Agricultural wonder Woman
Gloria Varney
Gloria’s role at Nezinscot Farm has been to educate all those that visit the importance of understanding and learning where and how food is produced. Offering opportunities for learning the skills necessary to be able to live a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle is accomplished through her internship programs and extensive workshops. Gloria has created her own classroom at the farm; all those that visit are able to educate themselves simply by being present at the farm and getting first-hand access to the questions they have.
Gloria strives to work with organizations and groups that will help continue the educational process of creating local food systems, developing skills in sustainable agriculture, and provide nutritious foods year round.
Public Speaking
Agriculture 101
Motivational speaking on where our food comes from and the importance of supporting local agriculture, empowering people on sustainable living whether you live in the country or city, purchasing the family farm; the do’s and don’ts, What If?- a look at the question and how it can help us meet our basic needs on a daily basis.
About Gloria
Work History
Sustainable Farmer & Owner of Nezinscot Farm Store (1990-Present)
Assistant Lecturer at Bates College (2013 – Present) Short Term Class
Fitness Director at YWCA, Lewiston, Maine (1987-1989)
EMT Local Ambulance Service (1981-1983)
Awards
Homesteader of the Year by Mother Earth News (2013)
Member of Organic Valley, Farmer Owned COOP (1994)
First Certified Organic Dairy in the State of Maine (1987)
Outstanding Young Farmer of Maine (1990)
Education
The University of Maine at Farmington
Community Health Education and Nutrition & Exercise Physiology, Public Health, Honors
Love Farming!
Stay connected with us
Visit us
At Nezinscot Farm
In 1987, Gregg and Gloria purchased Nezinscot farm from Gregg’s parents Waren and Marguerite Varney. Gregg and Gloria have five children, all of whom participate in maintaining and running the family farm and business. They pick eggs, milk cows and goats, feed the animals of the farm and help with the harvest.
My Writing Blog
Follow Along
Fiber Studio Interns – Summer 2019
Join us in welcoming our summer 2019 Fiber Studio Interns. They’ll be working in the fiber studio throughout the week and hosting weekend courses.
Being a Farmer: A lifestyle like no other – farming & food security
A few years back I wrote a few essays based on a reaction to several frustrating encounters with family, friends and neighbors and their views/perception of farming as a career option.
“The Art of Farming” and “Creating a Purposeful Life” are those essays that respond and offer a solution of how we farmers can perhaps change the views of these people. They, like us, are well educated, but, unlike us un-educated in the reality of the fact that without farmers or laborers (as they called it) our food, open space and freedom as we know it will change drastically.
My Day Off – Saying good bye to farm friends
Twelve years ago, a year after saying good bye to our former dog, Bernice (our matriarch Llama) would communicate with Nancy (our animal communicator) about the fact that a dog will be coming to me. It would be the male runt of the litter.