Maine women have taken up farming at the rate of 81 per year between 1997 and 20

Maine women have taken up farming at the rate of 81 per year between 1997 and 2002, making up 22 percent of primary farm operators in 2002, a rate second only to New Hampshire\u27s 25 percent. Some of these farmers say part of the reason for the trend is that Maine isn\u27t highly invested in large-scale agriculture and that small farms are more affordable for new farmers. Whatever the reason for their numbers, the women are helping to meet a rising demand for local, organically-grown produce