In 2013 founder, Mark Bevan established a 501c3 with the name Field Of Zion International, the forerunner of the organization known as Fields of Zion International, established in 2020. Since the beginning Mark has has worked to build a resource base and establish favorable relationships with local farms and property owners, which enabled us to begin gearing up to operate on a larger scale.
In 2015 FOZI established the partner farm program, and the formation of its first official educational demonstration farm: Saco River Farms in Steep Falls, Maine.
Working closely with Saco River Farms, we have expanded our ability to offer hands on educational training through internships, as well as becoming a WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) host farm.
Saco River Farms offers a diverse array of educational opportunities including a working farmstead, micro goat dairy, CSA, market garden and various meat production.
In the coming years we hope to expand our programs at the Steep Falls farm, as well as establish additional small sustainable farm training facilities in as many communities as possible, creating educational opportunities, providing jobs, and helping to protect food security for future generations.
In our home state of Maine, we have chosen to focus first on the Saco River valley region which stretches from the white mountains in New Hampshire to Biddeford & Saco Maine .
Individual farm operations will vary, depending on land and resources available, however wherever possible, we hope to provide a small scale, diverse learning environment, which will include many aspects of sustainable crop and livestock management.
Branching Out
Our second farm project will begin on the North Coast Jamaica, and much preparation is already underway.
Fields of Zion International plans to begin its operations in Jamaica, as soon as possible, with the acquisition of farm land. It is our goal to serve underprivileged farmers in the parish’s of St. Ann and St. Mary, by introducing a farm training/educational demonstration facility much like the one operating in Maine.
Our goal is to produce a template for a sustainable farming community which can be replicated and function effectively anywhere in the world!