Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden

About|Pollen Palooza|Storytime|Farm Stand|Summer Camp|CHEF’s Club|Fun Run and Field Day|Field Trips & Group Tours|Directions |Contact |Donate

About the Demonstration Garden at Rogers FarmSunrise over a misty garden filled with flowers with trees in background.

Since 1994, the demonstration garden at Rogers Farm has been a showcase for creative theme gardens, unique plant varieties, innovative designs, and prolific vegetable gardens. Rogers Farm is part of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station at the state’s R1 public research university.

Volunteers and strong community partnerships are the core of our work. We are tremendously grateful for all we’re able to accomplish thanks to our dedicated team.

Check out our 2025 Annual Report to learn more about our impacts, the people we served and our new and expanding partnerships.

2025 Rogers Farm Annual Report

Mission/Vision/Values

Mission: To educate our visitors in sustainable horticultural practices and empower them through service learning opportunities which strengthen our local food system.

Vision: We envision a vibrant, inclusive center of learning that helps gardeners of every skill level connect to the natural world and make positive changes within their communities.

Values: We recognize that the land we occupy is unceded Wabanaki territory. Within this difficult context we strive to create a space that is as welcoming and supportive as possible. We are dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility.

AccessibilityOpen air shade structure with two picnic tables underneath. There are two movable shorter benches on the ends of the picnic tables. If the shorter benches are moved, a person using a wheelchair can pull up and use the picnic table. Greenhouse and apple trees in the backgroun.

Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden strives to be welcoming and accessible to all visitors. An ADA-compliant portable toilet is available on site May-October and many areas of the garden are accessible by vehicle. Please note that vehicle access is not available during winter months and may be limited when we have periodic wet ground conditions. We encourage visitors to contact us in advance to confirm current drive-through access and the ability to park closer to specific areas of the garden. Benches are placed throughout the garden, with seating offered approximately every 250 feet. Our picnic tables under the shade structure are designed for wheelchair access.

Directions and HoursGray garden shed surrounded by a garden with shade structure in the background

Hedgerows for Resilient LandscapesClose up of a shrub with red fall foliage and deep purple berries.
April 2, 2026 (webinar)
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
April 25, 2026 (in-person workshop)
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Discover how hedgerows can strengthen home and community landscapes by supporting biodiversity, improving habitat connectivity and promoting natural pest management. This two-part learning series, offered in partnership with Maine Audubon and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, combines virtual instruction with hands-on fieldwork at the Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden in Old Town. Participants will explore plant selection, site preparation, installation techniques and long-term maintenance strategies to create multifunctional hedgerows that provide food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects. The webinar is free; the in-person workshop is $15. Participants are welcome to sign up for one or both sessions. Pre-registration is required. Space for the field session is limited.

Webinar Registration In-Person Workshop Registration

Pollen PaloozaRectangular wooden structure on a post in the landscape painted bright green with various hollowed out pieces of wood and sticks for bees to nest in.
May 30, 2026 (rain date May 31)
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Explore the fascinating world of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators through hands-on, family-friendly activities. Learn how native plants play a crucial role in supporting pollinators and gain practical ideas for making pollinator-friendly changes in your own yard or community spaces to help create connected pollinator corridors. Enjoy engaging learning stations hosted by community organizations, pollinator-themed tastings, face painting, make-and-take projects, an observation hive, and more. This event is free and open to all; please check this website for updates in case of inclement weather.

StorytimeToddlers playing with seeds and other plant materials on a flattened table top that is resting on top of a lawn.
Friday mornings once a month, June – September (dates TBD)
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Bring a blanket and a stuffed animal to get cozy while we enjoy a story, then stay to explore the gardens. This free community event is targeted to a preschool audience, but older children are welcome.

 

Community Farm Stand and Open HouseBrightly colored stems of Swiss chard and kale arranged in a rainbow on a wooden bench.
Tuesdays, July – September, 2026
4:30-6:30 p.m.

Our weekly, donation-based farm stand is open to everyone and is designed to reduce barriers to accessing locally grown food. Stop by to explore seasonal produce, learn about new and unfamiliar vegetables, pick up new recipes and connect with neighbors in a relaxed, community-centered space. Each week may also feature pizza tastings and other samples highlighting local foods.

Farm-to-Table Summer CampA group of 4-6 grade kids arranged in two rows for a posed picture. All are wearing white beekeeper jackets and head protection. Forest in the background.
July 27 – 31, 2026
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Youth ages 9-12 will be involved in all aspects of growing, harvesting and preparing food and flowers from the demonstration garden at Rogers Farm. Our new farmers will sow seeds for our fall harvest, gather cut flowers and veggies and learn how to create culinary delights with trained chefs. Additionally, the group will help create a collaborative art installation at the farm, learn about a variety of food related topics from exciting guests and have the opportunity to give back to the community in a service project.

Register Online

C.H.E.F’s Club: Create, Harvest, Eat, Farmheart shaped veggie pizza on a grate exiting a commercial pizza oven
Tuesdays, July 7 – August 18, 2026
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.

This hands-on summer program invites middle schoolers entering 7th and 8th grade to spend six weeks growing food, cooking together and creating art inspired by the garden. Each week, participants will rotate through gardening, food preparation and creative projects. They’ll harvest produce, learn practical skills and collaborate on group art experiences. Designed for small groups (8–10 youth), the program emphasizes teamwork, curiosity and connection to food and place.
Register Online

Garden Fest & Fun RunCollection of pastel star-shaped flowers ranging in color from white, yellow, peach and pinks. Flowers are tightly packed together and fill the whole frame.
Saturday, September 12, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

This annual celebration features informational tables, tastings, and art in the garden. Visitors can explore more than 30 themed gardens, including expanded Harvest for Hunger plots and a well-established native plant collection, and connect with staff and volunteers about soil testing, season extension, and pollinator-friendly gardening.

Children ages 12 and under can join a Harvest Fun Run through nearby farm fields; registration will be available on this website the week prior, with paper forms available the day of the event. The day also includes the third annual Great Veggie Race, where participants of all ages decorate and race wheeled vegetable vehicles. Free and open to all; please check this website for weather updates.

Field Trips and Group Tours

Schools, summer camps and other groups are encouraged to arrange a visit to Rogers Farm. We are able to accommodate larger groups and are happy to work with educators to meet specific learning objectives with age-appropriate activities.

If you wish to bring a group on your own, we highly recommend that you reach out at least two days in advance to make sure no other large groups will be in the demonstration garden at the same time.

 

Contact

For more information on visiting, learning, or volunteering at the garden or to request an accommodation, please contact Kate Garland katherine.garland@maine.edu 207.942.7396.

Demonstration Garden Staff

  • Christina Lannan, Rogers Farm Enrichment Coordinator, who loves her veggies.
  • Kate Garland, Horticulture Professional, who prefers grass over office chairs.
  • Hiring in progress, Seed-to-Table Intern
  • Hiring in progress, Farm Operations Technician

Smiling woman under maple tree holding large grayish-blue hubbard squash. Fallen maple leaves on the ground indicate it's autumn.

Woman sitting on the grass with her back against a wooden post working on a laptop computer with car in background.

Help Us GrowCountless newly harvested onions arranged on racks and hanging from ceiling to dry in a shed.

We rely on donor funding to cover staffing, maintenance, plants, programming materials, and infrastructure investments. Your contributions help us to grow and give out thousands of pounds of produce annually and create a wide range of educational opportunities for the general public. Any level of support is greatly appreciated!

Click here to donate and please select Penobscot county gift account.

We gratefully acknowledge the following 2025/2026 supporters:

The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran or military status in any aspect of its education, programs and activities, and employment. The System provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you are encouraged to contact the System Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services at 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, Orono, ME 04469-5713, by calling 207.581.1226, or via TTY at 711 (Maine Relay System). For more information about Title IX or to file a complaint, please contact the UMS Title IX Coordinator at www.maine.edu/title-ix/.