On 300 acres of sprawling meadow and woods cascading down to the water’s edge, Turner Farm is the mainstay for produce, beef, pork and cheese of exquisite quality from the tender nurturing by the farm’s growing practices. It helps to have such conservation-land-conscious keepers tending to such a farm. It had been fallow for years until owners US Representative Chellie Pingree, who has deep roots on the island, and her husband, financier Donald Sussman, revived this historic island property to all its glory.

The produce finds its way into the kitchens of Nebo Lodge, owned by the Pingree-Sussmans and in high season even the local little island supermarket carries the bounty from their fields.

The farm is open to islanders on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the growing season and one wishes that it was every day. I went there this morning to stand 40 deep with shoppers waiting for the barn doors to open at 10:00 AM. The well-heeled crowd was certainly civilized as they dispersed to a quiet scramble for everything being sold before those bins would empty out. From picture perfect bunches of carrots, cabbage, to leafy greens, fennel, herbs, cukes and more the produce has that sea-mist-kissed look of brightness and clarity of color.