1.Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM by Paul Savchick. Present were Paul Savchick, Rick Young, Dick Brisbois, Judy Fowler, Kristy Foster, and Dennis Sullivan. In addition for this meeting, Don Philbrick, Joyce Blue, Tim Merrifield, Ken McKenzie, Eddie (Ethel) McKenzie, Sandy (Alexander) McKenzie, Dave Sorensen, Marnie Cobbs and Arthur Harvey.

1.The major portion of this meeting was devoted to the Town blueberry fields and their operation.

Arthur Harvey, organic grower from Maine, responded to questions. He picks 25 acres of organic blueberries. While the yield from organic blueberries is nearly always lower than from non-organic ones, the organics do bring a higher price to a fresh market. Maggots have not been a problem to a fresh market in Maine where 10 to the quart is considered problematic. His plan is to mow 1/3 ? ? of our acreage and to do no burning or spraying, but to pull weeds and lop or pull saplings. He was not sure how he would handle the grass, which he sees increasing all over New England. He did not know whether he would bring his organic bees here and noted that organic bees are not necessary for organic berries. A buffer would be needed if an abutter were not certified organic. A buffer is determined by an inspector who determines the depth needed based on a variety of factors such as wind. Mr. Harvey prefers a 250 ft. buffer. If abutting acreage on Foss were not organic he would still take our field on. His plan would be to pay the Town $150.00 per acre to begin and he estimated our fields would produce at least 2000 lbs. per acre. His crew of up to 10 pickers is a family operation and he noted it is difficult to find pickers for 8 weeks mid July ? mid September. The most his crew has picked in a season is 29,000 qts. And this year they picked 15,000 qts. He felt they could handle the 16 acres on Foss and it might take 4- 6 pickings to complete. He sends his crews to where the best picking is at a particular time. Re: theft of berries, he wondered about hiring a local person to police the area. Mr. Harvey markets to a network of retailers in southern Maine including conventional farm stands, natural food stores and cooperatives, and conventional supermarkets, mainly Hannaford?s. He makes 10 organic blueberry products from non-perfect berries that are stored in a freezer in Portland. These products are not as profitable as the fresh berries. Re: Brooks Pasture, he felt the access and additional acreage would be a problem for him at this time.

After Mr. Harvey left there was some discussion among all the parties with blueberries on Foss Mt: Town of Eaton (19 acres), Tim Merrifield (25 acres) and the McKenzie family members (approx. 16 acres.) Among all parties there is a potential of 150,000 lbs. of berries. Ken McKenzie mentioned a cooperative of blueberry growers in Maine and will gather more information on this. Tim Merrifield plans to contact Cherryfield Foods (currently do his fields) about options with them and was interested in exploring the coop idea also.

The plan for the ECC at this point is to upgrade the access to Brooks Pasture as planned and offer the blueberry operation there to Arthur Harvey and to have the Foss Mt. field mowed by a local person.

2.ADMINISTRATION The minutes of the 9/11/06 meeting were accepted as read.

3.TREASURER?S REPORT Dick Brisbois reported:

Eaton Conservation Fund $ 7,354.69

Forest management Fund 33,980.53

$41,335.22

1.

The CD due 3/07 currently has $20,968.62 and penalty for taking it now would be $299., decreasing as it gets closer to maturity.

4.NH ASSOCIATION of CONSERVATION COMMISSIONS It was unanimously approved to pay the yearly dues of $150.00.

5.DREDGE AND FILL Wetlands minimum impact expedited application from the Blue family re: conditional approval to subdivide land off Crystal Lake Rd. It was unanimously voted to sign off on this application.

6.BRIDGES Estimate from Stewart Heath for road upgrading is $12,500 and with his donation of one day?s work the cost will be $10,000.

Paul reported that ADM does not have a 40? bridge on hand and a new one will not be available before mid-December. Rental ones (portable) are another option and one may become available in three ? four weeks. This impacts Dan Stepanauskas?s planned lumbering in this area. Paul will call Dan and hopefully he can attend the next ECC meeting to clarify his plan.

The next meting will be held November 13, 2006 at 7:00 PM.

Meeting adjourned at 10:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Judy Fowler, secretary.

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

Eaton Conservation Commission?

1.Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM by Paul Savchick. Present were Paul Savchick, Rick Young, Dick Brisbois, Judy Fowler, Kristy Foster, and Dennis Sullivan. In addition for this meeting, Don Philbrick, Joyce Blue, Tim Merrifield, Ken McKenzie, Eddie (Ethel) McKenzie, Sandy (Alexander) McKenzie, Dave Sorensen, Marnie Cobbs and Arthur Harvey.

1.The major portion of this meeting was devoted to the Town blueberry fields and their operation.

Arthur Harvey, organic grower from Maine, responded to questions. He picks 25 acres of organic blueberries. While the yield from organic blueberries is nearly always lower than from non-organic ones, the organics do bring a higher price to a fresh market. Maggots have not been a problem to a fresh market in Maine where 10 to the quart is considered problematic. His plan is to mow 1/3 ? ? of our acreage and to do no burning or spraying, but to pull weeds and lop or pull saplings. He was not sure how he would handle the grass, which he sees increasing all over New England. He did not know whether he would bring his organic bees here and noted that organic bees are not necessary for organic berries. A buffer would be needed if an abutter were not certified organic. A buffer is determined by an inspector who determines the depth needed based on a variety of factors such as wind. Mr. Harvey prefers a 250 ft. buffer. If abutting acreage on Foss were not organic he would still take our field on. His plan would be to pay the Town $150.00 per acre to begin and he estimated our fields would produce at least 2000 lbs. per acre. His crew of up to 10 pickers is a family operation and he noted it is difficult to find pickers for 8 weeks mid July ? mid September. The most his crew has picked in a season is 29,000 qts. And this year they picked 15,000 qts. He felt they could handle the 16 acres on Foss and it might take 4- 6 pickings to complete. He sends his crews to where the best picking is at a particular time. Re: theft of berries, he wondered about hiring a local person to police the area. Mr. Harvey markets to a network of retailers in southern Maine including conventional farm stands, natural food stores and cooperatives, and conventional supermarkets, mainly Hannaford?s. He makes 10 organic blueberry products from non-perfect berries that are stored in a freezer in Portland. These products are not as profitable as the fresh berries. Re: Brooks Pasture, he felt the access and additional acreage would be a problem for him at this time.

After Mr. Harvey left there was some discussion among all the parties with blueberries on Foss Mt: Town of Eaton (19 acres), Tim Merrifield (25 acres) and the McKenzie family members (approx. 16 acres.) Among all parties there is a potential of 150,000 lbs. of berries. Ken McKenzie mentioned a cooperative of blueberry growers in Maine and will gather more information on this. Tim Merrifield plans to contact Cherryfield Foods (currently do his fields) about options with them and was interested in exploring the coop idea also.

The plan for the ECC at this point is to upgrade the access to Brooks Pasture as planned and offer the blueberry operation there to Arthur Harvey and to have the Foss Mt. field mowed by a local person.

2.ADMINISTRATION The minutes of the 9/11/06 meeting were accepted as read.

3.TREASURER?S REPORT Dick Brisbois reported:

Eaton Conservation Fund $ 7,354.69

Forest management Fund 33,980.53

$41,335.22

1.

The CD due 3/07 currently has $20,968.62 and penalty for taking it now would be $299., decreasing as it gets closer to maturity.

4.NH ASSOCIATION of CONSERVATION COMMISSIONS It was unanimously approved to pay the yearly dues of $150.00.

5.DREDGE AND FILL Wetlands minimum impact expedited application from the Blue family re: conditional approval to subdivide land off Crystal Lake Rd. It was unanimously voted to sign off on this application.

6.BRIDGES Estimate from Stewart Heath for road upgrading is $12,500 and with his donation of one day?s work the cost will be $10,000.

Paul reported that ADM does not have a 40? bridge on hand and a new one will not be available before mid-December. Rental ones (portable) are another option and one may become available in three ? four weeks. This impacts Dan Stepanauskas?s planned lumbering in this area. Paul will call Dan and hopefully he can attend the next ECC meeting to clarify his plan.

The next meting will be held November 13, 2006 at 7:00 PM.

Meeting adjourned at 10:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Judy Fowler, secretary.

?

?

?

?

?

?

?