What tops your Maine list?

If you were asked to write out words you associate with Maine, perhaps flowers wouldn’t make it to the top five on your list. After all, it’s not like the fields are full of these colorful natural gems year-round. But when it is their season, do they ever shine! My 32nd stop on this journey to every town in the state was a beautiful reminder that a wide variety of blooms can flourish in Maine soil. 

This visit was to Farmingdale. Not FarmingTON, which is an hour away over in Franklin County. But FarmingDALE — just outside of Augusta — in Kennebec County. Appropriately, I chose a FARM for this feature, but it might not be the kind that first comes to mind. 

I went to meet Sarah Lutte whose Instagram account I had been following for over a year. She and her husband Mark are the owners of Lazy Acres Farm. The two are high school sweethearts who grew up in Maine. Work took them out of the state for a while, but about a decade ago they returned home. In doing so, they fulfilled their dream of owning a home and land when they purchased this 40-acre rural property. 

Flowers are the primary crop at Lazy Acres. This wasn’t the original plan when the Luttes settled in. Like so many of the places I’ve included in this adventure, the present reality came in bits and pieces.

For years, Sarah and Mark worked full-time jobs and raised their two children. Their “spare" time was spent working the land. As anyone who owns a Maine farm knows, it requires a tremendous amount of hard work and sweat before you can reap benefits. Yes, the farm is called Lazy Acres, but this name was not drawn from the couple’s personal experience. Rather, an old sign was found in the barn which seems to indicate the original name of the place was "Lay Z" Farm. The Luttes decided to carry on the tradition with a bit of a spelling adjustment. 

(For the record, the only sign of laziness I spotted on my visit was a rather elderly chicken resting under a bush. Everyone else was hard at work.)

In her early days as a farm owner, Sarah discovered she had a passion for growing flowers. Over the years, the section dedicated to sweet blooms grew. Row after row was added with dahlias and zinnias, snapdragons and peonies, and dozens of other varieties.

Before too long, this side hobby turned into a whole array of ventures. Today Lazy Acres includes the following:

• a flower subscription which provides personal or business customers with 10 weeks of bouquets

• a roadside cart which is stocked on the edge of the farm; you can pull up, select a bouquet, and leave your payment (check the Lazy Acres social accounts to see what’s available when you plan to pass by during the season)

• formal arrangements — or buckets of blooms for a DIY project — to decorate for your event

• hands-on workshops at the farm which offer lessons in flower arrangement or wreath making

And then, amongst all of this breathtaking and fragrant beauty, are the pigs. Yes, that is a bit of a mental whiplash, but Lazy Acres does raise pork for sale. In the early days, the Luttes consider naming the place “Pigs and Petals,” but quickly realized that combination lacked a certain market appeal for brides-to-be who were considering a flower option as they planned their weddings. Though they don’t seem to make their way to any wedding registries, the pigs of Lazy Acres are another way the owners support themselves. 

The growth of Lazy Acres allowed the Luttes to hire their first part-time employee in the summer of 2020. Cacey has proven to be a wonderful investment and help on the farm. Additionally, Katie has served as an excellent intern this season. Both young ladies are full of enthusiasm and obvious passion for all things floral. 

The challenges of 2020 changed some things for Lazy Acres, but there was no reduction in the hard work that this complicated year required. One good development for the Lutte family has been an even deeper connection to their local community. When COVID-19 arrived, the neighbors along their road formed a Facebook group to stay in touch and strategize on ways they could contribute to each other’s needs. In true Maine spirit, they have been looking out for one another and sharing what they have to offer. 

My visit to Lazy Acres highlighted so many of the things that should top any list of Maine characteristics: hard work, beauty, generosity, and community. Thanks for allowing me to enjoy this Farmingdale gem, Sarah!

Check out Lazy Acres Farm’s website, Facebook, or Instagram accounts.

I’m on a mission to visit every town in Maine. Check here to see if I’ve featured yours yet: All The Visits. To learn more about this adventure, see the about page.