Cassandra Day, via The Middletown Press
MIDDLETOWN — The city has issued a cease and desist order following a wetlands dispute involving the owner of 13.5 acres of land on Randolph Road whose intent is to create a community farm dedicated to regenerative farming practices.
Lovie’s Farm, at 350 Randolph Road, has partnered with Dee’s Crafty Bees, Chicks Ahoy LLC, Chick’s Ahoy Farm and Cultivating Justice on the project, according to Diana Martinez, program manager for Cultivating Justice and principal of Dee’s Crafty Bees.
Cultivating Justice is a project of the Katal Center for Equity, Health and Justice.
Matt Mitchell, who owns the plot, came before the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Agency June 5 to explain the situation that arose after the city received numerous complaints that a large number of wooden palates were on the portion of the property designated as wetlands.
According to the order, dated May 24, city Environmental Planner James Sipperly issued a verbal work stoppage order after he saw someone carrying what he said were wood chips through wetlands.
“Nobody was carrying wood chips to the back of the property,” Mitchell told commissioners. “It was food,” he said, for some of the animals there, including chickens, goats and honey bees.
Mitchell, the owner and a first-time farmer, according to the application paperwork, was inspired to run a farm using regenerative framing practices to “promote long-term sustainability.”
He named the farm after his 4-year-old daughter, Sienna “Lovie.”
The pandemic “sparked a realization in Matt about the high spoilage rate of fruits and vegetables,” he wrote in his application. “As a Black American, Matt is dedicated to reclaiming ancestral roots in agriculture.”
“While 14 percent of agricultural land was owned by minorities 100 years ago, today, that figure has dropped to less than one percent,” it said.
Mitchell plans to have more chickens and goats, and some pigs, as well as practice composting, and create hoop houses for growing crops.
The goats would be used for vegetation management, and bees for pollination, the application said.
Also, the farm will focus on “implementing season-appropriate cover crops to protect and enrich the soil, reducing tillage and improving soil structure through scheduled rotation of livestock, and hot composting techniques to remediate manure and organic waste, boosting soil fertility and crop yields.”
“These practices will promote a biodiverse and productive planting habitat, fostering beneficial insects and wildlife, and enhancing ecosystem stability,” the application read.
Chairman Joseph Carta explained the issue to Mitchell. “I’m sure that everyone on this commission commends you for what you are doing. The fact is, it has to be done in the proper manner. Just because you want to farm something doesn’t mean you can go into a wetlands and just do it.”
Mitchell argued that the pallets aren’t in the wetlands area, and are used to keep his daughter’s feet clean.
“Where I can put boots on my feet and I can step in it (with) no problems, I’m bringing a 4-year-old across the property, and it’s the safest thing to do,” he explained.
The commission asked Mitchell to have a wetlands soil scientist walk the property and to submit the findings at least a week ahead of the next IWWA meeting on July 3.
Vice Chairman Ken McClellan suggested a field trip to the land.
“If Mr. Mitchell claims to be conducting allowed activities — farming — I don’t think that we should delay a field trip waiting for a soil delineation… If, according to state law and Middletown ordinances, his activities are allowed, I’d like to go see it for myself,” McClellan said.
Members set a site visit for June 14 at 6 p.m.
Those who fail to comply with such orders may incur a fine of up to $1,000 per day and six months imprisonment, according to the letter.
