Welcome to the North Chester Orchard, a working apple orchard, Christmas Tree farm, and acres of pumpkin patch, owned and operated by the same owners since its inception in 1989.  This setting on 70+- groomed acres, with a meticulously maintained historic New England Farmhouse, is something you would see in a Hallmark movie.  The agricultural land and woodlands of this property are the perfect example of good stewardship and its obvious the labor of love that has gone into the property over the last 33 years.  Once you see this property, you will understand why people travel from all over this part of Maine to pick their own apples, pick a pumpkin and return weeks later for a beautiful Christmas Tree.

The farmhouse comes with its own history book written by Mable Whitney Jordan who grew up at the farm in the 1930’s with such fond memories of her experiences, she wrote a book about it.  The home has three bedrooms, one- and one-half baths and about 1650 square feet of finished living space.  When you enter the home, you come into the kitchen area that is a bright open space with original tin ceilings, a pantry, heat pump and views of the south orchard.  The hardwood maple floors provide a warmth to this part of the home and nice contrast to the color of the kitchen cabinetry.  Off the kitchen, at the north end of the house is a family room with small wood stove and half bath.  The wood stove is perfect for warming up to after working in the orchard or after the family has enjoyed a day of sliding down one of the hills in the orchard.  Off the other side of the kitchen is a formal dining room with hardwood flooring.  From here you have access to the home office and living room with seasonal views of the Penobscot River.

Continuing upstairs you will find a nice sized storage closet in the hallway.  Two bedrooms are on this south end of the house and they both have closets.  The front bedroom here has views of the Penobscot River.  A full bathroom off the hallway separates the front bedrooms on the south end of the house from the master bedroom on the north end of the house.  The master has great views of the orchard.  A large walk-in attic could easily be finished into a walk in closet.

The home has a full basement, modern hot water baseboard heating system, updated electrical system with generator hook up, thermal windows, modern septic system and drilled well.

Outside this home is a covered porch that faces southwest to enjoy the afternoon sun and the perennial flower gardens with an assortment of hydrangea, daffodils, lilies, and azalea.   There is a large vegetable garden with raspberry bushes and blueberry bushes that finish the landscape around the yard.

The 36 x 40 apple house has a retail sales area, apple washing and packing area and 725+- square foot walk in cooler with 10-foot ceilings.  A detached three car garage with heated workshop and walk up attic for storage space holds all of the included equipment needed to operate the farm.  Both outbuildings have car ports for additional space to store equipment out of the weather.

The orchard consists of approximately 1,250 trees with over 12 varieties of apples.  The varieties have been carefully selected for their hardiness to Maine and to provide a harvest throughout different times of the fall season.  Approximately 22 acres are fenced in to protect the orchard and pumpkin patch.  There is a 40 x 80 irrigation pond that provides water as needed to the trees.  The pond is fed by a natural wetland of about 6 acres and has never run dry.  The pond is a perfect place for that winter bonfire and ice skating.

The Christmas trees are balsam fir with about 3,300 trees in inventory ranging from one to twelve years of age.  Customers get to choose and cut their own tree which provides a great family outing.  There is a small cabin with porch and woodstove used to greet customers, provide them a hand saw and get them checked out to take home the family tree.

Part of the agricultural land is used to grow pumpkins.  When people come to the farm to pick their own apples, they usually leave with a pumpkin as well.  The owners sell around 2,000 pumpkins each season but there is plenty of room to carve out more business.

The remainder of the land is a 36+- acre woodlot that has been carefully managed to provide a sustainable supply of firewood for the farm and a home to wildlife.  You will frequently see deer, grouse, wild turkey, and many species of birds as well as ducks in the wetland area.  If you have a portable sawmill, you will find ample timber to build some rental cabins for additional income.  Trails leading throughout the forest provide opportunity for hiking throughout the year and cross-country skiing in the winter.

Chester Maine has a population of around 550 people and is bounded by the Penobscot River.  The service town is Lincoln, located about 15 minutes to the south has a hospital, restaurants, Wal-Mart, grocery stores and most services.  The city of Bangor and the international airport is just under an hour to the south.  Traveling from Boston will take you about four and a half hours.

If you are looking to leave a legacy for your family, look no further, you have found it here at the North Chester Orchard.  A beautiful place to live, a farm to grow food for you and the community, and a well-established supplemental income opportunity.