In 2008, with hopes of building healthy, self-sustaining communities, Adrienne Lee and Ken Lamson started New Beat Farm. Lots of hard work, horse maneuvering, and elbow grease later, the couple began growing organic vegetables on a piece of leased land in Jefferson, Maine.

In an effort to utilize farm resources and reduce its use of fossil fuels, Adrienne and Ken did all of their farm work by hand and with the aid of Belgian draft horses. Like a growing number of young farmers in America, the two see the benefits of utilizing traditional draft power and incorporating animals, like their horses, into new systems of agriculture.

Recently, to help the farm extend its growing season and provide customers with more food through the spring and winter months, ShadeFund loaned New Beat Farm funds to put up a 22 by 96 foot greenhouse for winter vegetable production and early tomatoes. Since Maine has such a short growing season, this field greenhouse will dramatically extend the farm’s growing season and allow for an increase in farm revenue.

Both Adrienne and Ken are natives to Maine with a desire to reinvigorate the agrarian communities that are at the heart of the state’s history and promote a new generation of farmers.