Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Agriculture Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Carlisle commission approves three-year farm licenses, reviews Grow Native plan for pollinator patches
Summary
The commission approved three-year agricultural licenses for Mark Duffy at Greenough, Foss Farm, and Hutchins/Robbins; Grow Native Massachusetts outlined a plan to remove invasives and create five 1,000-square-foot pollinator patches pending a state biodiversity grant and follow-up with its executive director.
The Carlisle Conservation Commission on March 12 approved a series of three-year agricultural licenses for local farmsteads and reviewed a native-plant management proposal for Woodward Meadow.
Navneet Hundal moved and Melissa Webster seconded to issue a three-year license to Mark Duffy for the Greenough property with flexibility for corn or hay production and associated cover crops; the roll-call vote recorded commissioners as 'Aye' and the motion passed unanimously. The commission approved similar three-year licenses for Duffy at Foss Farm and for the Hutchins/Robbins fields after hearing reports on production, soil conditions, and management needs. Motions to issue the Foss Farm and Hutchins/Robbins licenses were also moved by Navneet Hundal, seconded by Melissa Webster, and approved unanimously.
Mark Duffy reported that soil-test lead levels were well below concerning thresholds but noted that UMass lab comments on optimum levels were confusing. Commissioners discussed referencing the Land Use Planning form (Exhibit A of the Agricultural License) to clarify what pesticides and herbicides are authorized.
Miles Connors of Grow Native Massachusetts presented a 2026 land-management plan for Woodward Meadow to remove invasive species (bittersweet, buckthorn, black swallowwort) and establish five 1,000-square-foot native pollinator patches (5,000 sq ft total). Connors said the work is contingent on receiving a state biodiversity grant and that Grow Native’s executive director, Heather Pruiksma, will meet with the commission to address past license concerns raised by the Carlisle Conservation Foundation.
The commission also noted that Mark Duffy declined to continue agricultural use of the Cranberry Bog South Lot, citing poor yields and operational challenges.
