Maine Open Farm Day – Sunday, July 23
Open Farm Day is an annual family adventure in which farms throughout all 16 counties open their gates to offer the public an opportunity to learn about the business of agriculture. Open Farm Day gives families the chance to visit local farms throughout the state.
Farms around the state participate to commit to ensuring the sustainability of agriculture. Maine’s farming industry has given back to their communities by providing a forum for education and learning in a fun atmosphere. Many farms will have demonstrations, displays, farm-raised products for sale and animals and crops to experience. Activities include barn and field tours, milking, hay rides, petting zoos, nature trails, beautiful scenery, samples for tasting and refreshments.
A list of participating midcoast farms:
11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 780 Gurneytown Road, Appleton.
Appleton Creamery is a small-scale goat dairy, handcrafting award-winning fresh and aged goat cheeses daily. Meet the goats, sample some cheese, and view the cheese room. Learn about these entertaining and useful animals. The farm stand will be open with farm products for sale and the pizza oven will be going!
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 233 North Union Road, Union
Walk through the MOFGA-certified market gardens and visit the donkeys. Wander through the Master Gardener Volunteer demonstration raised-bed vegetable gardens, lasagna garden, dyeing and drying garden, medicine wheel and heritage gardens. Demonstrations include woodturning, spinning, and building twig fences. Informational beekeeping display by the Knox-Lincoln Beekeeper Association. Special children’s activities include searching for hidden fairy houses and cutout photo boards. Herbal refreshments and recipes.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 232 Old County Road, Appleton
Maine’s only water buffalo farm invites you to meet the herd of buffalo and learn about what they do. Pasture hayrides throughout the day to get up close to the water buffalo. Buffalo calves to cuddle, Nigerian dwarf goat babies to pet and chickens to feed! Water buffalo dairy products to sample. Farm products available for purchase at the farm store.
Savage Oakes Vineyard & Winery
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 174 Barrett Hill Road, Union
Talks and tours of the vineyard and blueberry fields. Belted Galloways on display.
Seacolors Yarnery at Meadowcroft Farm
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 45 Hopkins Road, Washington
Tour of yarnery and hands-on show and tell of superfine genetics. Border collie demonstrations. Big sale on old stock and odd-lot blankets.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1749 Finntown Road, Waldoboro
MOFGA-certified organic you-pick raspberries are 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 and products for sale.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 2361 Friendship Road, Waldoboro.
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 a demonstration of a sawmill.
Maine Alpaca Experience – Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 141 Crosby Brook Road, Unity
Learn about the joy of raising alpacas. Take a selfie with your favorite alpaca and enjoy shopping in the farm store filled with incredibly soft alpaca clothing, yarn and toys. Hike the Hill to Sea trail located on the property.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 124 Valley Road, Brooks
A diversified livestock farm growing meat rabbit, poultry and hogs. Livestock is the foundation of the farm business, all grown with a high level of sustainability and natural farming practices. They plan to establish gardens, a farm store, honeybees, maple syrup, commercial kitchen, and petting zoo.