Ellen & Jack McAdam

We are a seventh generation family farm (going on eigth!) located in Southern Maine. We specialize in the production of high quality fruit for sale to pick-your-own and farm stand customers. We invite families of all ages to slow down, relax and enjoy high-quality agricultural products and low-impact recreational opportunities. We hope that after a visit you will leave with an increased knowledge of, and appreciation for this small pocket of agriculture in Springvale, Maine. Our 346-acre farm located on Hanson Ridge Road is protected through the Land for Maine’s Future Program and USDA Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program with Maine Farmland Trust and Mousam Way Land Trust. More about being a Forever Farm On May 25th 2005, Robert and Pat Mc Dougal, the previous owners of Hanson Farm, Inc., realized their dream to preserve the family’s orchards, hayfields, pastures and woodlands, forever. "For 225 years each generation of the Hanson/Mc Dougal family has done its part in keeping this farm going. Today, thanks to the efforts of our daughter Ellen, our son, and many public agency partners, we’re granting an agricultural conservation easement on our farm. We are doing this to slow sprawl and protect farmland to make good land available for future farmers in York County." - Robert "Mac" Mc Dougal The Land for Maine’s Future Program was created in 1987 in response to concerns over the loss of critical natural area, wildlife habitat, and farmland along with traditional access to undeveloped lands for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation. The program also seeks to protect farmlands through the purchase of development rights. Our story begins more than 200 years ago when Joshua Hansonpurchased 450 acres of land at a tax auction for fifty-two pounds ten shillings. His nephew, also named Joshua Hanson, took over the farm, and then his son Benjamin F. Hanson, a renowned blacksmith turned legislator lived here with his wife Mary Libbey. Judge George Hanson, son of Benjamin, operated a successful dairy business and planted a Baldwin orchard. George shipped barrels of his apples to England. His daughter,Mary Hanson, was a nurse during World War I, stationed at a fort in New Mexico. There, she met a soldier  named Alva Mc Dougal who had just returned from France. They fell in love and got married. Around 1924 they decided to visit Mary’s parents on the family farm back in Maine. Mary and Alva decided to stay and take over the farm operations after Mary's father suddenly passed away, becoming the 5th generation of the Hanson/Mc Dougal family to steward the land. Up until 1930, there were 4 or 5 acres of orchard scattered throughout the farm, producing Russets, Pippins, Peewaukees, August Sweets, and other old varieties. From 1930-1933, Alva Mc Dougal planted 1600 Mc Intosh trees on 17 acres in what is now known as the Main Orchard. Mary and Alva's son Robert Mc Dougalmodernized the orchard by planting dwarf trees in more varieties. He first opened the orchard for pick-your-own in 1974 after a hailstorm wiped out any chance of a wholesale crop. He and his wife Priscilla (Pat) Berry had four children who all worked at the orchard in different capacities. Glen and Gene worked on the farm for a time, and years later Evan and Ellen came back to the farm and became partners in owning and operating the business. Ellen Mc Dougalcame back to the orchard in 1989 and she and her husband Jack Mc Adam took over full control of the business in 2009. Together, they have continued to maintain the pick-your-own operation, experimenting with new apple varieties and stone fruit. Currently, Mc Dougal Orchards is run by Ellen, Jack and their two children Mattand Polly. They have regular family meetings where they mostly get along and are working toward making the business more resilient so that it will continue for the next 8 generations or more! More Farm History: Robert Mc Dougal Robert H. Mc Dougal (6th generation), was responsible for the initial modernizatio