Nestled at the corner of Boston Post and No. Bride Brook Roads is a long-time family-owned East Lyme treasure, Scott’s Yankee Farmer. While their farm stand is located at that intersection, their farmland surrounds them. For over 100 years, the Scott family has been farming right here in East Lyme on over 125 acres of owned, and rented, land. They welcome visitors to their farm and farm stand, featuring delicious fruits and vegetables grown right here – and so much more. They offer year-round family fun for all ages.
Tom and Karen Scott’s story began in the fall of 1973. They met while Karen was working for Tom’s Uncle Woody at his stand on the opposite side of the street from Tom’s family stand. Both graduated from East Lyme High School and were married in December 1975.
The couple worked for Wainwright and Audrey, Tom’s parents, until Wainwright suffered a heart attack in September of 1978. At that time, they took over the day-to-day operation of the farm.
In 1995, Tom and Karen had the opportunity to buy the original Scott stand from Woody, and luckily for us, they jumped at the chance. They have made many improvements over the years. They added a greenhouse where they sell plants in the spring. You can find the cider mill behind glass in the back. Normally customers would be able to see Tom making fresh cider, but not this fall.
People come from near and far for their delicious apple cinnamon donuts, available from June into November/December. The donuts are made fresh on Saturdays and Sundays. Due to Covid-19, currently all donuts are pre-packaged in half-dozen containers.
The farm stand is open from the end of April to December 31 and delivers a surge of color that has become a local tradition. We all welcome the first signs of spring when we see their gorgeous hanging baskets of flowers outside their farm stand. Summer brings berries, peaches, sweet corn and tons of vegetables all grown on the farm. Fall is bursting with apples, pies, mums, winter squash and apple cider. You’ll find all shapes, sizes and multiple colors of pumpkins and gourds. Winter completes the cycle with apples, cider and pies enjoyed by so many over the holiday season.
The farm also offers pick-your-own opportunities from June to Halloween along with wagon rides and a corn maze in the fall.
The Scotts have four adult children. Michelle and her husband, Nick, live in Ohio with their daughter. Justin lives with his two sons in East Lyme as does Allison and her husband, Nick, and their three sons. Colin lives in Salem with his girlfriend, Abbi.
As we all have, the Scotts have experienced 2020 as a year like no other. Their farm stand opened on May 1 with all plants, flowers and produce showcased around the outside of their stand. They implemented a Covid-compliant checkout process through a doorway and a window. In early July, when spring plants were in full bloom, they transitioned the greenhouse into the retail space with checkout continuing through the doorway.
Scott’s offers our community a wonderful one-stop shop for family fun. They are working hard to bring as much normalcy as possible to the community this fall. They continue to offer pick-your-own apples, the pollinator corn maze, wagon rides, pumpkins, gourds, apple cider and the apple cinnamon donuts.
There are some Covid-19 guidelines in place. When visiting on weekends or Columbus Day, please make reservations ahead of time at scottsyankeefarmer.net. They are welcoming visitors, while limiting the number of guests at one time. No reservations are required during weekdays. Masks or face coverings are a must while visiting the farm or farm stand every day.
It’s no surprise to loyal patrons that Scott’s Yankee Farmer won second place in Best Orchard under The Great Outdoors category in The Day’s 2020 Best of the Best Awards. We congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.
Please visit the Scotts Yankee Farmer website and follow them on social media for up-to-the-minute offerings and guidelines.
Scott’s Yankee Farmer
436 Boston Post Road, East Lyme
scottsyankeefarmer.net
Hours:
Stand hours: 9am – 6pm
Pick-your-own hours: 11am – 5pm weekdays and 10am – 5pm weekends and Columbus Day
About Our Main Street Blogger:
Joanne lives in, and loves, our community. She was looking for an opportunity to help share all that our local businesses do to make East Lyme such a special place to call home, and she is excited to contribute to our blog. Joanne brings to the role her experience from New London Main Street where she contributed content to their website, newsletters and email communications for many years.