BOWDOINHAM

A dozen farms in Bowdoinham will open their doors — and operations — to the visiting public Sunday during Open Farm Day.

The day will begin with farm tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and six of the farms have been preserved as “Forever Farms.” Several farms will have displays, farm-raised produce for sale, fun activities and tasty samples to try. The public is invited to explore Bowdoinham’s local farms and gather at Mailly Waterfront Park from 3 to 6 p.m. for a barbecue featuring fresh foods from local farms.

Live music will be provided by Intergalactic Yurt Band and the barbecue will be catered by Texas Barbecue Company, a locally owned and operated catering business. The Bowdoinham Historical Society will join in the offerings with their strawberry shortcake to raise money for the Carriage Shed. The menu includes pulled chicken smoked with hardwood, beef brisket smoked to perfection, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, corn bread and strawberry shortcake. The cost is $10 for adults, $8 for small servings for children and seniors and $4 for strawberry shortcake.

The following farms will be open for tours and events:

— Campo di Fiori, 212 Fisher Road, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., explore naturalistic gardens, an experimental hybrid hazelnut orchard and new nursery.

— Apple Creek Farm, 448 Millay Road, 9 a.m. to noon, enjoy pasture walk, livestock and products including beef, lamb, goat, chicken, eggs, and sheep. Preorder geese and turkeys.

— Gruff Acres Farm, 919 Post Road, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., see gardens and meet goats, alpacas and hens.

— Havenridge Farm, 727 Ridge Road, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., tour gardens and visit the hard of Lowline Angus Cattle and newborn calves.

— Life Force Farm, 71 Carlson Cross Road, 1-4 p.m., meet farmer Ben and tour an organic vegetable farm. Tours start at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

— Blue Bell Farm, 767 Carding Machine Road, noon to 4 p.m., tour the hoop houses, stroll through the fields and pick up some fresh veggies from the stand.

— Stonecipher Farm, 1186 River Road, noon to 3 p.m., visit a 65-acre Forever Farm, dig up carrots and cool off in a giant sprinkler.

— Fairwinds Farm, 554 Browns Point Road, 9 a.m. to noon, tour Pete and Cathy’s fruit and vegetable fields, enjoy samples of fruit shortcake.

— Fishbowl Farm, 497 Browns Point Road, 9 a.m. to noon, experience a Maine Farmland Trust Forever Farm on Merrymeeting Bay (park along Browns Point Road and walk to fields via directive signs).

— Six River Farm, 513 Browns Point Road, 9 a.m. to noon, discover a diverse array of vegetables, berries, herbs and cut flowers along Merrymeeting Bay (please park by greenhouses).

— Harvest Tide Organics, 148 Centers Point Road, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy a farm tour and learn about organic farming.

— Jellerson School and Merrymeeting Bay Museum, 2 Centers Point Road, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., join the Historical Society for their open house.

— Meeting House, 1 Brown’s Point Road, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., come see the Historical Society’s “Year of the Camera” exhibit featuring old Bowdoinham farming photographs.

— Mailly Waterfront Park, 1 Main St., 3 to 6 p.m., barbecue featuring fresh foods from local farms catered by Texas Barbecue Company.

For more information about the farms and Open Farm Day, visit www.bowdoinham.com. Pre-register for the barbecue by contacting Nicole Briand at (207) 666-5531 or nbriand@bowdoinham.com.