New Barn A Boon To Putnam Farm

ORLEANS – John Jannell can still picture the “derelict greenhouses,” potting sheds and log cabin that used to stand on Putnam Farm when the town first purchased the 14-acre property off Rock Harbor Road 16 years ago. The town’s conservation administrator also remembers the old, dilapidated barn near the property’s two wetland areas, which was ultimately torn down in 2020. 

 “It suffered some vandalism back then,” Jannell said. “It was in rough shape when we acquired the property.”

But today, visitors who pull into the farm’s parking area are immediately greeted by a brand new wooden agricultural barn that the town expects will significantly advance the farm’s growing operations. It’s the latest benchmark for a parcel that has steadily come back to life as active farmland in recent years.

“It’s amazing, in short,” said Orleans resident Rick Francolini, who has been actively involved in the revitalization of the farm over the years. “Seeing it come to fruition has been great. It’s been a long journey.”

The property was purchased by the town in 2010 “with the dual intent of promoting conservation and agricultural uses,” Jannell said. Considerable work has gone into transforming the parcel into workable farmland in recent years. An existing pumphouse has been restored, as have the wetlands in the center of the property. There are currently 20 farmable plots operated by local growers with space for as many as eight more.

 The new barn provides an opportunity for growers to better prepare their produce for market. The final project cost came in at $174,783, less than the $208,678 initially budgeted for the project. Of the total, $139,826 is reimbursable to the town through a Food Security Infrastructure Grant from the state Department of Agricultural Resources, which accounts for about 80 percent of the overall cost. The remaining funding came from funding the town’s conservation commission had on hand.

 “We ended up on time and under budget,” Jannell said. “The town contribution’s just under $40,000.”

 Inside, work space is allocated for the farm’s current growers to weigh their produce. Francolini said the ability to weigh allows the town to keep official metrics as to how much produce is generated through the farm. It could also better situate the town for future state grant funding, he said.

There’s also tools for root tumbling and lettuce washing, as well as a large commercial refrigerator where growers can store their produce before putting it out for sale. On a visit to the barn last week, the empty refrigerator was humming at a chilly 37 degrees. Previously, growers were left to store their produce temporarily in coolers or by other means until they’re ready for sale.

 “This is a huge component,” Francolini said. “This is what food [security] infrastructure grants are about.”

 “What I’ve learned in the last six months is that they need to get field heat off the food as soon as possible so that the food lasts longer,” Jannell added.

 Francolini said that the barn’s design was in part informed by an “extensive” survey of the farm’s growers of what they thought the farm needed for the future.

 “Certainly shared infrastructure, refrigeration, things of that sort were on that list,” he said. “We didn’t have the resources or a roadmap for how to get there at the time.”

 Jannell said the barn allows growers to follow a process called “HPS,” or harvest, pack and store. The refrigerator allows for that final step and is designed for short-term storage to allow for turnover so that all growers can use the space. He said a system is being developed for how the growers can share the refrigerator.

 Outside, there is space on one side of the new barn for growers to rinse and wash their yield. On another side looking out onto the farm is a public viewing area with a table and seating.

 “It’s a hub for the community, for growers and non-growers to gather,” Francolini said.

 Another important component of the new barn is the solar array affixed to its roof. Jannell said while the barn is only operational seasonally, the panels will generate energy year-round. 

 Construction on the barn started in early spring and took about four months to complete, Jannell said. On Tuesday, growers were invited to the farm to provide input on how they expect to utilize the facility. The hope, Jannell said, is for the barn to be operational sometime in August.

 “I think they’re gonna train us, and we’ll wrap up our use and operations manual around how they intend to use it,” Jannell said of the growers.

 For Jannell, who is poised to see the execution of the town’s land management plan for the farm through from concept to completion, seeing the revitalization of the farm has been a “rewarding” experience.

 “It’s exciting,” he said. “I often get excited about this place because I see the excitement from people when they come here and they talk about what it can be.”

 Funding is in place to develop the final 1.15 acres of farmable land on the property, which Jannell said can accommodate up to eight new plots. The process of designing and creating the plots is expected to begin in the fall, followed by a lottery to select growers to tend to them.

 But while much of the work related to reinvigorating the Putnam property has been completed, Francolini said he’s setting his sights on the future.

 “I’d like to say we’ve reached the finish line in one sense, and also we’re at the starting line in another,” he said. “We’re going to have a property that’s fully stocked with growers, with the infrastructure to support their efforts. It’s going to be a learning process. It’s going to be an evolution as far as how to utilize the amenities and optimize them. But there’s nowhere to go but up.”