Grand night for conservation in Littleton

    LITTLETON, Maine — Joseph and Clare Desrosiers, owners of Sunnyside Farm, accepted an award for their outstanding efforts as conservationists Oct. 21 at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum as they were surrounded by their five young children.
    The award from the Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District (SASWCD) was presented to the Desrosiers family during a bean supper at the Museum.    The large white and green sign is about 3 feet by 4 feet and is fashioned from wood. It cites Sunnyside Farm as the 2010 Outstanding Conservationist.
Joseph Desrosiers, who said he will put it on the side of the barn, commented to the Pioneer Times that he and his family are “humbled by the honor of being chosen for the award.” He also said: “We try to be good stewards of the land that God gave us. We compost, re-use or recycle all of the by-products of our poultry operation to create fertilizer for our fruit plants.”
Also honored at the dinner was, Nancy Wright of Littleton as Outstanding Conservation Partner. Angela Wotton, district manager for the SASWCD, presented her with a brown ash platter for her past and current work.
Wotton commented on Wright’s enthusiasm and humility saying she “does things quietly but, they have a big impact” in making sure students at the Wellington School have a connection to agriculture and a first-hand experience with growing food. Wotton praised Wright who, for several years, has rallied residents, family and friends to maintain a greenhouse, fruit trees and other agricultural experiences at the school.
In keeping with the theme of the evening, according to Wotton, ingredients for the meal were sourced from 12 area farms and producers.