Anson Biller

Anson Biller is the owner and operator of Full Fork Farm, a six-acre property located 1.5 miles from the northeast corner of China Lake in Maine.1 He has been running the farm for four years as of 2019, which means he likely started the operation around 2015.1

Background and Experience

Biller's journey to farming is quite interesting:

1. He studied Alternative Education in college.
2. After college, he taught at a peace and conflict resolution after-school program in New York City, where he taught skills like growing vegetables in urban environments.1
3. He then worked for two and a half years at a Buddhist retreat center in California, managing a one-acre farm and increasing on-site food production for the kitchen.12
4. Eventually, Biller returned to the Northeast, drawn by Maine's strong sense of community.1

Farming Philosophy and Practices

Anson Biller's approach to farming is characterized by several key principles:

• Full Circle Farming: He believes in emulating Earth's natural cycles and fostering community while regenerating the land.1
• Sustainability: Biller is committed to sustainable practices, as evidenced by his research on using spent brewers' grain as crop nutrition.1
• Seed Stewardship: He focuses on saving seeds from the best plants to develop vegetable varieties well-suited to Maine's environment.1
• Community Engagement: Biller values human interaction and enjoys the U-pick strawberry season at his farm.1

Research and Innovation

Biller is actively involved in agricultural research:

• In 2017, he wrote a grant for the Sustainable Agriculture Research (SAR) educational program, studying the use of brewery waste products as crop nutrition.13
• His research resulted in a 25% increase in produce yield.1
• He expresses interest in future research on natural weed control and the effects of carbon dioxide on crop production.1

Farm Products

Full Fork Farm grows a variety of crops, including:

• Strawberries (offering U-pick)
• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, peas
• Cucumbers, kale, swiss chard, winter squash, and salad greens1

Anson Biller's commitment to sustainable farming practices, community engagement, and agricultural innovation makes him a notable figure in Maine's farming community.