Rebuilding our farm stand with a kitchen to begin cooking lobsters daily and expand for more veggies. Read more
Rebuilding our farm stand with a kitchen to begin cooking lobsters daily and expand for more veggies.
About this project
Who we are:
Alewive’s Brook farm was purchased in 1957 by Alvin Jordan. Alvin moved his family to his new farm, and passed the farm on to his son Jodie when he passed in 2008. Jodie Jordan has lived at Alewive’s Brook Farm since he was seven farming everyday of his life. The farm started out as a wholesaler to the Hannaford Bros. growing and selling cabbage as its main crop. In the early 1980’s as Jodie became the primary farmer, the farm transitioned into retail, opening the farm stand right on the farm.
The Next Generation:
Jodie Jordan and his wife have four children of their own, Tucker, Caitlin, Casey, and Lincoln. Each of their children continues to have involvement of different levels in the farm. Tucker owns and operates his own lobster boat, continuing to supply the farm stand with lobsters for resale. Caitlin after completing law school returned home to run the business alongside Jodie, she handles all the day to day business aspects, the legal work that comes up, the marketing and all expansion projects, as well as attempts to learn how to actually grow things. Casey is the recreational coordinator, farm photographer, and in house artist. She is responsible for all the art work, designs, and signs that are produced for the farm. Lincoln believe it or not has the most important job working alongside Jodie everyday in the fields learning day in and day out the ins and outs of what is needed to make the vegetables grow. Without the involvement and dedication of each of the next generation, the way of life of living on and operating a family farm may be lost.
Harvesting Land & Sea
Alewive’s Brook Farm is a very unique farm in Cape Elizabeth as it combines two of Cape Elizabeth’s primary historic ways of life, farming and fishing. The Jordan family not only farms the land of Cape Elizabeth but they also fish the waters, for lobster.
FARMING - While we are not a certified organic farm we use the best practices possible while sustaining our way of life, we use lobster shells, shrimp shells, fish gurry, seaweed, and manure in our fields for all natural fertilizer, and use minimal amounts of pesticide, using them only when absolutely necessary.
FISHING - The lobstering industry here in Maine has had a very rough year with the lobster whole sale price very low for the lobsterman. At Alewive's we not only catch our own lobsters but purchase from a dozen other Cape Elizabeth lobsterman. We pay our lobsterman over market price to catch only the best, highest quality lobsters. Making sure that every lobster that goes home with our patrons is the best it can be.
AND MORE!
Just in case you thought lobstering and farming were enough to keep us busy we also raise 150 chickens and sell their eggs in our farm stand; as well as 200 turkeys each year for Thanksgiving.
Our Project:
The dream of the Jordan Family is to rebuild the farm stand and expand it knowing that times are changing and having to branch out into new endeavors in order for the farm to continue to thrive and support the next generation and the generations to follow. Our current market is quiet literally a garage converted into a farm stand over thirty years ago, with a lobster tank placed in it. You can see the photo below, our hope is to tear down the two old garages, and replace it with a new building with an expanded market size and a kitchen, with office space above.
By far the most reoccurring question we receive throughout the summer is whether we cook the lobster instead of just selling them live, in the past we have had to repeatedly turn people to other businesses to get their lobsters cooked. We would like to utilize the new market space by having a kitchen to finally be able to offer people the full service of cooking their lobsters on the spot for them to take home and not have to worry about the clean up and smell of cooking their own lobster.
The new building will allow us to have enough space to sell our vegetables, as we have begun to expand the acreage we are planting from 19 acres to 25, adding new products such as leeks, celery, sweet potatoes, and other vegetables growing in popularity. With a certified kitchen on site we can begin to create our own value added products such as canned vegetables, jams, baked goods, and tomato sauce.
A Barn Raising Minus the Barn
We essentially will be having a good old fashion barn raising. The demolition will be done by our close family friend, Skip Murray, who employees my cousin, Jodie's god son, who will be operating the heavy machinery. The clean up then will be a call of hands by all our family members. Our new foundation will be laid by family friend Glen Barry. Then design and construction will be completed by my uncle, Bill Royal.
Our Rewards:
We have tried our best to offer rewards straight off the farm, meaning many of them need to be collected at the farm stand itself in Cape Elizabeth or at any of the farmers' markets we participate in (Scarborough, South Portland, Saco, Wells, and Portland).
Any of our lobster rewards can be shipped to your doorstep, we only ask that you provide the extra funds for the shipping, as lobsters must be shipped overnight and the shipping costs vary depending on their destination.
Additional Funds Raised
Any funds raised above those necessary to complete this project will be used to pay off other debits owed and finally send Jodie on a much needed vacation!!!!
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
Rewards
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Pledge $1 or more
1 backer
Our Sincere thanks from the Jordan Family listed on the donor wall on our website.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $5 or more
6 backers
Our sincere thanks from the Jordan Family and recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter, as well as listed on our donor page on our website.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $15 or more
1 backer
Five downloadable images of the farm, taken by the talented Casey Jordan, and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $15 or more
2 backers
A postcard of a farm image, taken by Casey Jordan with a personal thank you from the Jordan Family; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $25 or more
8 backers Limited (42 left of 50)
Farm Side Dish for Dinner, take home a dozen ears of corn or a quart of potatoes to complete your dinner; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
(Must be able to pick it up at the farm or farmers market)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $25 or more
1 backer
Sticker Club: A cool farm sticker only available for supporters like you; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $50 or more
6 backers Limited (94 left of 100)
Sweet Spot: A jar of our famous Strawberry Jam, made with the sweetest possible sparkle strawberries; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $50 or more
11 backers
Farm Tote Bag, a reuseable tote bag with our logo and special recognition that you supported the Rebuilding for our Future campaign; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $50 or more
0 backers Limited (50 left of 50)
Salad Bag: Includes a head of lettuce, cucumber, tomato, carrots, and onion; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter
(Must be able to pick up a the farm or farmers market)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $75 or more
1 backer Limited (9 left of 10)
Garden Starter: Includes a mix of 18 seedlings to help get your garden started; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter
(Must be able to pick up at the farm or a farmers market.)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $100 or more
5 backers Limited (15 left of 20)
Root Cellar Starter Pack: Includes 5 lb of potatoes, 5 lb of carrots, 5 lb of beets; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
(Must be able to pick up at the farm or farmers market.)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $100 or more
6 backers
Just say Thank You: Say thank you to Jodie Jordan for something he has done for you in the past; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $150 or more
5 backers Limited (95 left of 100)
Lobster Dinner for Two: Includes lobsters and clams; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
(Shipping lobsters will be additional cost up to $100 dollars)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $250 or more
2 backers Limited (98 left of 100)
Cook'em Up: We will cook your lobsters every time you come to the farm in our new kitchen for one year; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $300 or more
2 backers Limited (8 left of 10)
Thankgiving Dinner: Includes everything you need to cook the best thanksgiving ever and wow your family's socks off. One Turkey (approx 20 lb), carrots, potatoes, squash, turnip or rutabaga, and your choice of dessert pumpkin or apples to make a great pie; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Must be able to pick up at the farm or farmers market.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $300 or more
0 backers Limited (20 left of 20)
Make your own Strawberry Jam... Come into our new kitchen and learn to make the best strawberry jam with Caitlin and take your batch home with you at the end of the day; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $300 or more
0 backers Limited (10 left of 10)
Dinner for Six: Includes lobsters and clams, corn and potatoes; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
(Shipping lobsters will be additional cost up to $150 dollars)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $500 or more
3 backers Limited (7 left of 10)
Official Farm Hoodie: Receive your very own Farm Sweatshirt, these are not available anywhere for sale, only worn by family; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (2 left of 2)
Lobster Tour: Go out on the boat with Tucker Jordan on board the Hot Spot Too with yourself and five guests, Learn what it is like to be a Cape Elizabeth Lobsterman; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers
Remembered Forever ! - With a single, generous donation of 1,000 dollars, Your name will be displayed in the market, as one of our Gracious Donors.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $2,000 or more
1 backer Limited (2 left of 3)
Lobster Bake Party: A backyard party for twenty, includes lobsters, clams, potatoes, and corn (if in season at time of your party). Party must be located with 50 mile radius of Cape Elizabeth. Tucker will arrive with the lobsters and cook for the party.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $3,000 or more
0 backers Limited (15 left of 15)
All you can eat for a year: Get all the vegetables your household can eat during our growing season, from June through October; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $10,000
0 backers Limited (5 left of 5)
All you can eat for five, FIVE YEARS that is... Get all the vegetables your household can eat during our growing season, from June through October for the next five years, 2013 - 2018; and be included on our donor list on our website, as well as recognition on our facebook and in our newsletter.
Estimated delivery:
Funding period
- (60 days)