More than 80 Maine farms will be open to the public on Sunday, July 23 for the 28th annual Open Farm Day. Open Farm Day is an opportunity for consumers to learn about Maine food producers and for farms to show the public their products. Participating farms are generally open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This is an exciting time for Maine-made products and Maine agriculture,” said Gov. Paul R. LePage. “Maine’s 8,200 farm operations provide wholesome foods, thousands of jobs, and over $740 million in farm receipts, not including direct sales at farms or farmers markets. The recent success of Maine farms, as well as the hard work that produces locally grown food, can be experienced firsthand on Open Farm Day.”
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Walt Whitcomb urged families to visit local farms on Open Farm Day. “Maine farm families have a history of agricultural productivity and provide a rich diversity of agricultural crops not seen on a commercial scale in the rest of New England,” said Whitcomb. “Our state is notable for the number of farms, new farmers, artisanal cheesemakers, and its support for farmers markets and agricultural fairs.”
Open Farm Day is an annual family event that connects consumers with the men and women who help produce their food. Farms throughout Maine will open their gates to offer the public an opportunity to learn about the business of agriculture. Many farms will have demonstrations, displays, animals, crops, and farm-raised products for sale.
Activities may include barn and field tours, milking, hay rides, nature trails, beautiful scenery, samples for tasting, refreshments, and animals to view.
For more details on participating farms, go to bit.ly/2sVcyff.
Farms in Lincoln County open for Maine Farm Days include the following:
Beau Chemin Preservation Farm
Beau Chemin Preservation Farm, owned by JoAnn and Wayne Myers and located at 1749 Finntown Road, Waldoboro, specializes in heirloom berries and livestock. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The farm has Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association-certified organic you-pick raspberries for sale, and possibly other small fruit. Heirloom and endangered breeds of livestock include Soay, Leicester Longwool, and California Variegated Mutant sheep, part-Icelandic goats, a Suffolk Punch draft horse, and five breeds of ducks.
Antique spinning wheels and other fiber-processing tools are on display. Raw sheep fleece, roving, yarn, and felt wearables are for sale. A farm-tour map and many explanatory signs facilitate visits.
For more information, go to beaucheminpreservationfarm.com.
Cape Newagen Alpaca Farm
Camp Newagen Alpaca Farm, owned by Anne Gobes and Michael Ciccarelli and located at 1020 Hendricks Hill Road, Southport, is an alpaca farm. It will hold activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The farm is a small, family-run alpaca farm located on picturesque Southport Island. It is home to 19 laying hens and 17 alpacas, with two cria (baby alpacas) due in June and August. Gobes and Ciccarelli create all natural, hand-spun yarns from their alpacas’ fiber and then custom-design knit or crocheted accessories. They carry alpaca socks made in the U.S., composted manure, and alpaca-related products in their store. They will be providing informational farm tours, spinning and peg-loom demonstrations, and raffles.
For more information, call 633-0416 or go to capenewagenfarm.com.
East Forty Farm and Dairy
East Forty Farm and Dairy, owned by Allison Lakin and Neal Foley, is located at 2361 Friendship Road, Waldoboro. It specializes in cheese-making. Activities are planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn how milk is transformed into cheese and sample a variety of styles of cow’s-milk cheese. Meet the cow, horses, and chickens. Watch the demonstration of a sawmill. For more information, go to eastfarmforty.com.
Hamilton Farm — Barred Owl Creamery
Hamilton Farm – Barred Owl Creamery is owned by Chris and Patti Hamilton and is located at 6 South Fowles Lane, Whitefield. It is a diversified organic farm and creamery. Activities are planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit with sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, and the farm hound, Denali. Take a tour of the creamery where the best feta and chevre cheese in North America is produced. The farm sells many organic and homemade items at its farm store: award-winning goat and sheep cheese (chevre, feta, and blue), jams, yogurt, organic wool pillows, eggs, candles, and goat-milk soap. Farm tours will be provided.
For more information, go to hamiltonfarm.wordpress.com.
Lyric Meadow Farm
Lyric Meadow Farm, owned by Mary Linda Rapelye is located at 107 Dover Road, Boothbay. It is a diversified organic farm that will hold tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Come see organic gardens and 50-plus farm animals, including dwarf Nigerian dairy goats, alpacas, guinea hens and keets (young guinea fowl), a giant gray horse, and more.
For more information, go to lyricmeadowfarm.com.
Pumpkin Vine Family Farm
Pumpkin Vine Family Farm is owned Kelly Payson-Roopchand and Anil Roopchand and is located at 217 Hewett Road, Somerville.
Pumpkin Vine Family Farm is a goat dairy and farm education center, as well as the historic farm featured in the book “Birth, Death and a Tractor: Connecting an Old Farm to a New Family.” It will hold activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Learn about farm camp, say hello to the hard-working goats, and sample cheeses. Each Sunday, the farm is open for visitors, who enjoy fresh local goodies at the farm stand and linger over coffee at one of the rustic tables. There is even a walking trail and picnic blankets!
For more information, go to pumpkinvinefamilyfarm.com.
Wandering Root Farm
Waderning Root Farm is owned by Hannah Court and located at 156 Gardiner Road, Wiscasset. It specializes in diversified organic vegetable and livestock. It will hold activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wandering Root Farm is a certified organic, community-minded diversified vegetable and livestock operation dedicated to making sustainable, locally grown food accessible to all. Say hello to cows, pigs, and chickens. There will be talks about integrating vegetables and livestock into the farm and the importance of raising humane, pasture-fed meat.
For more information, go to facebook.com/wanderingrootfarm.
