Annual Open Farm Day in Piscataquis County is Sunday

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is hosting the 27th annual Open Farm Day on Sunday, July 24. 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 Maine’s diverse agricultural community. Many farms will have demonstrations, displays, farm-raised products for sale and animals and crops to experience.

In Piscataquis County, two farms will welcome the public for Open Farm Day. Spruce Mill Farm at 324 Sangerville Line Road in Dover-Foxcroft will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Spruce Mill Farm, owned by Dustin and Natasha Colbry, is a small, sustainable farm with mixed vegetables, meat birds, laying hens and pastured pork. The farm provides the produce and meats for the in-town farm store, CSA and local restaurants. For more information and directions, visit www.sprucemillfarm.com and www.facebook.com/SpruceMillFarm/.

Ripley Farm at 62 Merrills Mills Road in Dover-Foxcroft will be open from 1-4 p.m. Gene and Mary Margaret Ripley would like families to visit and get an inside view of their working organic farm, crops, fields and high tunnel, including a demonstration of the tools and techniques they use to produce three acres of Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) certified organic vegetables, flowers, herbs and perennial/medicinal plants. Mary Margaret Ripley would like attendees to “bring the kids to say hi to our young pigs and chickens, and take home some of our delicious produce or a gorgeous flower bouquet!” For more information and directions visit www.ripleyorganicfarm.com and https://www.facebook.com/RipleyFarm/.

To learn more about Open Farm Day and farms throughout Maine that are participating, visit http://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/market_promotion/open_farm_day.shtml/.