On Thursday we woke up in Portland, Maine {awesome city!} and drove 3+ hours to Four Seasons Farm. If you have never heard of it, I highly recommend you check out some of the owners’ books. They {Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman} have a farm in Harborside, Maine, and have basically mastered the art of four seasons of growing.
I had emailed Barbara ahead of time and asked if it would be okay to stop by and she said yes. She could not guarantee her or her husband would be there, but she said we were welcome to check out the farm and snap all the pictures we wanted to.
Did you read the part where I said they are in Maine {read: cold, bitter winters}? It was actually hailing a bit on the way to the farm. The farm and their practices are totally motivational and make me want to try to grow all year long too.
Barbara and Eliot are basically total rock stars in the gardening world, with more than 70 years experience between the both of them.
Check out this root cellar. It’s situated beneath one of the greenhouses. Presumably to store their winter vegetables.
Chickens!!! Barbara, Eliot and their small crew are able to farm year round by using a ton of different methods, and they’re nationally recognized for their small-scale sustainable agricultural methods.
They use several greenhouses in the winter that are equipped with propane heaters and fans. We also spotted several garden beds with rolling row covers protecting vegetables like kale {of course!} lettuce, artichokes and spinach.
Did I mention it was pretty freakin’ awesome and now I want to move to Maine? I just need to find an old farm house and make a stop at LL Bean first to stock up on warm clothing and then I should be all set. Oh and some firewood. I’m thinking I would need quite a bit of that.
Oh and guess who The Girl and I ran into while were checking out one of the greenhouses? Eliot Coleman. Yep. I even got him to sign a few copies of his new The Four Season Farm Gardener’s Cookbook for an upcoming giveaway too.
Ahhhh Maine. I love you.
~Mavis
Barbara Damrosch and Eliot used to be regular correspondents on the PBS series The Victory Garden and Barbara also co-hosted the series Gardening Naturally on the Learning Channel. Her and Eliot Coleman has authored several books. You can find all their book on Amazon.com {of course!}.
Also be sure and check out this cool New York Times interview with Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman for a little more information about their farm and their practices.
Lauren Weiss says
Wow! What an amazing trip and farm! Thanks for sharing this! I’m definitely going to check out their books!
Brandy says
I keep telling people they don’t have to live in a zone 9 to grow year-round! I keep recommending Eliot Coleman’s books, but the pictures of his garden are great. His tomatoes are as big as mine! Thanks for the pictures!
Would love to have one of those signed copies of his book. Today’s my birthday. You don’t have to have a giveaway for one of them 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Derek says
I hadn’t heard of this book! Now I’m eager to find a copy! Thanks!
Sharon J. Gilman says
How cool! I was so excited to read this – I grew up in Maine! Such an awesome place, I love it. I’m so glad you enjoyed it too! I’m bookmarking this post for my future gardening plans 🙂
Teresa Dickey says
I was just thrilled to see an article on Eliot Coleman! I have been a huge fan of his ever since I read an interview with him in the old Organic Gardening magazine back in the 70’s. That’s when it was a small, thick publication every week. I have his Four Seasons Gardening book but wasn’t away he has a cookbook out. Awesome!
patti says
Maine is a great state I used to go to New Hampshire a lot growing up my parents have a house there sure do miss the real 4 seasons ……where I live we get 4 seasons but in the fall there isn’t much color in the valley I live in Idaho now…
Amanda says
Be still, my beating heart!
Katelynd B. says
Awesome! We are going to Maine the end of May (my husband was born and raised there) and with our current plans to visit Acadia National Park we will be going right past this farm (it would cause a small detour, but not that bad of one). Now, I just have to convince the hubby we should stop and see it! Thanks for the post!
Carol says
What a wonderful trip for you! From what I learned about them, they were inspired by their neighbors, Helen and Scott Nearing. Have you read their book “Living the Good Life”? I find it fascinating how we call get inspired, and then pass that information onto one another!
tawnya says
I have read every book he wrote and her in wenatchee it has totally changed the way I garden. this year I want to garden till November. or add long as the snow doesn’t keep me away from my beds
tawnya says
I have read every book he wrote and her in wenatchee it has totally changed the way I garden. this year I want to garden till November. or add long as the snow doesn’t keep me away from my beds
poppy says
never heard of them before. would love to win a book and read about them.
Tina Ricketts says
Avid gardener and reader constantly searching for new ideas.