Photo credit: Beth OrlandoOrchard Ridge Farm is a local Gorham farm settled along Route 202 just off the Mountain Division Trail in Gorham owned and operated by Erica Gottshalk, Kristen Walker and Mary Walker. Orchard Ridge is primarily an orchard focused on harvesting apple trees, pear trees, and blueberry bushes, each available for picking at seasonable times of year. They also care for laying hens that produce farm fresh eggs available for purchase. As wholesalers for Rosemont and Wormell markets, they bake fresh bagels and supply eggs. The owners of Orchard Ridge look forward to adding raspberries and tulips to crops available to the public in the next (2023) year.
The property at Orchard Ridge is one of the original farm properties of Gorham dating back to 1853. Gottshalk and the Walkers purchased the farm in 2021 from Stephen and Amy Bibula who established the current orchard. Since we first reported on the purchase of the 169-year-old farm, the owners have continued the orchard and expanded the use of the property into a community-based hub with special events and workshops and are proud to have created a farm and property with welcoming spaces for neighbors to gather.
Most locals know Orchard Ridge as an orchard and farm store, however, they also house and tend to pigs, goats, chickens, and rabbits. The community expansion began with a newly established public multi-use perimeter trail system for anyone to use. Even on-leash dogs are welcome to explore the trails and property from the first of December to the end of March.
The Orchard Ridge market carries many products from around Maine. These include local meats, vegetables, milk, grocery, beer, wine, soaps, honey, snacks, salt, jams & jellies, pies, fresh bagels, cookies, coffee, a full hot food menu, including but not limited to pizza and burgers, hot cider, ice cream, and much more. Patrons and visitors are encouraged to enjoy prepared food and libations while sitting by the fire in the dining areas after an afternoon of enjoying farm life on the property or may choose to investigate the greenhouse experience.
Orchard Ridge has and hopes to continue to host monthly happy hours and recently hosted a local Artisan Market coordinated by Maine Micro Artisans on Tuesday, October 1. They will hold their 2nd annual community pig roast on Saturday, October 22 from 1 to 6 p.m. The farm also books private events and has been hosting birthdays, community groups, and a few corporate gatherings most recently. Future plans include the offering of campsites as well as opportunities for farm education and the addition of an event lawn with hopes to expand on the mission of welcoming locals, families and the wider community as people look to get out of “everyday life” and enjoy the “38 acres of hilly orchards and wooded forests” at the farm.
Visitors to Orchard Ridge Farm can expect to be able to enjoy the farm in any way they choose whether it is to take a walk, pick some fruit, have a snack, visit the animals, play on the swing set, or just explore and take a look around. Event spaces for groups overlook the orchards and offer an authentic Maine experience. Information about Orchard Ridge Farm events can be found on their website and tickets for events can be booked through Eventbrite.com, or call 712-1433.
