Who needs Whole Foods when we have roadside stands?

Blueberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, garlic, beets, onions, lettuce, peppers . . .

They don’t accept credit cards but conveniently use an ‘honor’ box where you leave your money.

Cassida’s is on Route One in Belfast near Northport.

October 1 was the last day for the Farm Stand at Four Season Farm in beautiful Harborside, Maine.

The workers were heading back to their classes and the season was switching gears.

The Farm began during the hippie days of the “Back to the Earth” movement by Helen and Scott Nearing on an unlikely plot of land on Cape Rosier.

After helping the aging Helen Nearing, Eliot Coleman took over in the 1970s, and had a different vision. He wanted to farm in all four seasons, including winter, on this small piece of dirt on the rugged coast of Maine.

It’s now operated by Coleman and his wife, Barbara Damrosch, who have become much sought-after experts in small farming. They write books, newspaper columns and are often the subject of interviews. They were hosts of the TV series, Gardening Naturally, on The Learning Channel.

Coleman and Damorsch have perfected ‘eking out a living on a hardscrabble farm’ into creating a successful business with innovative ideas.

Including creating very clever tools and farming methods.

Fans come from all over the world to tour this little agriculture gem. Ironically, what began with the Nearings hippie lifestyle, self-sufficiency intent, has become a viable business model for small entrepreneurs.

Four Season Farm, 609 Weir Cove Road, Harborside, ME 04642

Here are a few nice reasons to visit the Farmers’ Market in Camden.

It’s located behind the Knox Mill, in downtown Camden, every Saturday, 9 – Noon, through October 30, and every Wednesday, 3:30 – 6 pm, through September 29.

You’ll find lots of farmers’ markets all over Maine. Our growing season is short, but our plates are full.