You might be surprised to know that just a few miles in either direction from Freeport’s bustling Main Street, you’ll find pastures and farm fields. From organic produce to award-winning chevre & hard cider, these farms produce tasty and healthy treats that are fun to discover on a lazy afternoon drive. Across rolling hills and verdant fields, you’ll met families making a living off the land and learn about new ways farmers are helping make the planet more healthy.
Towards the Sea:
Tripping Gnome Farm is a family-run farm specializing in organically cultivated field and forest grown produce, including mushrooms, microgreens, and field vegetables. Everything they grow is sold fresh or freeze-dried, so no produce ever goes to waste. You can visit their farm stand or find them at Freeport Farmers’ Market every Friday from June through September. In addition to stopping by the market, farm visitors can also enjoy a round of free disc golf. Tripping Gnome also hosts cooking classes, weekend wellness retreats and other events.
Wolfe’s Neck Center is a one-of-a-kind place on the coast of Maine advancing agriculture – on their own farm, regionally, and nationally – to accelerate change in food systems through regenerative farming demonstration and training, innovative research, and collaborations. Operating as a nonprofit organization since 1997, and an organic coastal farm for over sixty years, Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment is a farm-based education, research, and visitor center set amidst more than 600 acres of conserved open space along Casco Bay. It’s free to visit every day to see the farm animals and to explore the trails. To learn even more on your visit, sign up for a program or class. Foodies love their farm to table dinners. And be sure to pick up some farm products at the farm stand or have a snack at the farm cafe!
Towards the Mountains:
Portersfield Cider produces only about 2,000 bottles annually. David’s focus is quality, not quantity. The ciders they produce are fully dry, lightly bottle conditioned, and blended with food pairing in mind. Their plantings include over 225 varieties of modern and heirloom apples, plus dozens of other fruits and berries, many in danger of extinction and unavailable in the commercial nursery trade. It takes years of patience to collect these fruits, raise them in the nursery, transplant to the orchard, and press and ferment into cider. Winner of a Good Food Award in 2019. Be sure to make a reservation to visit the tasting room, it’s only open on Friday and Saturday afternoons!
Replenova Farm is a MOFGA certified organic vegetable farm with a year-round farm market. The market sells local organic vegetables, foods and artisan handmade products from more than 70 vendors. The market also offers take out breakfast and lunch (soups, salads and sandwiches) all made with seasonal and local ingredients. Seasonal outdoor seating is available. Farm made take home dinners are offered weekly. If you schedule your visit right, you might be able to attend one of their charity dinners complete with local music! You can also find them on Wednesday afternoons at the Freeport Harraseeket Grange Farmer’s Market.
ChiGoBee Farm is a licensed dairy goat business. They specialize in goat milk products that include cheeses, fudge, caramels, soaps, and a variety of sweets and breads. All products are made in their licensed commercial kitchen. They have won several awards for their cheese, fudge, caramel and sourdough whey bread. The self-service farm stand is open every day from 8 am – 5 pm. On any given day you’ll find a variety of farm-raised and made products including chevre, sourdough bread, soft-ripened cheese, yogurt, cakes, cookies, cheesecakes, fudge, and more. You can also find them at the Freeport Farmers’ Market every Friday from June through September.
Old Crow Ranch offers pastured GMO-free pork and chicken and 100% grass fed beef. The Old Crow Ranch Farm Store is open 4 days/week year-round and offers meat by the cut or “Value Pack.” They also have eggs, cheese, seasonal vegetables and products from 40+ local makers. Special events like the annual Pig Roast Pot Luck brings hundreds of hungry locals and visitors to the farm!
Pineland Farms is a privately-owned working farm and business campus open to the public for exploration, recreation and education. Visit to the farm are offered by a two-hour pass for children and families. You need to book in advance. They also offer a wide-variety of farm-based programs for children, families and adults ranging from ice-cream making to mushroom identification. The annual Sunflower Labyrinth and fall Corn Maze are spectacular events for all ages.
Pineland Farms also has miles of trails that are perfect for a mountain bike excursion, challenging trail run or leisurely hike. These same trails become the ultimate winter destination for Nordic Skiing and Snowshoeing. The one-acre perennial, herb and vegetable Garden at Pineland Farms is a wonderful place to stroll along a quarter-mile of paved walkways, picnic on the lawn beneath the shade of an apple tree, or simply sit on the Adirondack swing and enjoy the fragrant air. While you are there, stop by the Market for the freshest produce, cheese, and meats right from the farm, as well as a great selection of Maine made products and gifts, gourmet foods, and huge selection of wines and craft beer. You can also pick your own strawberries, raspberries and even flowers at the produce farm on Mayall Road.
Other delicious destinations:
Freeport Farmer’s Market held Fridays from June through September in Memorial Park from 10 AM – 1 PM. The Freeport Farmers Market features locally grown produce, meats, oysters and flowers and a variety of jams, baked goods and homemade products like soaps and candles. Musicians, special events and visiting food trucks keep the market fresh and festive all summer long. SNAP/EBT is accepted at the market. The market is a project of Freeport CAN (Climate Action Now), whose mission is to address climate change on a local level.
Freeport Harraseeket Grange #9 Farmer’s Market is held indoors on Wednesdays from 3 – 6 pm. Features fresh vegetables, meats, eggs, hot sauces, pickled goods, jellies and more!
Not enough time to explore? Bow Street Market offers local produce from many of the farms listed here as well as hundreds of Maine Made products.
Join us throughout the month of February for Flavors of Freeport. Area restaurants, makers & purveyors go hyper-local with special menu items & new products that are either grown or made locally. Watch our website, Facebook, or sign up for our e-blast for news on events like the Freeport Foodie Lotto, Fare & Ice, the Frosty Frolic, live music with Motor Booty Affair, & other new additions!
Staying on a Farm:
The Crow’s Nest Tiny House sits nestled on thriving Maine farmland. You’ll be surrounded by fields and pine woods. Fall asleep listening to the peepers and gazing at the stars, drink your morning coffee while looking out at the cattle grazing in the fields. BOOK YOUR STAY NOW ON AIRBNB
Set in the Bagley-Bliss house and nestled in the rolling hills and pastures of Durham, Maine, the Bliss Farm Inn is a historic 1772 farmhouse that will enchant you and provide the peace and relaxation that is so hard to find in today’s fast-paced world. Four beautiful guest rooms, all with private baths, await you as well as a candlelit breakfast every morning and complimentary beverages and evening snacks. When you stay at Bliss Farm Inn, you become part of history.
A light-filled and airy space, the Guest House at Tripping Gnome Farm has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a kitchenette, and an open living area. Rental of the Guest House also includes use of the walking trails on the farm property. Day and overnight rates are available. Email trippinggnomefarm@gmail.com if you are interested.
For over 50 years, the award-winning Oceanfront Campground at Wolfe’s Neck Center has welcomed happy campers from all over the world to their 626 acres and four miles of oceanfront. Spectacular views of farmland and sea make you feel far away from it all. Onsite Farm Store, bike and kayak rentals, farm-based activities, hiking trails and demonstration barnyards and gardens will keep your whole crew content and engaged. Campsites for RVs and tents plus comfort camping and cabin rentals too!