CARIBOU, Maine — With another successful growing season behind them, workers at Micmac Farms still have an abundance of squash they’re hoping to sell to the community.
“A lot of people think this is for natives only, but everyone is welcome,” said Christie Paul, field supervisor. “Micmac Farms is for the tribal community, and the community in general … it’s for everyone.”
With several varieties of squash available, including buttercup, butternut, sunshine, acorn, confetti acorn, delicata and blue hubbard, Micmac Farms will be open this weekend.
“With Thanksgiving coming, this would be a good, inexpensive way to pick up some squash and see what else we have at the farm,” said Paul. “We’ll be selling the squash for $1 each, and if they’re really small, three for $1. We want to feed the people and not throw it out back and feed the animals.”
Located at 1353 Presque Isle Road in Caribou, Micmac Farms will be open this Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The farm started in the summer of 2010.
“We started without a building out of the back of a trailer to sell vegetables,” Paul said, noting that they also can vegetables. “Our second year the building came, and we were inside, and we actually doubled our money the second year, which was awesome.”
“We grow strawberries, squash, onions, peppers, tomatoes, corn, carrots, beets, Swiss chard, spinach, kale, lettuce, and hopefully next year we’ll have potatoes,” said Cheryl Smart, farm worker. “We grow primarily to sell to anyone and everyone who’s looking for farm fresh vegetables. Healthy and nutritious is the way to go.”
Smart said the farm often donates produce to tribal members.
“If we have a lot of squash or carrots left over, for example, and they’re about to go bad, we donate to our elders and the youth,” she said. “This summer we donated a lot of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and beans.”
“If we pick them and they don’t sell today, they go out to the elders or the tribal members immediately because we’re going to pick fresh again tomorrow,” said Paul. “Every day is fresh — no matter what.”
The donation of fresh vegetables is welcomed by the elders as many of them experience health problems such as diabetes and heart issues.
“A lot of our elders don’t tend to live past 50-58,” said Smart, “so eating healthier helps them a great deal.”
Pumpkins were also donated this year to children at the Connor School, as well as the third- and fourth-graders in New Sweden.
“We had an abundance, and these are natiåve kids that go to those schools,” said Paul, “so if we can help, that’s what we do.”
Micmac Farms typically opens in early July and closes around Halloween.
“We’re staying open a little bit longer because we have so much,” Paul said. “We invite people to come by and see what we have to offer.”
