ABSTRACT
Each spring, citizens in the state of Maine celebrate and practice direct democracy in the ritual of the annual town meeting. Maine is a strong Home Rule state, meaning that local government has considerable governing authority, as long as local Ordinances don’t frustrate the purpose of state law. In the spring 2011 town meeting cycle, residents of six towns in Hancock County considered a Local Food and Community Self-Governance Ordinance (LFCSGO, Ordinance) intended to protect small-scale farmers’ livelihoods by exempting direct sales of farm food within each town from licensure and inspection. In the face of costly regulations that pose hardships for many farmers, the Ordinance asserts “the right to produce, process, sell, purchase and consume local foods thus promoting self-reliance, the preservation of family farms, and local food traditions”. The Ordinance passed with strong support in five of the six towns.
