Pine Root Farm & Market

Fresh Produce, Straight from the Farm

Get Real. Get Maine. That is the tagline for the Maine Department of Agriculture’s Guide to Farms, Farmstands, Greenhouses, and Farmers’ Markets. This is a statewide guide to finding locally grown, raised, harvested and crafted foods and farm products right from the producer. Support of Maine farms strengthens the local economy and protects our rural landscape. But the biggest and the best reason is that you are providing you and your family a reliable source of local, fresh food.

I love shopping at local farmers’ markets and farm stands whenever I can. Constantly being on the road with work, I am lucky to discover all these local farms in the different towns I visit. My recent listing in Limington took me to a new farm stand to try, Pine Root Farm and Market, located on Pequawket Trail in Steep Falls. Pine Root Farm is a diversified vegetable and flower farm dedicated to growing healthy, affordable food for the community and to supporting other local producers. The farmstand is open from June strawberry season through October pumpkin patches. On the day of my visit, a steady stream of customers filed through the open doors carrying armloads of corn freshly picked from the fields. Many regulars were touting the freshness and sweetness of the corn and stating there was nowhere else they would buy their corn. High praise from satisfied and happy customers. So of course, my purchase had to consist of corn along with a few sweet onions.

The farm is owned by Ruby Nelson, who grew up in Cornish, working at her parents’ farm. She would help out with making the weekly trips to the Portland Farmers’ Market, selling their fresh produce much like earlier generations of her family have done. In 2013, Ruby and her husband Gideon Knapp purchased the Steep Falls property and began clearing the land of numerous Pine Trees. They jokingly referred to their first crop as being “Pine Roots” hence the inspiration and name of their Farm. Gideon is a timber framer and woodworker and it is easy to see his craftsmanship in the design of their farmstand. The family’s newest edition is daughter Juniper who enjoys playing with Stanley-the-Greeter, the ever present farmstand cat. All enter under his watchful eye.

On the day that I visited, it was officially the hottest day of the summer with temps over 90 degrees, but Farmstand Manager Nichole was staying cool with her straw hat and getting down to business. Hot temps don’t keep farmers from doing their jobs. Pine Roots Farm is excited to be collaborating with Nichole on her new start up pickling business. They are currently in the process of obtaining certification for their kitchen to begin producing relishes and pickled veggies all from Nichole’s grandmother’s recipes. I can’t wait to taste these new creations. I love the tanginess of pickled veggies, a little sour and a little savory. I always add them as a fun addition to my charcuterie boards.

Pine Roots Farm and Market is open through pumpkin harvest in October. Be sure to stop by and say hi to Stanley-the-Greeter Cat. It's always best to buy local from your community farmers. Good food for you, and good for the local economy.

Here’s some ways you can support your local farmers:

• Buy direct from a producer.

• Shop at your local farm or farmers’ market.

• Ask your local grocer to point out Maine-grown or Maine-produced food and purchase it whenever you shop.

• Let the grocer know you appreciate their effort to carry local products.

• Choose local foods when you dine out. Look for and choose menu items made with local ingredients.

• Teach children where food comes from.

• Get to know your local farmers.

• Take your children to visit a local farm.