Six River Farm
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Name:                Nate Drummond

                           Gabrielle Gosselin


Address:             Six River Farm

                            52 Centers Point Road

                            Bowdoinham, Maine 04008


Phone:                 207-666-8135


Website:              www.sixriverfarm.com


Email:                  sixriverfarm@gmail.com


Products and Services:

-Brunswick Farmers Market

     Tues. & Fri. 8-2  May-Thanksgiving

-Crystal Spring Farmers’ Market- Brunswick

     Sat.  8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  May-Oct.

-Brunswick Winter Market

     Nov. -April Sat.  9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

-vegetable sales to local restaurants

-vegetable sales to local natural food stores


What Makes Six River Farm Unique?


A visit to a farm in October in Maine often means viewing fields that have gone by.  There is usually a substantially limited selection of vegetables that are available for sale.  For many farms, October in Maine correlates with barren fields or the planting of a few fields of cover crops. A visit to Six River Farm in Bowdoinham this past October resulted in an opportunity to see many flourishing fields abundant with colorful vegetables. Six River Farm was actively involved with harvesting and in the midst of executing a farm plan that included  winter crops.


Nate Drummond and Gabrielle Gosselin have combined quite a bit of farm experience, an exceptionally positive attitude, and a great deal of dedication in creating a farm that proves worthy of being a showcase of a highly-successful Maine organic farm.  When Unique Maine Farms had the opportunity to view their out-of-this world farm stand at the Crystal Spring Farmers’ Market this summer it was obvious that it would be essential to include their farm in this project.  The quality of their vegetables is phenomenal!


Nate and Gabrielle met while they were both studying at Brown University.  Nate majored in history, while Gabrielle’s field was South Asian studies.  They both worked harvesting apples at Sewall’s Orchards in Lincolnville, Maine. Gabrielle worked at farmers’ markets in New York City for two years.  Eventually both Nate and Gabrielle headed to Pleasant Valley Farm in Argyle, New York, where they apprenticed under Paul and Sandy Arnold.


The Arnolds proved instrumental in providing a great education in the many aspects of a farm career.  Paul and Sandy Arnold have a thriving farm that is well-known for over forty varieties of fruits and vegetables that are grown organically. They have operated their farm for the past twenty-three years and have a great deal of experience in winter farmers’ markets and extending crops into the winter growing season. 


Obviously the knowledge and expertise that the

Arnolds have acquired over the years were

successfully transmitted to Nate and Gabrielle since their Six River Farm now serves as a model of excellence. When Nate and Gabrielle were looking for a suitable farming opportunity in New England that would allow them to manage their own farm, they were fortunate to be able to take advantage of a very beneficial leasing arrangement that was offered by George Christopher.


Thanks to the Farm Link program established by Maine Farmland Trust, which links available farmland opportunities with prospective farmers, Nate and Gabrielle were able to hook up in 2007, with George Christopher and some prime farmland in Bowdoinham.  The land was fertile with well-drained soil and access to barns, coolers, and equipment. Nate praised the soil for containing relatively few rocks and for its alluvial deposits from the river.  He even commented  how Merrymeeting Bay could be compared to a rich inland delta.


The farmland that Nate and Gabrielle lease was

formerly a productive vegetable farm that was operated by Brian Dennison in the 1980’s and 1990’s.  Brian left in the mid 1990’s to pursue farming on a smaller farm in New York State.  Thanks to the foresight of George Christopher, who was passionate about preserving farming in the Bowdoinham area, he purchased Dennison’s barns.  George also took over Brian’s land leases so that future farming could take place in the area and so development plans could be curtailed.


Brian Dennison’s former farmland was divided

into different farms and the result in the mid

2000’s was that several young farmers migrated to the area and were able to lease the farmland.

Because Brian Dennison had operated a large vegetable farm there was a barn facility all set up that already included coolers, water lines, washing areas, and drains on the floor, etc.  Nate commented that it was quite a find to locate a farm property that already had its infrastructure in place.


The ability of George Christopher to reach out and encourage young farmers to consider the Bowdoinham area for agricultural pursuits is truly a noble undertaking.  When Unique Maine Farms visited the barn where the vegetable processing was taking place in October, workers from three different farms were sharing the space and washing their vegetables and preparing them side by side in the large barn for wholesale and retail sales.


The sharing that takes place among the farmers is quite refreshing when one considers how competitive the business world often can be.  Nate explained that the farms often borrow each other’s equipment.  He described how the workers get together socially a few times a year.  There is this inherent understanding that they are all trying to do the same thing and it is to their advantage to help each other out.  Although they have no formalized association, they have faced similar issues and challenges and learned together cooperatively.


There is no question that Nate and Gabrielle are extremely hard workers and skilled in marketing what they grow.  They produce vegetables for farmers’ markets on a year-round basis.  In the summer you can find them on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Brunswick Farmers’ Market at the Mall on Maine Street in Brunswick from May through Thanksgiving.  On Saturdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays from May through October they attend the Crystal Spring Farmers’ Market on Pleasant Hill Road in Brunswick.  They also sell their vegetables on a wholesale basis to local restaurants and natural food stores.


The cold Maine weather doesn’t deter Nate and

Gabrielle.  On Saturdays, from November through April, they participate in the Brunswick Winter Market at the Fort Andross building on

Maine Street in Brunswick.  In the winter they offer arugula, spinach, spicy greens, micro greens, sunflower shoots, Swiss chard, kale, beets, carrots, potatoes, parsnips, rutabaga, kohlrabi, celeriac, winter squash, onions, leeks, and garlic. 


One of their new items that they recently introduced was kale raab.  Nate and Gabrielle explained on their Six River Farm Facebook page that they were “the sweet and tender shoots from our over-wintered red Russian kale that is staring to bolt.”  As early as April 2, they were offering their first transplants for sale.  There were six-packs of bok choi and tasoi and kale transplants.  Customers with cold frames or a suitable place for growing them inside were encouraged to consider an early start with these seedlings.


If you check out Six River Farm’s website:

www.sixriverfarm.com  or the Six River

Farm Facebook page, you will note the extremely positive outlook that is shared by Nate and Gabrielle with the farming community.  When interviewed, they immediately credited their employees and their significance in the success of their farm operation.  They communicated their gratitude to several individuals who helped them on their journey including Paul and Sandy Arnold and George Christopher and organizations such as Maine Farmland Trust, the Natural Resources Conservation Services, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, and the Maine Cooperative Extension.


Although they are young farmers, Nate and Gabrielle are sincerely interested in sharing their farm knowledge with others.  They do not offer apprenticeships, but they do offer a competitive hourly wage and generously stated, “We are more than happy to share all that we know about farming.  If you are interested in gaining experience in farming, we can share knowledge and resources on topics from soils and field preparation to greenhouse work to record keeping and financial information.  Nothing about our farm is off limits, and if employees want to learn more than what we have time to show or explain during a work day, we are happy to share more once the day is done.”


A genuine willingness to help other young farmers is clearly demonstrated by Nate and Gabrielle on a recent posting on their Facebook page when they encouraged individuals to support the CSA efforts of Sean, one of their former employees, who is starting Left Field Farm.  Also obvious on their Facebook pages is the belief in making farming a fun experience.

Nate and Gabrielle do not hide the fact that farming is very hard work, but they stress that a sense of humor is of great significance.  When

Unique Maine Farms visited Six River Farm

in October, the great camaraderie that had been

developed among employees was clearly obvious. When it was time for the lunch break, each employee grabbed a five-gallon pail; turned it over and positioned it in a place in the circle; sat down; and enjoyed their lunch break all together.


Nate and Gabrielle describe their farm mission of “healthy farming for a healthy community” on their website.  They are both highly-educated young individuals who seem to fully understand the importance of sharing their knowledge with others. 


The employment description that appears on the

Six River Farm website is honest, direct, and really refreshing.  If only other farmers could communicate their expectations so clearly, perhaps prospective farm workers would have a much better understanding of what is entailed in working on a farm. 


Nate and Gabrielle end the employment section on their website with the following statement: “Farming can be difficult and stressful work, but we love what we do and we hope our crew will too!”  From all that was observed during the October visit, Six River Farm is successfully

accomplishing this goal and providing a great

example for other farms to consider emulating.









Nate Drummond and Gabrielle Gosselin

The FieldsSix_River_In_The_Fields.html
Preparing
for MarketSix_River_Preparing_for_Market.html
Crystal Spring
Farmers MarketSix_River_Crystal_Spring_Farm.html
Gathering
the CropsSix_River_Gathering_Crops.html
GreenhousesSix_River_Greenhouses.html
Around 
the
FarmSix_River_Around_the_Farm.html
Winter
FarmingSix_River_Winter_Gardening.html

Nate Drummond

Gabrielle Gosselin

Nate Drummond

Gabrielle Gosselin