Benefit for York Land Trust at Arrows Restaurant, September 18

Eighteen local farmers, fishermen, gardeners and producers have teamed up with Arrows Restaurant and celebrity chefs to create a six-course benefit dinner, “From the Ground Up!” for York Land Trust’s 25th Anniversary. WCVB/TV Boston Broadcaster Randy Price will Emcee the event at Arrows Restaurant in Ogunquit, ME on Sunday, September 18th at 6 p.m. “As we celebrate our 25-year commitment to preserving York’s natural heritage, we look forward to finding more ways that York Land Trust and its members can best make a difference for the future of farming in our community. ‘From the Ground Up!’ is the threshold event that lunches our farmland conservation efforts,” said Doreen MacGillis, Executive Director of York Land Trust.

The table is set for Arrows Restaurant to host “From the Ground Up!” – A Farm Fresh Benefit Dinner Celebrating York Land Trust’s 25th Anniversary and Local Farming on Sunday, September 18, at 6PM. Dinner tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are available on a first-come, first-served basis for $150 per person. To purchase tickets, visit yorklandtrust.org or call (207) 363-7400, option 2.

York Land Trust and Arrows Restaurant share a commitment to the land. “Our own 20-year history cultivating our gardens and cooking using the freshest ingredients, made it an easy choice to honor York Land Trust’s quarter-century of local conservation success by hosting their Benefit Dinner, agreed Chef-owners of Arrows Restaurant, Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier.

Arrows Executive Chef Justin Walker was quick to champion the “farm-to-table” idea. “He shared our enthusiasm for using York Land Trust’s milestone occasion to tell the stories of local farmers and fishermen to help raise awareness of the importance of conserving our natural and cultural heritage and the working landscapes on which these livelihoods depend,” said Karen Arsenault, York Land Trust Board Member and Event Co-chair.

Arrows has recruited five other James Beard Award-winning chefs to help prepare six, signature courses for the Benefit Dinner. Joining the Arrows Restaurant team will be Neal Fraser of Grace Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA; Paul Kahan from Blackbird, avec, and the Publican in Chicago, IL; Rockland, Maine’s own Melissa Kelly from Primo; Jeff Michaud of Osteria in Philidelphia, PA and Jason Miller hailing from St. Joe’s Coffee in York and Gorham, ME. “We are thrilled that our peers from around the country have agreed to travel here to work with us and other local restaurants to develop the Benefit Dinner into a truly exceptional dining experience,” said Walker.

Twenty-five years ago, The York Land Trust was founded by local residents in response to a growing concern that what people loved and valued most about their community was being threatened. With a strong commitment to help shape southern Maine’s future and strike a balance between the natural and built environment, York Land Trust and its conservation partners have conserved almost 13,000 acres of land throughout the greater York/Mt. Agamenticus region for water quality, wildlife habitat, agriculture, recreational open space and outdoor education. According to past President of York Land Trust and Event Co-Chair Helen Winebaum, “The York Land Trust’s accomplishments have only been possible because of the pride and love that the York community has for the area’s unique natural treasures and their generous support of York Land Trust’s work to permanently protect these treasures.”

For more information: http://www.yorklandtrust.org/