Wandering Root Farm is a small-scale diversified vegetable farm in the beautiful mountains of Western Maine. Founded in 2015 and owned and operated by Hannah, this dream was born out of a desire for self-sufficiency and providing high quality, nutrient rich food to the local community. After 7 years of farming on leased land, 2022 was Hannah’s first growing season on her new property. Hannah continues to improve the land and build farm infrastructure working on the life long process of turning an overgrown cow pasture into a homestead. She and her husband also built their own home on the property for them and their three cats.
Why Certified Organic?
Wandering Root Farm chooses to be a MOFGA certified organic farm. By doing so, the farm is required to achieve high standards of soil health through benefical practices and environmental awareness. The farm is held accountable with annual inspections to make sure the high standards are being met. We believe in a whole-system approach, working with the environment to create a balanced ecosystem. Transparency is important to us, so feel free to ask us any questions about our practices or better yet, come visit the farm!
Our Practices
Below are some examples of how we farm here at WRF. These are some of the methods we use to create a whole-system approach, working with the land and giving a view into the philosophy of how we approach farming:
Beneficial Insects- by letting certain crops go to flower and by planting flowering perennials around the property, this encourages our native pollinators to help us out. Not only by pollinating our crops, but also attacking specific pests like tomato horn worms.
Cover cropping- this is another great way to give back to the soil. Through out the season we plant oats, peas, vetch, buckwheat and winter rye as a way to put back essential nutrients into the soil. In addition, cover crops allow the soil the rest, suppress weeds and prevent erosion.
Mulching- this is a good way to help not only suppress weeds, but also help retain moisture in the soil reducing the need to irrigate. We use both mulch hay and black plastic.
Row covers- we have a multi step process when it comes to dealing with pests. Row cover is our first defense. By the simple method of exclusion, the pest cannot reach the plants. Next, with bigger pests like the Colorado potato beetles and squash bugs, we are small enough where Hannah is out there every morning hand picking off bugs and squashing eggs. If these methods don’t work and the pest pressure gets to high, we will spray only certified organic approve products.