Fall Foliage 2010

Fall foliage is approaching full bloom peak and will last until Columbus Day weekend. This is an ideal time time to visit the mountains in Maine, take a scenic ride on the new Zip Line at Sugarloaf and hike into Maine Huts & Trails lodge for lunch. The view from the Mountain Village Farm is spectacular.

Sugarloaf behind Black Nubble

October 15th snowfall left over six inches of powder at Sugarloaf. Snow grooming equipment was out and several hardy skiers hiked up for the first run of the '09/10 ski season.

The Farm

The property was developed in 1850 and operated under several different owners as a 300 acre dairy farm until 1972. Over the years, land was sold off or taken by the town which reduced the farm to its current 17.2 acres of pasture. The 25,000 square foot barn complex still stands in excellent condition but is very underutilized. Guests enjoy walking through the old dairy observing the massive antique post and beam structures.

Free range hens roam the grounds and provide the B&B with farm fresh organic eggs. Baby ducks, geese and turkeys will arrive mid-May as additions to the feathered managerie and pastured grower pigs are raised over the summer to provide all natural bacon, sausage, ham and canadian bacon to the breakfast table.

Throughout summer, salad bowl herbs, greens and culinary flowers are grown in box bed gardens and other flowers are grown for sale at the local Farmer's Market. There is a small apple orchard as well as peach and cherry trees and several decorative flower gardens around the place. My goal is to become a diversified and sustainable small farm. The process is slow beause so much is learned by trial and error I'd like to have a cow producing milk, cream, butter and cheese and have become interested in miniature breeds.

Kingfield

Kingfield is a quintessential New England mountain village located at the confluence of the West Branch and Carrabassett Rivers and the intersection of Routes 16, 27 and 142.

Nature based tourism is an important industry to this region. Superb opportunities for mountain hiking, biking, alpine skiing and snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, fly fishing, canoe and kayak trips, wildlife photography and scenic touring are available right here.

Popular cultural events include the annual summer Kingfield Pops concert conducted on a stage set up in a field at the base of Mt. Abram. Kingfield Days' three day summer festival features a parade, fireworks, street dancing, a river boat race, an arts and crafts fair, great music and lots to eat. The annual holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony turns the village into a magical winter wonderland of tiny, sparkling white lights welcoming visitors who come here to enjoy winter outdoor recreation. There are three art galleries to visit, as well as the Stanley Museum and the Kingfield Historical Society.

Ski Magazine described Kingfield as "the most beautifully preserved ski town east of Aspen," referring to our close proximity to the Sugarloaf Ski Resort and Golf Course.

Kingfield serves as the regional service center for several surrounding mountain communities with lodging, restaurants and cafes, banking, grocery shopping, art galleries, beauty salons, a fitness center, a public library, transfer station, U.S. Post office, gasoline service stations, schools, sporting equipment dealers/rentals and real estate services among the offerings.

With a total land area of 38 square miles, or about 24,500 acres, most of which are covered with forest or woodlands, the year-round population is 1,097.

Sugarloaf, Saddleback & Sunday River

There are three major ski resorts within an hour drive from my Farm B&B. Sugarloaf Ski and Golf resort is a 15 mile, 20 minutes drive, Saddleback is 45 minutes away and it takes an hour to reach Sunday River. Check the side bar to access each web site for additional information including weather updates and trail conditions.