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    BENSON FARM

    EARTH PRODUCTS

    MAINE-MADE LOBSTER COMPOST

    SCHEDULE A DELIVERY
    Now taking orders for Spring 2019!

    New & Noteworthy

    43-Foot Engangered Right Whale Composted at Benson Farm

    September 26, 2016

    "The carcass of an endangered right whale found floating off Boothbay Harbor sits Sunday in a tractor-trailer that transported it from the Portland waterfront to Benson Farm in Gorham, creating a bit of an overnight spectacle in the streets along the way. " 

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    Philosophy

    From Earth to Earth

    After farming in Gorham for nearly 100 years, we’ve learned a lot about conservation. Understanding the land we live on is central to raising healthy animals, healthy crops, and healthy families: we believe that what’s invested into the soil is intricately connected to the quality of the food that’s harvested, just as the food we eat is intricately connected to our wellbeing. Composting is nature’s way of returning nutrients to the land in a natural and powerful recycling process. We believe composting goes beyond improving gardens and harvests and plays an important role in improving the sustainability of our communities. We work to prevent local waste from being sent to landfills by incorporating a variety of natural residual sources into our products - from farm, forest, field, and ocean. Taking in diverse sources of natural waste gives our local businesses, organizations, and households an alternative to harmful waste management practices and promotes both a healthy, balanced cycle of land conservation as well as beautiful landscaping and gardens. 

    Learn more about Benson Farm
     

    Product Selection

    Benson Farm offers two high quality compost products made from a blend of ingredients from farm, forest, field and ocean sources to maximize the diversity of nutrients available for thriving plants. Lobster shells are our “secret ingredient,” providing both added value to soil structure and a visual reminder of our connection to our community. 

    Surf n Turf Compost

    A rich blend of primarily oceanic residuals and cow manure, fully composted to a dark, odorless dirt with flecks of shell. 

    Super Soil Blend

    Loam blended with Surf n' Turf and screened for a uniform product, perfect for starting any new gardening project.

    Our composting process meets the standards of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and our products are approved by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) for use on certified organic gardens. Visit our FAQs for information on how to use your compost, how much you'll need for your garden, and more!

    Where to Buy
    Frequently Asked Questions
    NEW! Locally Raised Meats

    In addition to our compost products, Benson Farm is proud to offer a selection of premium, sustainably raised meats. Click the link to learn more! 

     

    How It's Made

    1

    STEP
    First, we collect waste from local businesses and organizations:

    Seafood waste from Portland’s working waterfront

    Why seafood waste, you ask? 

     

    The use of fish in composting dates back to Native American crop growing practices. Today, we bring in waste primarily from crab, sea urchin, and Maine's famous lobster. The shells of crustaceans are high in a powerful protein called chitin, which has antimicrobial properties that have recently been identified as an organic source of reducing pests and disease in crops. 

    +

    Animal bedding from local stables and farms, like the Maine Society for the Protection of Animals

    +

    Food scraps from local communities

    We are excited to bring in food scraps from homes throughout the Greater Portland Area through Garbage to Garden!

    2

    STEP
    Then, we bring everything to our farm and mix it together with manure and used animal bedding.

    3

    STEP
    Cooking & Curing

    4

    STEP

    The product is carefully examined, and once its determined to be finished, it's screened to 1/2 of an inch to remove any rocks, sticks, or other oversized objects.

    Screening

    Next, we stockpile the mixture and keep it at very high temperatures to aid decomposition. When it's finished decomposing, it's left to cure for several months.

    5

    STEP
    Benson Farm Surf n Turf
    Compost

    The final product is a rich blend of natural by-products, fully composted to a dark, odorless dirt with flecks of shell. 

     

    In addition to our retail locations, check out a list of LANDSCAPERS and a directory of LOCAL CSA's that use Benson Farm Earth Products to create beautiful outdoor spaces and grow incredible produce. 

    Surf n Turf
    Super Soil
    Bagged Products
     

    Where to Buy

    Contact

    64 Plummer Rd. 

    Gorham, ME 04038

    Tel: 207-892-6446

    info@bensonfarm.com

     

    Hours

    April through June

    Monday through Saturday: 8am - 5pm

    Sunday: Closed

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    July through October

    By appointment only

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    November through March

    Closed

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    *all deliveries and pick-ups are weather-dependent

     

     

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    Benson Farm Earth Products

    64 Plummer Rd. 

    Gorham, ME 04038

    Tel: 207-892-6446

    info@bensonfarm.com

     

    @2016 by Erica Hale. Created with wix.com