It’s not the rumble of a diesel engine you’ll hear at Misty Brook Farm when it’s harvest-time, but rather, the soft thud-thud of hooves and the jangle of harnesses. True to its environmentally friendly mission, Misty Brook Farm uses draft horses rather than tractors for its field work.

Owners Brendan and Katia Holmes relocated Misty Brook, an organic, diversified family farm, from Massachusetts to the 412-acre Perkins Farm in Albion last year, drawn to Maine for its extraordinary farmland, quality of life, and the strength and support of the agriculture sector. CEI was instrumental in the successful relocation, stepping in to provide a bridge loan until Farm Services Agency (FSA) funds were replenished. CEI also holds half of the mortgage. The Maine Farmland Trust holds a farmland conservation easement on the property, making the effort a true collaboration.

“CEI made it possible for us to reach our goal of farm ownership. They were able to understand the complexity of our business and stuck with us through a complicated loan application process to closing.” —KATIA HOLMES, Owner, Misty Brook Farm

Misty Brook Farm has an organic Jersey dairy herd, heritage pigs and chickens, and offers a ‘full diet’ farm share, a meat share and a vegetable share to customers from as far afield as Boston.