MOFGA Logo

  

 MOFGA Letterhead

the MOF&G Online

Info

Events

Technical Services

Certification Services

Organic Food

  

 

Daytripping in Maine -- 2003

Welcome to The MOF&G’s annual Daytripping feature! These tours, combined with MOFGA’s summer events, offer much to beginning and experienced growers. Find out how to tincture herbs, save seeds and grow blue poppies... Almost anything you want to learn is covered in these farm and garden visits and workshops. So grab your Delorme Atlas and head for the farms! Please leave the dog at home...

If you would like to be included in the 2004 Daytripping list, please contact Jean English, 662 Slab City Rd., Lincolnville ME 04849; 763-3043; jenglish@midcoast.com.

Daytripping Dates

Several dates (see descriptions)

Androscoggin County

THE RICKER FAMILY’S FARM, RICKER HILL ORCHARDS IN TURNER, was founded in 1803. Our farm offers the visitor a chance to visit and tour our cider and packing plants and our farm stand. Other attractions that the whole family can enjoy include fishing in our trout ponds, visiting our petting ranch, hiking and biking our trails and more. We have many festivals during the year; please visit www.Rickerhill.com for times and descriptions. Our farm opens in mid-May and is open seven days a week until the end of October.

Directions: The farm is on Rt. 117 in Turner, 1.5 miles west of Rt. 4.

Address: P.O. Box 202 Turner ME 04282; 207-225-3455; appleboy26@aol.com Cumberland County

MARY CUPP OF FALMOUTH has a greenhouse, an outdoor garden and two herb gardens that are full of lavender. A semi-permanent trellis of galvanized poles pounded into the ground with wooden crossbars at the top supports tomatoes and other trailing plants. A new arbor borders her ledge garden, where thyme, lavender, irises and others grow. Mary is putting her land into tree growth, so visitors can see tree seedlings in the back field. She also has walnut and butternut trees that she planted from seed three years ago. Foxgloves, sundrops and daylilies should be in bloom in late June, and Mary will have herb tea made from her garden plants.

Dates: June 22 and June 29, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Directions from Portland: Take Auburn St. out to the North Deering Veterinary Hospital. Take a left onto Lambert St. You will go over the railroad tracks under an overpass and over the turnpike and start to climb a hill. The road at that point becomes Blackstrap Rd. It crosses Brook Rd. at a four-way stop and goes up a hill for a few miles. At the top of the hill, Mountain Rd. intercepts it on your right and to your right is a radio tower. Keep going for a mile or two and you will notice Mast Rd. T's into Blackstrap from the left. The next left turn (sort of a Y) is Babbidge Rd. There is a white farm house on the left before you turn and a red farm house across from it. The house is one-half mile from the intersection on the left. It is quite hidden by young pines.

You can also pick up Blackstrap from the other end as it intercepts Rt. 100 coming from Gray. Or you can follow the Falmouth Rd. from Windham and it will turn into Babbidge Rd. when it crosses the Falmouth line.

Address: 54 Babbidge Rd., Falmouth ME 04015; 797-8308.

SUNRISE ACRES FARM IN CUMBERLAND CENTER is owned by Sally Merrill. John Bliss is the garden manager and Evan deBourguignon is the general manager. Located on 148 acres, 10 miles northwest of Portland, the farm is diversified, with sheep, beef cows, laying hens, pastured poultry, bee hives, and a 3-acre organic garden for a 100-share CSA. This year an additional 21- x 96-foot hoop house holds over 75 varieties of heirloom tomatoes and pepper plants. On Open Farm Day, Sunrise offers garden tours/pasture walks on the half hour and hay rides on the hour. During the walking tour, the principles of rotational grazing and the consequences for the land, the livestock, and human beings who participate will be explained.

Date: Open Farm Day, Sunday, July 27, 9:30 a.m. to noon

Directions: From Interstate 495, take Exit 10, turn left, go 1 mile to the second light, turn right, bear left at all forks. The farm is 3 miles on the left. From Interstate 295, take Exit 10, turn right, at light turn right onto Route 9, go 3 1/2 miles. Just before the Mobil on the left, turn left onto Winn Road. The farm is the second one on the right.

Address: 42 Winn Road, Cumberland Center, ME 04021; 829-5594.

Franklin County

KHADIGHAR IN INDUSTRY, MAINE, is a unique example of veganic farming--maintaining soil fertility sustainably without animal manures. Molly Thorkildsen and Will Bonsall focus on self-sufficiency, growing a wide range of vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes. Special features include extensive terraces, solar-powered irrigation, intensive (not raised) beds, and the use of ramial chips (chipped branches of deciduous trees).

Dates: Sunday, July 27, 2:00 p.m., rain or shine: General Farm Tour--Visitors’ interests usually draw this tour out to 2 1/2 to 3 hours, so plan accordingly.

Sunday, August 3, 2:00 p.m., rain or shine: Scatterseed Project--Tour of seed propagation plots and screen house, including discussion of pollination control strategies. Hundreds of varieties of many crops are grown. The discussion includes exploring plant genetic diversity in order to identify varieties that are suited to specific local conditions and uses.

Directions: From Farmington, follow Route 43 east to Allens Mills (about 4 miles). Continue on Route 43 for another 1 1/2 miles, past Junction 148. Continue on Route 43 another 1000 feet to the first road on the right. Follow signs.

Address: Khadighar, 39 Bailey Road, Industry, ME 04938. Tel. 778-3387.

Hancock County

BEECH HILL FARM IN MOUNT DESERT is owned by College of the Atlantic and managed by Lucian Smith. The farm includes 6 acres of mixed organic vegetables, a farm store, and 6 acres of heirloom apple orchards.

Date: The farmstand is open from 9 to 6 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and the farm is open to the public at these times as well as on Open Farm Day, July 27.

Directions: Take Pretty Marsh Road at the blinking yellow light in Somesville off Rt. 102. Take the first town road on the left, Beech Hill Road. The farm is 1 1/2 miles on right.

Address: Box 171, Beech Hill Rd., Mount Desert, ME 04660; 207-244-5204; beechhillfarm@ecology.coa.edu

BLUE POPPY GARDEN IN SEDGWICK is owned and was created by landscape designer Julie Wang. The 12-acre garden, surrounded by a 10-foot cedar hedge, was featured in the book Gardens Maine Style. Old roses, a lavender walk, herb garden, perennial beds, an old apple orchard and formal raised-bed vegetable/cutting garden are all part of this garden. Many of the more unusual plants are labeled with their Latin and common names, as are plants in the woodland walk leading to the blueberry fields. Visitors may play croquet, walk through the woodlands to the blueberry fields, pick blueberries in August, drink tea by the pond, or shop in the store, which helps fund the garden maintenance. Everything is totally organic. New this year are flower arrangements made daily and sold in the store, and a B&B. Tours to accommodate groups may be arranged with advance notice. See www.bluepoppygarden.com for more information.

Dates: Visitors can come anytime from mid-May to mid-October, 10-5:30, seven days a week. Blue Poppy Weekend is June 26 to 29, when the blue poppies are in bloom.

Directions: Take Route 15 toward Blue Hill from Route 1, go through Blue Hill on 15 and follow it to the turnoff to Rte 175. Blue Poppy signs mark the way. We are approximately 10 miles south of Blue Hill between Sedgwick and Sargentville on Rte 175.

AT FIVE STAR NURSERY IN N. BROOKLIN, Tim Seabrook and Leslie Cummins raise heirloom fruit trees for sale and have an orchard that produces various fruits, including peaches, which they sell.

Date: Saturday, August 30; Rain Date: Sunday, August 31. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: HCR 64, Box 1030, N. Brooklin 04616; 359-2282; fivestarnursery@acadia.net.

Kennebec County

THE JOHNNY’S SELECTED SEEDS FARM IN ALBION is owned by Rob Johnston Jr. and Janika Eckert. Approximately 40 acres in size, this is the center of research for the Maine seed company. The farm is also an official All America Selections flowers and vegetables trial site. Visitors can see a wide variety of vegetable, flower and herb varieties, including many unusual and heirloom varieties.

Date: The farm is open all summer. On Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and on Thursdays at 2 p.m. from June through September, one-hour guided tours of the research and production fields are given. Visitors' guides are available for those who prefer self-guided tours (daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The farm is closed to visitors on Sundays.

Directions: Johnny's Farm is located on the Foss Hill Road in Albion, a farm community 10 miles east of Waterville, Maine. Driving directions can be found at www.johnnyseeds.com.

Address: Farm: Johnny's Selected Seeds, 184 Foss Hill Rd., Albion ME 04910;

Company Address: Johnny's Selected Seeds, 955 Benton Ave., Winslow ME 04901; Phone: (207) 861-3900; info@johnnyseeds.com.

KIWIHILL FARM IN SIDNEY is owned by Tom Vigue and Eileen Fingerman. It features veganic farming; intensive beds for vegetables; beans; some grains; an orchard, including kiwis; and medicinal herbs. Tom and Eileen make all of their own compost and use the soil block method for starting seedlings. Their stone house has a stone finish counterflow fireplace and an attached, passive solar greenhouse.

Date: Saturday August 2; tour starts at noon.

Directions: From Augusta, take Rt. 27 N to Rt. 23. Turn right onto Rt. 23 (Pond Rd.). Go exactly 2.0 miles down Rt. 23. Turn right onto Robinson Rd. Go 0.3 miles, then stay left at fork/mailboxes. Go down the dirt road and follow signs to parking.

Address: 127 Robinson Rd., Sidney 04330, 547-3000, kiwihill@midmaine.com

Knox County

ALDERMERE FARM IN ROCKPORT is owned by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. It has the nation's oldest herd of Belted Galloway cattle, scenic vistas along the tree canopied Russell Avenue bisecting the farm, and a small Visitor Center where questions about the cattle, the farm and Maine Coast Heritage Trust will be received.

Dates: You may drive through the farm year around. The Visitor Center is open from the end of June through September each afternoon except Mondays, from 12:00 to 4:00.

Directions: From North or South, turn off Route 1 onto Chestnut street, which is right beside Camden National Bank in downtown Camden. Follow Chestnut for one-plus miles and you will begin to see the farm, with the Visitor Center on the left.

Phone: 207-236-2739; E-mail: aldermere@mcht.org , Web: www.aldermere.org

AVENA INSTITUTE IN WEST ROCKPORT is a nonprofit organization that teaches about many aspects of herbs. The following free events are planned for this summer.

June 18, Wednesday, 4 to 5 p.m.
Monthly Garden Walk. Join Deb Soule for an early summer walk through the Avena Botanicals Medicinal Herb Garden. Many of the plants in the garden will be at their early stages of development. Specific information about the medicinal uses and cultivation of various herbs will be shared. Free. Call 594-2403 for information.
July 9, Wednesday, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Ninth Annual Fairy Tea Party. Join us for tea, cookies and fairy fun and a special puppet show by Heartstrings Puppet Troupe at 3:45 and 4:45. Come dressed as your favorite garden fairy and bring a friend. The young and wise, female and male are all welcome. Free at Avena Botanicals and Avena Institute in West Rockport, Maine. Call 594-2403 for information.
July 23, Wednesday, 4 to 5 p.m.
Monthly Garden Walk. Join Deb Soule for a fun and informative walk through the Avena Botanicals Medicinal Herb Garden. The garden will be in full bloom, and specific information about the growing needs and medicinal uses of various herbs will be shared. Free. Call 594-2403 for information.
August 13, Wednesday, 4 to 5 p.m.
Monthly Garden Walk. Join Deb Soule for a fun and informative walk through the beautiful Avena Botanicals Medicinal Herb Garden. The garden is full of extraordinary color at this time of year. Learn about harvesting and preparing some of the herbs you will see on this walk. Free. Call 594-2403 for information.
For more information, contact Avena Institute, PO Box 333, 219 Mill St., West Rockport, ME 04865; phone: 594-2403; fax 594-2403; please call before faxing.

THE APPLETON CHILDREN’S GARDEN grows at the Mildred Stevens Williams Memorial Library. The children of Appleton in conjunction with the Library's Summer Reading Program have planted this garden, while Abbie Read of Artgarden developed the playful design. The plans call for a spiral path with bean tunnels and a teepee. This year, a gazebo has been added to the garden.

Date: The garden is always open to the public. If you want to take part in or experience the weekly children's programs, visit on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings in July to mid-August. Call Debbie Keiran for a garden activity schedule at 785-2418

Directions: From Route 17 in Union turn northward onto Route 131, right between the John Deere and Ford tractor dealerships. The next town northward on Route 131 is Appleton, about five miles. Go north from Union on Route 131, past Sennebec Pond on the right, then bear right where Route 105 joins Route 131, staying on combined Routes 131 and 105 northbound past the Appleton Village School on the left. When you reach the village of Appleton (signs say to slow to 25 mph), turn onto Sennebec Road. The library will be on your left. Continue over the bridge of the St. George River and the garden will be on your right. Parking is available at the garden.

Address: Appleton Library, Sennebec Road, Appleton ME 04862; Tel. 785-5656

AT BRAE MAPLE FARM IN UNION, you can walk through 2 acres of MOFGA-certified organic vegetable, herb and dried flower gardens grown by Andrea and Allan Smith. A period herb garden surrounds the Smiths’ turn-of-the-century cobbler’s shed. Enjoy the pastoral views from the historic 1787 farmstead and visit with Scotch Highland cattle, sheep, angora goats and miniature, standard and mammoth donkeys. Master Gardeners have had special gardens, trials and demonstrations here for several years, as well. This year they will have educational displays about home gardening, including compost making and irrigation for raised beds; and later in the season (date to be announced), they will host a tomato tasting event.

Date: July 27 (Open Farm Day), 10 to 3.

Directions: From Union going west on Rt. 17, take the first right after the John Deere Tractors onto North Union Road. Go 1/4 mile--it’s the first farm on the right. Look for signs.

Address: 233 N. Union Rd., Union ME 04862; 785-4978.

THE 12th ANNUAL "GARDENS IN THE WATERSHED" TOUR, sponsored by the Georges River Land Trust, features five diverse gardens in the upper watershed towns of Hope and Montville; some are organic. Short lectures/workshops will take place at two locations. New this year is a Garden Fair with vendors offering various garden related items for sale. A gourmet bag lunch is available by pre-order. Tickets, $15 in advance and $18 on tour day, are available at area bookstores and from the Land Trust office. For more information, please contact Eliza Bailey, 594-5166.

Date: Sunday, July 13 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, rain or shine.

Oxford County

SWALLOW SONG FARM IN BETHEL is owned by Tim McGuire and Beth Myers. This historic farm, c. 1776, includes the oldest cemetery in the area; 1800 feet of Androscoggin riverfront for walking; excellent birdwatching (including bald eagles); a market garden and farm stand; organic growing supplies; and 200 varieties of perennials.

Date: Market hours are Thursday through Sunday, 9 to 5 from Mid-May to the end of June; and 1 to 5 from July through mid-September. Tours are given from 1 to 5 during open hours.

Directions: Leave Bethel on Rt. 26 south, turn left onto Intervale Rd. after Davis Park and travel 7 miles along the Androscoggin River.

Address: 1460 Intervale Rd., Bethel ME 04217; farm1776@megalink.net; 824-0634; Fax 824-7256.

Somerset County

SNAKEROOT ORGANIC FARM IN PITTSFIELD, owned by Tom Roberts and Lois Labbe, features three greenhouses and 2 acres of fields, a small maple sugarbush and a very active composting operation. We grow a wide variety of veggies and herbs, produce many seeds for sale and for our own use, and attend the Unity, Pittsfield, Fairfield and Orono farmers' markets. We have a unique CSA plan, also. We compost chips, grass clippings, cow manure and leaves in two separate composting operations.

Date: Sunday, July 12, from noon to 5 p.m.

Directions: From I-95 Exit 38 in Pittsfield, go away from town (left if coming from the south, right if coming from the north) and go about 3 miles to the second left, which is the Snakeroot Road. We are on the Snakeroot Road, 1/2 mile from the Weeks Road end. A "Welcome visitors" sign will be at the end of our driveway.

Address: 3645 Snakeroot Road, Pittsfield ME 04967, 487-5056, tom@snakeroot.net, www.snakeroot.net.

Waldo County

See also Gardens in the Watershed Tour under Knox County.

KELMSCOTT FARM IN LINCOLNVILLE is dedicated to teaching ecological

education, modeling sustainable agriculture and promoting agricultural biodiversity. Rare breeds of farm livestock and an organic heirloom herb garden are unique attractions. Fun family activities (wagon rides, farm tours, hands-on farm activities) occur daily, and hand-made farm products in the gift shop are available throughout the summer.

Dates: Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 1 to Oct. 1, 2003.

Admission: Adults: $5; Seniors: $4; children ages 4-15: $3; children under 4 are free. Admission is free on Open Farm Day, July 27, 2003.

Directions: Kelmscott is located on Rt. 52 in Lincolnville, 6 miles south of Belfast and 13 miles north of Camden.

Address: 12 Van Cycle Rd., Lincolnville, ME 04849; (207) 763-4088

RAVEN’S PLACE SOLAR HOMESTEAD IN KNOX is owned by Mike and Margie Shannon, who have a small, off-grid solar/wind homestead and gardens that produce much of their food for the year.

Date: August 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Directions: Take Frye Mt. Rd. (formerly Getchell Rd.) off Route 137, 10 miles from Belfast. Go 1.2 miles on Frye Mt. Road. Look for the house with the solar panels.

Address: 241 Frye Mt. Rd., Knox ME 04986. 722-3772.

Washington County

CROSSROAD FARMS IN JONESPORT is owned by Arnold and Bonnie Pearlman, who raise 16 acres of approximately 300 varieties of vegetables, 2 acres of apple trees and have solar powered electricity and a composting operation. They started this homestead 33 years ago.

Date: Sunday, August 3, noon to 2 p.m.

Directions: From Ellsworth, go 60 miles on Route 1 toward Machias to Route 187, Mason Bay Road. At the second junction of Route 187, turn right at the DOT sign for Crossroad Farms. Go 2.2 miles to a larger DOT sign and turn right on Indian River Crossroad, a gravel road. Go 1.5 miles to the farm.

Address: Box 3230, Jonesport 04649; Tel. 497-2641.

York County

DAYS MEADOW FARM IN KENNEBUNK is owned by Dan Fleishman and Claudia Berman, who raise 2 acres of mixed vegetables in eight beds with flowers scattered throughout. Poultry are pastured in a 1/4-acre enclosure. The farm is surrounded by 65 acres of fields and woods in a conservation easement. Hiking trails lead to the Kennebunk River.

Date: Open Farm Day, July 27, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Directions: Days Meadow Farm is located on Maine Route 35, 4.5 miles north of Turnpike Exit 3 and 2.5 miles south of Maine Route 111. Look for the sign at the driveway. Drive all the way to the end of the driveway, as it is shared with others.

Address: 889 Alewive Road, Kennebunk 04043; Tel. 985-6896.

Return to The MOF&G Online