Across the country, farmland is disappearing forever at a rapid rate, according to American Farmland Trust president John Piotti, who will speak at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury Monday night at 7 p.m.

Lucy Thompson lives on Spring Moon Farm off Lambert’s Cove Road, a here-an-oink, there-an-oink working farm. It requires all the dawn-to-dusk responsibilities involved with raising cows, sheep, chickens, ducks, pigs and other animals, plus all the daily work of maintaining a lush garden that tumbles over with herbs, melons, squash, and a variety of vegetables. 

Jamie Norton is looking forward to having his house back next winter. For years now his roommates — starter trays of peppers, eggplants, melons, cucumbers, gilo and other vegetables — have taken over his home each winter and spring, covering nearly all available space.

The Farm and Field column began in 1976 recording weather events and hay bale counts, new livestock additions and crop woes. Reporter Mary Breslauer wrote a brief description on the first day, June 22, 1976, of the column’s mission.

“Home gardeners cooking spinach and serving fresh lettuce on the table, Vineyard farm life — we hope the column will become a reflection of all aspects of Vineyard agriculture activities.”