Pineland Farms: a secret getaway

By DEIRDRE FLEMING, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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	Staff photo by Gordon Chibroski Peter Dockendorf, left, and Erik Hayward put curds of cheddar cheese into 40 pound blocks last week at the creamery on the Pineland Farms complex in New Gloucester. The cheese will be aged in the creamery's cooler for six months.
	Staff photo by Gordon Chibroski Debbie Tomasini, left, and Sarah Barton, staffers in the equestrian center at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, wash Benevolent, a 3-month-old Dutch warmblood, last week. The equestrian center will be open to visitors on Saturdays beginning this fall.
	ABOUT OUR SERIES Think you've seen all the sights of Maine? Maybe not. . . .This week we'll take you to some of the state's more remarkable - and sometimes overlooked - wonders. Here's an itinerary: Sunday: Machias Seal Island Monday: Old Sow Whirlpool Tuesday: Swan Island Today: Pineland Thursday: Coos Canyon Friday: L.C. Bates Museum Saturday: Moxie Falls To top of story

NEW GLOUCESTER — Spend a hot Friday at an outdoor preserve in Maine, and you might expect to see at least a few trail runners, mountain bikers or tourists picnicking. But Pineland Farms, situated just 15 miles from the coast as the crow flies, is barely discovered.

Undiscovered, that is, by Fort Williams standards, by Eastern Promenade standards and, certainly, by Freeport standards.

Where else can you take a woodland walkabout at lunchtime in the summer - without a person in sight?

Even at the height of tourist season, few seem to wander up Route 231 or Interstate 95 to experience 5,000 acres of rejuvenated farmland and agricultural education center just outside Portland.

Pineland Center was opened as a home for the mentally handicapped in 1908 and continued operating until 1996, supported in part by its farm.

In 2000, the Libra Foundation of Portland bought the Pineland Center and its New Gloucester farm and began turning it into a nonprofit outdoor and education facility.

Now, it's a classroom in relaxation.

You can take the farm tour and get schooled in the dairy business or in growing organic produce.

Or, you can catch some alone time on a woodland path, and enjoy the withdrawal from city life.

The farm, a half hour from Portland and situated on the brink of urban sprawl, feels isolated.

Walking the fields around the heifer and sheep farms, you could be in the German or French countryside.

Even on a sweltering humid day, it's cool in the woods and relaxing to stroll the road to the dairy farm. There, huge barns promise looks at sheep, cows and cattle.

The farm grows strawberries, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes and various other summer crops.

"Our dairy farm calves year-round. You never know when you will hit that," said Sarah Hunt, education director of Pineland Farms.

"We have livestock, from horses and the equestrian center and the breeding stock to lamb, which is sold on the general market to dealers."

Dog lovers of any age will enjoy watching the border collies move sheep.

"We have border collies and other guard dogs," Hunt said. "You can see them work. There is no trialing (as in dog shows). It's very simplified. You see how the animals move their bodies to work."

At ongoing events at the farm, you never know what you'll find.

For example, on Sept. 2, the monthly Families on the Farm workshop will offer lessons in how to milk cows, collect eggs, spin yarn on a spinning wheel and herd sheep.

And on Oct. 14 and 15, the Equestrian Center will host an alpaca show.

At the moment, the farm's operations are closed to the public without an appointment.

However, beginning in the fall, a program will start where visitors can pay a fee and roam freely in the barns.

"People can interact with animals as they please," Hunt said.

Agricultural programs are offered throughout the year, as well.

Adults can take classes in fiber arts, including spinning and knitting, and horseback riding.

Children can learn about cows, the constellations and gar- dening.

Then there are the 15.5 miles of woodland paths, cut 12- to 16-feet wide for Nordic skiing.

The rolling trails have many inclines, making Pineland Farms a perfect place to try Nordic walking, which involves using poles and is offered several times through the summer.

You also can orienteer with a map and compass, or enjoy mountain-bike riding.

The Visitor Center, open daily, displays natural products - quilts, pottery, wood bowls - made by artists throughout Maine.

Staff Writer Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at: