Today’s Farms are the Food Stars of Maine’s MidCoast

In recent years, Maine has enjoyed a farming renaissance with an influx of many twenty- and thirty-somethings who want to farm. In fact, Maine now has the fifth youngest farmer population in the country. That movement has revitalized many small family operations and spurred a boom in sustainable and organic farming methods. With abundant water, good soils, and cool weather, farming is poised to steadily grow. Want to taste some of that love and hard work? You’ll find wonderful farm stands throughout the MidCoast and of course, you can enjoy amazingly fresh, local foods at restaurants everywhere. Here are just some of the region’s great farms.

 

Wild Grace Farm – Liberty

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In the summer of 2017, a young couple visiting the MidCoast region, happened upon a sale sign for an old homestead with 50 acres on a hill in Liberty. Immediately they knew this was a special place to call home, raise a family, and to grow their own produce. Today Wild Grace Farm is a biodiverse farm with a large variety of fruits, veggies, herbs, and wild edibles. Their Farm Store & Café in Liberty is open daily and offers a seasonal variety of fruits, vegetables, and a modest farm-to-table place for take-out and eat-in. wildgracefarm.com

 

 

Dooryard Farm – Camden

Dooryard Farm is a small, family-run farm serving the Camden-Rockland area. Their produce can be found at their Camden Farm Stand open through October, and in many local restaurants and stores. They grow diverse vegetable crops and pasture-raise a few animals. Dooryard Farm is a certified-organic operation and is known for building and maintaining soil fertility. They are a fully solar-based farm.  dooryardfarmmaine.com

 

 

Hope Orchards – Hope

Now is the time to enjoy nearly two dozen varieties of fresh apples at this family-owned orchard. Grown on seven acres alongside Camden Road in the heart of Hope, you can pick your own apples and pears or buy them at the stand until late October. Depending on when you visit, you’ll also find raspberries, grapes, and farm vegetables. At the stand you’ll also find homemade apple rings, apple crisp mix, and if you’re lucky, their highly sought after cider!  hopeorchards.com

 

 

 

Crystal Spring Farm – Brunswick

In the #1 wild blueberry region of the entire universe, you shouldn’t be surprised to find a farm dedicated to Organic Maine wild blueberries. Crystal Spring Farm organically nurtures 72 acres of blueberries in the town of Brunswick. A true “community farm”, this historic farm is leased to local farm managers by the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. Seasonally, the farm also sells vegetables, produce, and pastured meats, but pure wild blueberries are the first reason to visit. Even though fresh berries may be no longer available, you can’t get closer to blueberry heaven than the farm’s Organic Maine Wild Blueberry Conserve. It’s made with only wild blueberries and a touch of organic lemon. It pairs with everything!  crystalspringcsa.com

 

 

Oyster Creek Mushroom Farm – Damariscotta

While most farms close during the winter, a few others flourish. If you love the varied types and myriad flavors of mushrooms, look no further than Oyster Creek Mushroom Farm. They’ve specialized in shiitake mushrooms for over thirty year using the traditional oak log method. As the seasons allow, they sell porcini, oyster, chanterelle, black trumpet, hen and chicken of the woods, and morel mushrooms among others. Online, they offer dried mushrooms, shiitake growing kits and plugs, mushroom powders, flavored mushroom oils and gift boxes.  oystercreekmushroom.com

 

 

Rock Bottom Farm – Richmond

Two working farm dogs named Julia (Great Pyrenees) and Ruth (Turkish Kangal), are tasked with maintaining order at this small, family farmstead in Richmond. They protect the farm’s Nigerian dairy goat herd (milk, soap, cheese and yogurt), Kunekune pigs, and free-range laying hens. The farm hosts kid snuggles in the Spring when the baby goats are born, and may be doing pig snuggles this Fall when the Kunekune piglets are born. Check the their website and Facebook page for updates and schedules.Owned by a local couple and with help from their four hard-working boys, the farm sells their own Chevre, organic Elderberry syrup, goat milk soap, and lavender lotion bars. A new start up is for their “SMACKS” (for “Scott, Mac & Kids”) sugary-sweet maple syrup. They hope to see it expand so that you might enjoy some in the future too. The farms hours vary in the Fall– visit their website for more information.  rockbottomfarm.net

 

 

Beth’s Farm Market – Warren

What began as a single roadside refrigerator stocked with fresh corn has become one of the best-known farm markets in the region. They farm lands across Warren, Union, and a few other towns. Open until December, Beth’s Farm Market has picked-same-day produce and fruits and berries in season. Everything they grow from heirloom tomatoes to brussels sprouts on the stalk are grown with no pesticides. bethsfarmmarket.com

 

 

Glendarragh Lavender Farm – Appleton & Camden

During July and August, lavender-scented air and brilliant blooms surround the fields of the Glendarragh Farm in Appleton. It’s a sensory delight that can be enjoyed by strolling in the fields or having a picnic lunch. During the height of the bloom, you can pick your own lavender or visit the farm store. The farm grows English and Dutch lavender varieties which they use to make finely scented home goods and bath products. The farm also has a store open year-round in Camden. mainelavender.com

 

 

Toddy Pond Farm – Monroe, ME

A few years ago, the Travel Channel listed Toddy Pond Farm as one of the best places in the nation to take kids for a farm stay. A Farm Stay is an opportunity to experience, learn, and enjoy what small rural farming is like in Maine. A charming cottage dating back to the 1940s overlooks Toddy Pond and the surround 500 acres of pastures and woods. Guests enjoy swimming and boating on Toddy Pond, exploring woods and fields, visiting the farm animals and the farm store.  Kids can enroll in a summer farm day camp, and guests as well as the public are welcome to live music and dinner in the historic hay barn and garden every Saturday night (reservations required). toddypondfarm.com

 

 

Crystal Lake Farm & Nursery – Washington

A mother and son operation, this lakeside 75-acre farm is focused on sustainable and organic farming and gardening. The nursery offers over 150 varieties of mostly native and edible plants. Unlike many larger commercial nurseries, Crystal Lake field digs and pots plants chosen especially for birds, bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Day dreaming about starting your own farm? They’ll happily consult with you or you can attend summer and fall classes in land use and garden design. Please note that  a visit to their farm is by appointment only. crystallake.me

 

 

Frostfire Farm – Union

Set in a beautiful long meadow near the Medomak River, the small Frostfire Farm sells fine wool and wool products from their Marino-cross sheep, eggs from a hard flock of hens, and vegetables and herbs from an organically-managed large garden. Managed by Elaine Frost, the farm is beloved for its stewardship of the land and its support for wool handspinners and crafters. localharvest.org/frostfire-farm-M4113

 

 

Two Rock Ridge Farm – Washington

After building an off-the-grid log cabin literally with their own hands in 2010, farmers Stephanie and Jeff Grinnell now have a thriving local farm stand. In the fall, stop by Saturday – Sunday for fresh eggs, pick-your-own pumpkins, and their limited own maple syrup. Natural goods from other markets include spoon butter (the best treatment for your wooden spoons), goats milk soap, dandelion salve and unscented fire starters. The town of Washington is inland from Camden and Rockland in a beautiful, truly rural setting.  tworockridge.com

 

 

Turtle Rock Farm – Union

With deep roots to her ancestral home in the Abruzzo region of Italy and experience as a trained chef, Jennifer Legnini has created a unique all-woman-crewed farm in the MidCoast. With a newly opened farm store, you can sample their fresh seasonal harvests and delicious farm-to-larder bottled goods including organic dilly beans, turmeric chile honey syrup, and cayenne hot honey sauce. Turtle Rock also bakes their own berry granolas and organic chocolate chip buckwheat cookies. All of them made of course from Maine-grown grains, local honey or maple syrup, and Maine sea salt. turtlerockmaine.com