More than 95 farms throughout Maine will open to the public Sunday. Visitors can see farm activities and demonstrations such as milking and felting. They can pet animals, pick berries, tour barns, sample food and go on hay rides. Farm-raised products will be on sale.

For directions to local farms and a complete list of participating farms, go to: http://www.getrealmaine.com/visit/open_farm_day.html.

Androscoggin County

Andes Alpaca Farm, 334 Johnson Road, Auburn; open 10-4

Farm raises top-quality alpacas and produces fiber for the cottage industry. Learn alpaca care and production and get an introduction to the business of alpaca livestock production. Meet the alpacas, see how to spin fiber and learn how to knit and crochet.

Hummingbird Farm Greenhouse, 202 Bean St., Turner; open 9-5

Farm specializes in clematis, brugmansia, rare geraniums, herbs and Brown Thumb Plants, with over 100 varieties of clematis. “Clematis, the Queen of Flowering Vines” presentations will be at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. There will be clematis-planting demonstrations and self-guided garden tours available through the day. Refreshments available.

Nezinscot Farm, Route 117, Turner; open 9-5

Wide variety of organic products, with beef, veal, lamb, pork, chicken and free-range turkeys. Visit the animals, sample cheeses, tour the gardens, have lunch under the maples. Felting, spinning and cheese-making demonstrations will take place throughout the day.

Sunnyside Gardens, 500 North Parish Road, Turner; open noon-5

Nursery offers more than 900 varieties of perennials and shrubs, many of which are displayed in the English-style border gardens on the grounds of this circa 1820 farmhouse. Garden tour will be at 1 p.m., discussing plant placement, choice and culture. Meet in front of the house. Cookies and iced tea will be served. Door prize: $25 gift certificate.

White Birch Alpacas, 78 White Birch Drive, Turner; open 10-4

Farm offers sales, breeding, board, alpaca products and yarn. There will be explanations of feeding, birthing, fleece from alpaca to store and caring for alpacas.

Franklin County

Good Karma Farm Alpacas, 17 Shady Lane, Kingfield; open 10-5

Farm breeds Hucaya alpacas and has breeding stock for sale. They also sell yarn and roving from their alpacas. Visitors can see the animals up close and feel why alpaca fiber is so highly desired. Handicapped accessible.

Second Chance Farm & Longfellow’s Creamery LLC, 20 Maple Lane, Avon; open 10-3

MOFGA-certified, diverse farm raising grass-fed beef, veal, whey-fed pork and dairy. Farm also makes cheese, bread and veal stock. It will hold its grand opening cookout during Open Farm Day.

Whitehill Farm, 357 McCrillis Corner Road, East Wilton; open 10-4

Farm has 55 raised beds, crops grown under cover, gardens planted to vegetables, herbs, dried flowers and cover crops. Garden tours all day demonstrating organic and intensive planting methods, heirloom vegetable varieties and trials, mulching, rotation and composting. A small Garden Kitchen Store where you can sample and purchase produce, organic vinegars, pesto, garlic and herb mixes will be open all day.

Oxford County

A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm, 106 Black Mountain Road, Sumner; open 10-3

Farm uses a Belgian draft horse to harvest firewood and haul sap for maple sugaring. Has a small-scale maple syrup operation and laying hens. There will be farm tours with discussion of the traditional joinery timber frame barn, pastured poultry, rotational grazing to improve pasture, and growing toward sustainability on a small farm using organic methods. The farm’s fiber is hand and mill spun to yarn. There will be felting demonstrations.

Carter’s Farm, Route 26, Oxford; open 9-5

There will be balloons and games for the kids. The Carters will show and explain how to extend the season with row covers and how to grow vegetables without using pesticides. Free refreshments. Visitors may hike or bike on the cross-country ski trails. Rentals of canoes and kayaks will be available to use in the nearby river. There will also be a surprise presentation.

Crestholm Farm, 167 Main St., Oxford; open 10-4

Farm raises beef in former dairy barn. There are greenhouses, a farm stand, ice cream shop and a petting zoo including llamas. There are market gardens and hayfields which you may tour by horse and wagon from noon to 3 p.m. There will be demonstrations of agriculture education for all ages including spinning, hands-on dairy goat demo, beehive observation, baby chicks and laying hens. All demonstrations are subject to availability.

DeerWood Farm & Gardens, 571 Norway Road, Waterford; open 9-5

Three-acre farm with two greenhouses. They grow greens for sale in the early season, over 250 varieties of field-grown day lilies, small vegetable garden with blueberries and asparagus. Demonstration gardens show the no-till approach, mulching with hay and making new garden areas the easy way.

Harvest Moon Produce, 11 Kitteridge Road, West Paris; open 10-3

Farm creates and stewards an abundant living landscape, with fruit trees, nut trees and edible landscaping plants. When visiting our farm you will become aware of the valuable services that nature provides. Food samples, recipes and growing information will be available. Capable of handling bus or group tours.

M&W Farms & Greenhouses, 572 Old County Road, Greenwood; open 9-5

Farm has four greenhouses featuring the newest varieties, plus old favorites. Perennials, day lilies, trees and shrubs. Fruit trees and hard-to-find items are their specialties. Information offered on garden planning, correct location and culture for plant choices, and relocation or division of plants and shrubs. Visitors will be free to walk around and explore the gardens.

Meadow Ridge Perennial Farm, 316 Back St., Hebron; open 9-4

Farm offers a wide variety of perennials and shrubs for sale. Guests are invited to explore perennials and displays. Owner will be available throughout the day for questions on plants, their planting requirements and future care. Each child may start their own plant to learn the excitement and enjoyment of flower gardening. Cookies and lemonade will be served. Door prizes.

Mountain Brook Farm, 219 Streaked Mountain Road, South Paris; open 10-4

More than 45 exotic alpacas at this family farm in the shadow of Streaked Mountain. Alpacas, native to South America, are smaller cousins of llamas and boast a very fine, luxurious fiber. They are gentle, curious and come in a beautiful array of colors. There will be a display area of end products, demonstrations of processing alpaca fiber, and children’s crafts.

Pleasant Valley Farm, 1 Gates Hill Road, West Paris; open 10-3

Farm is packed with Haflinger ponies, used for parades and showing at fairs. The farm also has a variety of bantam hens and pigeons. They should have a new foal for Open Farm Day. There will be demonstrations on harnessing, hitching and driving ponies to a wagon. Wagon and harnesses will be on display. There will be an opportunity for hands-on participation with ponies.

Pooh Corner Farm, 436 Bog Road, Mason Township; open 9-5

A 10,000-square-foot production greenhouse with cut flowers, perennials and pumpkins. There will be animals to pet and the owners will be available all day for tours and questions. Handicapped accessible.

Troika Drafts and The Shoeing Shop, 955 Buckfield Road, Hebron; open 10-3

New England’s only full-service draft horse facility. Farm offers lessons and training, as well as on-site farrier and harness shops. The farm specializes in Shires. Spring foals to retired drafts, many near 30 years old, are available for petting. There will be informational displays and short workshops on working draft horses. Tours of the woodlot and hayfield operations will be provided, weather permitting. Refreshments and restrooms available.


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