Farms Around Chester

I wanted to visit at least one maple sugar house this spring, but unfortunately the season started and ended very early this year. On Sunday I did an internet search and found one place in Chester, NH was still open, so planned a trip to also visit some farms in the area. Shortly after taking Exit 2 off Route 101, is the Griffin Mill Site in Auburn. The light mist seemed to create a perfect atmosphere

A light mist created the perfect atmosphere for this fisherman at the historic Griffin Mill (1826) site

We needed some ground beef and were also out of honey, so I was happy to find a place that offered both. A search on Local Harvest.org led me to Field to Fork Farm. This farm produces grass fed beef, organically raised pork and their own honey. I called ahead to make sure they would be open. Many farms don't have set hours, so it's always a good idea to call ahead to make sure someone will be available. Upon my arrival I was assisted by Patrick Connelly and a couple of his children. The farm is in transition as the Connelly's will be moving to California, but the new caretakers will continue to run the farm organically.

The "store" inside the barn at Field to Fork Farm.

I learned that Chester has a strong agriculture presence.  At Field to Fork I picked up a brochure that has a map of 19 farms in town. Sadly, there were also lots of for sale signs and new developments where farms once were. I can only hope that with the renewed interest in locally produced and organically grown foods helps the existing farms to remain viable.

Chester has a wonderful General Store located at the intersection of Routes 102 and 121. If you are looking for New Hampshire made wines they stock wines produced locally including a selection from Zorvino Vineyards and Olde Nuttfield Vineyards. Also, you can buy loose leaf of bagged tea from Inis Tea Company, also located in New Hampshire.

Wine section at Chester General Store

Teas and honey

My next stop was Millcreek Dairy, which is a meticulously clean goat dairy. Their shop sells milk and various cheeses. I couldn't resist their Maple Cranberry Chevré. 

Right: Baby goats keep warm under a heat lamp at Millcreek Dairy

Finally, I ended the day at the place that inspired this trip - Folsom's Sugar House. Even though they had stopped boiling for the season, this place was worth stopping at just for the photo op of the quaint building tucked among the trees.  According to the owners, they stopped tapping about the same time as when the season started last year - mid-March, when we were just beginning to thaw out from a blistering cold winter. Proof again, that Mother Nature is in charge.

Folsoms Sugar House, Chester