EDUCATIONAL FARM TOURS PROGRAM

The Educational Farm Tours Program was created to increase students’ access to local agriculture and agricultural education through tours, hands on activities and educational lessons. The hope is that these experiences will help foster a greater understanding of our food and fiber system as well as its importance in Hancock County.

Reimbursement is available once for each class/youth group per school calendar year as grant funds allow.  Reimbursement is meant to cover the tour fee the farm charges the school/youth group.

The following farms participate in the Educational Farm Tours Program that is sponsored by the Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District.  Each farm is unique in what it has to offer a visiting school or children’s group.  Please contact the individual farms directly for more information.  If you would like your farm to be a part of the Educational Farm Tours Program, please contact the Hancock County SWCD office at 207-667-8663.

Meet your Farmers…

Carding Brook Farm

Suggested age: All

Tour Length: 2hr/less or by arrangment

Fee: $100

Jennifer Schroth & Jon Ellsworth

4 Carlton Drive Brooklin, ME

(207) 359-2326

cardingbrookfarm@gmail.com

Carding Brook Farm is a diversified farm with market gardens, draft horse logging, sheep, maple syrup, chickens, geese and turkeys. Tours include maple sugaring, gardening and logging demonstrations by arrangement. Programs are offered year round, excepting July-August.

Darthia Farm

Suggested age: K-1+ (5-12yrs)

Tour Length: 2hrs/less

Fee: $100

Bill & Cindy Thayer & Ivelisse Rivera

51 Darthia Farm Rd, Gouldsboro, ME

(207) 963-7771

william.farmerbilly.thayer@gmail.com

Darthia Farm includes horse drawn wagon rides, cider making and market gardening in their tours. Programs are offered primarily in the fall but also in spring.

 

Smith Family Farm

Suggested age: All

Tour Length: 2hrs/less

Fee: $100

Maggie & Lucian Smith

317 Crooked Rd, Bar Harbor, ME

(207) 288-4848

mdidairy@gmail.com

Smith Family Farm is a diversified dairy with vegetables, layer hens, pigs and hay production.  Milking demonstrations are included in their general farm tour. Programs are offered year round.

Tranquility Acres

Suggested age: All

Tour Length: 2hrs/less

Fee: None

Susan & Patrick Landry

328 State State Rt. 46, Bucksport, ME

(207) 469-3837

tranquilityacres@myfairpoint.net

Tranquility Acres is a beef farm with Belted Galloway beef cattle, chickens and pigs.  Tours include calving in the spring and visiting the pasture in summer. Programs are offered in the spring and summer.

 

Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust

Suggested age: Any

Tour Length: By arrangement

Fee: None

Cheri Domina, Executive Director

Orland, ME

(207) 469-6929

info@greatpondtrust.org

Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust is a conservation group that works to conserve the “land water and wildlife habitat of northwestern Hancock County.” Tours of the Wildlands property feature conservation, forestry and wildlife education and possibly camping by arrangement. Programs are offered year round.

 

Happytown Farm

Suggested age: All

Tour Length: 2hrs/less

Fee: $50

Paul & Karen Volkhausen

1138 Happytown Rd, Orland, ME

(207) 667-9212

happytownfarm@escrap.com

Happytown farm is a certified organic farm with vegetables, sheep and maple syrup. Maple sugaring and visiting with the lambs can be included in the tour by season. Programs are offered in the spring-summer.

 

Mandala Farm

Suggested age: All

Tour Length: Vary by need. 1-3hrs.

Fee: None

Genion Bertin and Sara Faull

46 Young’s Farm Rd, Gouldsboro, ME

(207) 963-2984

info@mandalafarm.com

Mandala farm is a diversified organic horse powered farm with mixed vegetables, dairy cows, sheep, goats, poultry and pigs. Maple sugaring, planting and harvesting can be included in the tour by season. Programs are offered year round.

Seal Cove Farm

Suggested age: All

Tour Length: 1hr/less

Fee: None

Barbara Brooks

202 Partridge Cove Rd, Lamoine, ME

(207) 667-7127

sales@mainegoatcheese.com

Seal Cove Farm is a dairy farm producing its artisan goat cheeses on site. Tours include visiting the goats milking parlor and compost facilities. Programs will be geared to students and teachers interests.  They are offered year round, excepting January-February.

 

 

 

Horsepower Farm

Suggested age: All

Tour Length:  1hr

Fee: $100

*Please call for more information/to arrange a tour.

Donna, Andy & Paul Birdsall

90 Horsepower Farm Rd, Penobscot, ME

(207) 374-5273*

horsepowerfarm@peoplepc.com

Horsepower farm is a diversified organic horse powered farm. Tours include field preparation demonstrations; winter sleigh rides visiting the lambs in spring and fall harvesting. Programs are offered year round.

King Hill Farm

Suggested age: All

Tour Length: 1hr/less

Fee: None

Amanda Proventure & Paul Schultz

29 Fairy Kingdom Rd, Penobscot, ME

(207) 326-9701

kinghillfarm@gmail.com

King Hill Farm is a diversified vegetable farm with cows, pigs and chickens. The general tour may include workshops and activities by arrangement. Programs are offered year round.

Peaked Mountain Farm & Native Pollinator Sanctuary

Suggested age: All

Tour Length: 2hr

Fee: $100

*Please arrange tours at least 2 weeks in advance.

Gail & Daniel VanWart

16 Ellery’s Lane, Dedham, ME

(207) 249-5002

peakedmtfarm@aol.com

Peaked Mountain Farm grows organic wild blueberries and provides more than 170 diverse acres of pollinator habitat. Tours include observing pollinators at work and harvesting crops.  Programs are offered from May to October.

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