience, and good food of the community around us.