The public is invited to attend the Annual Meeting and Membership Celebration of the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) on Thursday, April 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. Join the land trust's board of directors, members, and friends as we celebrate the land trust's annual progress. At this year's meeting, KELT is pleased to feature our collaboration with the Maine Farmland Trust to protect significant local farmland and to highlight KELT’s role supporting the new Merrymeeting Food Council.

This occasion is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the land trust's work and get an update on the lands conserved in 2015. A social gathering for members will include hors d'oeuvres and a wine and beer tasting by Now You're Cooking and Mariner Beverages. Land trust members can review KELT's updated by-laws and articles of incorporation before the meeting by visiting www.kennebecestuary.org or by requesting a paper copy by calling 207-442-8400.

Guest speakers from the Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) will join KELT staff for a presentation to highlight the resurgence and economic importance of farming in Maine. Amanda Beal, MFT Policy & Research Fellow, will discuss food production related projections and trends impacting Maine and the importance of agricultural land use planning as efforts to grow our local and regional food system are underway. Adam Bishop, MFT Farmland Protection Project Manager and Southern Maine Program Manager, will speak about the collaboration between KELT and MFT to keep local farmland as farmland by telling the story of recent conservation projects.

Chris Cabot, KELT's Land Conservation and Farmland Protection Specialist, will introduce the new Merrymeeting Food Council (MFC). MFC is a collaborative network of farmers, non-profits, businesses, government, and individuals working together in Maine to advance a thriving, resilient food system. The Food Council, which grew from the Local Farms-Local Food collaboration between KELT and the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, is a great way for local residents to engage with their local food system.

Cabot will also share the MFC's Food, Farms, and Fisheries Assessment. Produced during the summer of 2015, it is an inventory and map of the current state of local foods in the 14 communities surrounding Merrymeeting Bay. Hard copies will be available for event attendees. Electronic copies can be found online at www.merrymeetingfoodcouncil.org.

Please RSVP to this event by calling 442-8400, emailing bkolak@kennebecestuary.org, or register online at www.kennebecestuary.org/annual-meeting-2016. The Maine Maritime Museum is located at 243 Washington Street in Bath. Special thanks to the Merrymeeting Bay Trust for sponsoring this annual event.