Hewitt Farm haying a possibility for area farmers

North Stonington - The Hewitt Farm Committee is seeking proposals to hay and maintain about 21 acres of hayfields on the town-owned Hewitt Farm property on Route 2 and Hewitt Road.

Committee co-chairman Nita Kincaid said committee members began reaching out last week to area farmers who might have an interest in taking responsibility for maintaining the four hayfields on the 104-acre property, which the town purchased in 2008 from Mystic Seaport.

In seeking proposals and looking to sign a contract for the fields, the committee hopes to make official most of the goings-on on the farm property, Kincaid said, and publicize them to the town.

Kincaid said committee members have approached more than 20 farmers both in North Stonington and in nearby towns in search of a proposal that would fit the property's and town's needs, which include clearing the edges of the hayfields that have overgrown onto the walking trails.

The contract would be for five years.

"We want it to be a win-win situation for the farmer and for the public," she said.

The committee's next weekly meeting will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday in the New Town Hall Conference Room on Main Street. Response forms for the proposal are due by 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the first selectman's office at Old Town Hall.

a.isaacs@theday.com