A property proprietor in one of many priciest elements of a Maine freely giving his picturesque farmland at no cost.
But, as the well-known adage goes, nothing is ever actually free, and there is a few catches with this actual property deal.
Firstly, the farmhouse and barn aren’t a part of the sale and the property has no water or energy.
The proprietor of the property, Mike Maher, purchased the 34-acre farm on Harpswell Neck Road for $1.5 million in 2021 with the intention of growing the seven acre property right into a enterprise faculty and natural farm.
When his plans fell quick, he determined to supply a 50 to 100-year lease at no cost in change for somebody who may farm the land.
‘I’m an enormous believer of small natural farms,’ he instructed the Bangor Daily News.
Maher’s imaginative and prescient was to create an natural farm that combined contains a mixture of greens, animals and orchards. One of the distinctive promoting factors of his land is that it’s dwelling to one of many state’s oldest apple timber.
The businessman, who’s initially from Cumberland County and lives in Colorado, mentioned he spends summers on the farmhouse, and rents it out over the winter on Airbnb.
‘I’ll all the time hold the farmhouse,’ he mentioned.
He additional defined: ‘I do know it is a bizarre scenario.’
Mike Maher bought the 34-acre-waterfront farmhouse (circled in purple) on Harpswell Neck Road in Maine for $1.5 million in 2021
Mike Maher preliminary aim was to develop the seven-acres of open land by opening a enterprise faculty and natural farming space
Maher acquired the sprawling 3,370-square-foot waterfront farm after promoting most of his San Francisco-based boutique clothes firm to a personal fairness agency three years in the past.
Local tax information assess the land’s worth at an estimated $1.36 million.
These days, buying land in Cumberland County has been unattainable with vacant land within the space scarce.
There are not any different items of cultivable land out there on the market or lease in Harpswell, in response to the Maine MLS web site.
There’s by no means been a more difficult time to purchase land in Maine, significantly within the mid-coast area the place Maher’s land is situated, due to excessive costs.
Many farmers are even renting their land – however none have given it away at no cost.
Maine Farmland Trust first posted the provide to their Facebook web page on Saturday. The land may even be used for hashish manufacturing.
One of the distinctive promoting factors of his land is that it’s dwelling to one of many state’s oldest apple timber (pictured)
Over the winter, Maher rents out his property (pictured) on Airbnb
Maher acquired the sprawling 3,370-square-foot waterfront farm after promoting most of his San Francisco-based boutique clothes firm to a personal fairness agency three years in the past
Local tax information assess the land’s worth at estimated to be price $1.36 million
Maher detailed the historical past of the farm on the Maine Farmlink Facebook web page.
‘The farmland has nice soil (had it examined) however has not been used as farm land in lots of many years (assuming 75 not less than),’ he wrote.
‘From the household I purchased it from it by no means appears as if it was closely farmed. They in all probability had just a few cows grazing in some unspecified time in the future and had vegetable gardens.’
‘I’d like to have a farmer who’s fascinating in having a mixture of vegetable, animals and probably orchard farm the land. Ideally regenerative organically however not less than following natural practices.
‘We even have the oldest Baldwin apple tree within the state of Maine as licensed by MOFGA on the property so there may be some apple heritage as nicely.
‘I’m keen to offer a free very long run (suppose 50 years) lease on the land to a succesful farmer who’s keen to make the enhancements crucial to enhance the land and farm it.
He added, partly, ‘I’m additionally keen to assist on the model and advertising and marketing facet of the enterprise.
Since the posting, Maher claimed he has acquired 5 to 6 inquiries.
He mentioned: ‘I do not wish to become profitable from this. I simply wish to discover a means to verify this farm is viable for the following technology.’
He believes the open land could be splendid for a longtime farm or present area for a brand new one.
The new tenant must pay for a nicely to be drilled on the property in addition to having it wired for electrical energy, the information outlet reported.
Maher seems assured the land will go to the best individual and doesn’t consider the caveats might be a barrier for potential farmers.
‘It simply proves dedication,’ he mentioned, ‘a uncommon alternative, if a sophisticated one.’
