Please join us in welcoming Eliza Baker-Wacks to our team as the new Maine Field Agent!
Eliza has seen the challenges of and lack of education regarding farmland access. She is keen to be helpful to other farmers on their paths to acquiring land. A graduate of Colby College with a degree in Environmental Policy, Eliza enjoyed working on the campus farm and spending time in Maine’s great outdoors. Most recently, she worked as the manager of the beginning farmer training program at Wolfe’s Neck Center in Freeport, Maine. There she trained apprentices on topics ranging from organic vegetable production to budget management and land acquisition. She also managed the four and a half acre organic farm and supplied produce to a CSA, farm store, restaurants, and local food pantries.
In addition, Eliza has experience supporting policy initiatives and research focusing on state and federal conservation funding, climate and energy policy, land management, and other environmental issues from her time with Appalachian Mountain Club. She has worked with the Aparna Group and Up With Community to further her understanding of race equity work and organizational transformation. She is committed to furthering this work after engaging with the leadership teams at her previous organizations regarding equity and justice learning and teaching anti-bias trainings. Eliza has worked on farms in California, Hawaii, and Maine.
I am passionate about working with farmers to help them achieve their goals,β shares Eliza, βand excited to continue to work towards a more equitable and inclusive food system.β
As the Maine Field Agent, Eliza will provide technical assistance to help farm seekers acquire farmland and secure land tenure, transitioning farmers to plan for farm succession, and non-farming landowners make land available for farming.
Eliza brings passion for our mission, on the ground experience educating farmers and first-hand appreciation of the challenges and support farmers need to access and transfer farmland. The whole team is excited to welcome her to this role,β shares Shemariah Blum-Evitts, LFG Program Director.
Eliza currently lives in Portland, ME where she enjoys hiking, surfing, and swimming with her dog Wylie.