MeInMaine Blog

Tag: maine grange organization

  • The Grange, Big Part Of Small Town Rural Life.

    Why was the Grange such an important part of small town living in rural areas of this country, around Maine?

    The Grange movement responsible for free rural mail delivery, lots of other small town contributions. Where the economy was pretty tied to agriculture, mostly local enterprises.

    Getting Along When You Live In Maine
    We Live In Maine, We Keep It Simple. Have To.

    The local Grange was a group of farmers working together to improve the local landscape with attention to religion, law and history.

    Remote farmers needed social, educational, and fraternal activities. The Grange movement keyed in, related to the farmers need to self improve and stop working individually in the struggle. For the public to be more aware of the farmers plight in the press too as they banded together.

    The Grange also helped regulate railroad rate fees for freight, grain elevator monopolies.

    To set up feed, supply stores for farmers to peddle their crops and goods at with distribution efficiency. The need for a good solid food hub, a strong local community co op all tie in with the original sentiments of the Grange movement.

    In 1900, one farmer could produce more wheat than twenty growers back in 1860. The Grange helped understand the shift from agriculture primitive methods to mechanized overhauls of the family farm.

    While industrial gains were made in the shift from rural agriculture to urban living, its new production methods.

    Maine Is Farming, Outdoors, Horses, Animals. All Rural.
    Horsing Around In Maine. Want To, Need To?

    Farming in Maine is changing.

    Their is a resurgence of younger micro farmers turning to making a living with tilling the dirt.

    Raising critters on smaller better managed with a family Maine farm approach to simple living.

    Not going head over heels in debt. Being more self sufficient, trained with all disciplines to stay on that farm in Maine by doing more yourself.

    Attending the Jack of All Trades University.

    Graduating with high honors and a keen survival set of skills, talents for the real World.

    Not just gaming a bubble to win play points.

    To keep overhead down and to embrace family farming in Maine where the entire family pitches in to keep it running. Ever thought of the simple living on a Maine farm as a lifestyle?

    Learn more about the Maine Grange.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com

  • Granges Were Big, Vibrant In Maine Years Ago.

    The local Grange Hall in Maine was an integral part of American’s agricultural lifestyle for much of the 1900’s.

    Empty Waiting For Folks To Come To Bean Suppers.
    Empty Waiting For Folks To Come To Bean Suppers.
    Near Grand Lake, Weston Maine's Grange Hall.
    Near Grand Lake, Weston Maine’s Grange Hall.
    Back When 96% Of Us Were Farmers, Maine Granges Were The Center Bee Hive Of Activity, Community Events.
    Back When 96% Of Us Were Farmers, Maine Granges Were The Center Bee Hive Of Activity, Community Events.

    Every town had a Grange Hall.

    .

    Maine has a state Grange organization. Maine’s first Grange started in 1876. On the Grange national level, there are many chapters around the country still active.

    I passed the Grange Hall in Weston and Cary Maine here in Aroostook County over the weekend. The driveways not plowed out, their memberships dwindling as the older workers die off one by one. But in 2700 communities, 40 states, the National Grange was a major force in shaping the country. And still is with the following being the mission statement for the Grange.

    “Major objectives of the National Grange support stewardship of America’s natural resources; promotion of world-wide free trade; a combination of local and federal support for rural education, medical, communications, and road systems; non-partisan political participation; assurance of safe and properly labeled food products; organization of cooperatives and other economic services to support rural Americans; and elimination of direct government farm programs so as to assure a competitive and efficient farm system.

    The National Grange supports the passage of progressive legislation that will benefit U.S. agriculture, rural America, and the nation in general. After 143 years, it remains the nation’s oldest and strongest sustained organizational force working for a better life for rural Americans everywhere.”

    Now with more and more options for a person’s free time group and organization wise, Grange membership in Maine has dropped off. Especially since less than 3 percent of us are farmers, the original bulk of the membership in the early 1900’s in the Grange hay day.

    Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers 207.532.6573