Meandering along the back roads of beautiful Maine, get out of the car or off your bike, knock on a door and settle in — at least for a while — and sample life on a farm in the Pine Tree State.
This month, for one day, you can do just that. “Open Farm Day” on July 28 is a day of visiting, learning and just plain savoring any of the hundreds of Maine farms that open their doors — and their barns and fields — to the public. Guests are welcome to stop in, and even do some hands-on learning on many a homestead.
“As the granddaughter of Aroostook County potato farmers, I know how hard our farmers work to feed and supply our state and the rest of the nation. Maine Open Farm Day is the perfect day to recognize and celebrate our diverse and expanding agriculture industry,” said Maine Gov. Janet Mills.
The event is in its 30th year, and more and more Maine farms are taking part across the state, offering classes, tastings and demonstrations to those who are interested in learning about where the handmade cheese, fresh produce and grass-fed meat they buy from farmers’ markets and gourmet food shops come from. Visitors can find a wealth of experiences, from family-friendly to top-level educational to cheese, cheese and more cheese.
There’s plenty of hands-on learning for kids (of all ages), such as watching cows and goats being milked, tasting a pea straight from the garden and even seeing lambs frolicking. Every farm will capture the imagination of kids, and a few have some special offerings. At Micmac Farms in Caribou, you’ll find free tours of the trout hatchery and plenty of children’s games. At Rockin’ Sheep Farm (rockinsheepfarm.com) in Livermore Falls. you can step back in time and watch a blacksmith work on a coal forge, pet the lambs and sheep, learn about chickens, and pet the cow and calf.
Those who like to stroll rather than drive can take in an entire day of walk-touring farms in Maine. Sanford Trails has organized a four-mile walk from farm to farm called the Springvale Farm Walk. Three Rivers Land Trust serves a hearty breakfast (farm fresh, of course) from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at McDougal Orchards to fuel you for your start. As you move along from farm to farm, each serves a complimentary refreshing drink. A few of the farms also sell produce and prepared food. Stops include Our Farm for farm-raised meats; Rivard Farm, a pick your own high-bush blueberry and raspberry operation; Ferment Farm for fermented foods and drinks; and the Noon Family Sheep Farm for organic lamb sausage and more.
Cheese lovers (is anyone not?) can learn all about the many Maine cheese choices and how they are made via a “cheese tour.” Taking part are farms like the Turning Page Farm in Monson, where they will be sampling small-batch goat cheese and beer; Balfour Farm in Pittsfield, where you’ll sample and learn about production of a variety of cheeses and cultured dairy products; and Seal Cove Farm in gorgeous Lamoine, where award-winning artisan goat cheese is produced daily.
There are also dairy farms, potato farms and more. Most are steeped in history too, like Brigeen Farm in Turner, a family dairy farm in existence since 1777. On your visit there, you will meet the 10th and 11th generation farmers who tend to a herd of award-winning Holstein cows that provide award-winning milk. This year, that milk will make its debut in the farm’s own Maine-made ice cream.
With hundreds of farms participating, you can head in any direction in beautiful Maine and find a welcoming farm. To help guide you, the state has created a passport and website, with details of farms taking part, directions and suggested tours and itineraries. You can see it all at maine.gov/dacf/ard/market_promotion/docs/maine-open-farm-day-passport-july282019.pdf.
Open Farm Day is a chance for Maine farms to show off their operations, for farm-to-table enthusiasts to see how that happens from square one, and for those who love nature, New England and old school farming to experience it all. Cows, lamb, potatoes, ice cream, cheese and more, all set on the rolling hills, deep woods and even coastline of Maine. For all the times you’ve driven by a beautiful farm and thought, “If only I could pop right in,” July 28 is your dream day.
