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Address: 114 Old Ocean House Rd
Contact: www.appletreehill.us
info@appletreehill.us
About the farm
A majestic white house and barn are the centerpiece of Apple Tree Hill, but to owner Rodney Voisine, MD, the
lush, 10-acre grounds are equally prized. Since he purchased the property in 2004, he’s renovated not only the
buildings, but the gardens. He now indulges a life-long interest in farming and nutritious food by growing
multiple varieties of heirloom tomatoes, leaf vegetables, broccoli, and herbs. In addition, he cultivates more than
20 varieties of dramatically beautiful cutting flowers, including dahlias, sunflowers, and ornamental grasses.
Dr. Voisine appreciates large-scale industrialized farming practices but believes that through hybridization some
nutritional value and flavor of foods have been compromised. Having both a medical degree and a degree in
Pharmacognosy, the study of medicines derived from natural sources, he has a deep interest in the healing
properties of plants, and a special interest in nutrient dense foods, like the Saskatoon berry.
This summer, Apple Tree Hill will supply some of the areas’ finest restaurants with flavorful vegetables. They
include Caiola’s and Walters in Portland and Inn By The Sea. The farm’s flowers can be found in arrangements
designed by Sawyer & Company, Harmon’s & Barton’s, and Whole Foods. All of Apple Tree Hill’s products
can also be found on Saturdays at the Deering Oaks location of the Portland Farmer’s Market. (They can also
occasionally be purchased from a cart at the end of the farm’s driveway.) A percentage of vegetables grown are
donated to area food banks.
Produce and flowers grown
Tomatoes (21 varieties), Romanesco broccoli, salad greens, cucumbers, green beans, finglering potatoes.
Blueberries, Saskatoon berries, Apples (Baldwin, Cortland, Golden Transitional, Honeycrisp). Annual flowers
including sunflowers, cosmos, giant zinnias, dahlias, lisianthus, amaranthus and multiple perennials.
History
As a 12 - year old boy, Dr. Voisine delivered the morning paper to the 150-year old home that he now owns on
Apple Tree Hill. At the time, it was owned by Donald and Marjorie Fowler, who lived there for more than 50
years. Mrs. Fowler was a devoted gardener, and the farm still uses the compost heap she continually enriched
during her decades of gardening on the property. Prior to the Fowler family, the home was owned by the Ford
family of Summit, NJ. It was Mrs. Ford who named the home, Apple Tree Hill.
When he was 14, Rodney picked strawberries on the Peabbles’ farm, which was up the road from Apple Tree
Hill. The farm was sold in the late 1970’s, part of which is now Whaleback Ridge. Dr. Voisine still has a vivid
memory of the Sparkle strawberries grown there. He says the luscious, high-sugar strawberries had a short
shelf-life, so they weren’t suitable for grocery stores, but all the neighbors loved buying them directly from Mr.
Peabbles’ stand on Old Ocean House Road.
Contact: www.appletreehill.us
info@appletreehill.us
About the farm
A majestic white house and barn are the centerpiece of Apple Tree Hill, but to owner Rodney Voisine, MD, the
lush, 10-acre grounds are equally prized. Since he purchased the property in 2004, he’s renovated not only the
buildings, but the gardens. He now indulges a life-long interest in farming and nutritious food by growing
multiple varieties of heirloom tomatoes, leaf vegetables, broccoli, and herbs. In addition, he cultivates more than
20 varieties of dramatically beautiful cutting flowers, including dahlias, sunflowers, and ornamental grasses.
Dr. Voisine appreciates large-scale industrialized farming practices but believes that through hybridization some
nutritional value and flavor of foods have been compromised. Having both a medical degree and a degree in
Pharmacognosy, the study of medicines derived from natural sources, he has a deep interest in the healing
properties of plants, and a special interest in nutrient dense foods, like the Saskatoon berry.
This summer, Apple Tree Hill will supply some of the areas’ finest restaurants with flavorful vegetables. They
include Caiola’s and Walters in Portland and Inn By The Sea. The farm’s flowers can be found in arrangements
designed by Sawyer & Company, Harmon’s & Barton’s, and Whole Foods. All of Apple Tree Hill’s products
can also be found on Saturdays at the Deering Oaks location of the Portland Farmer’s Market. (They can also
occasionally be purchased from a cart at the end of the farm’s driveway.) A percentage of vegetables grown are
donated to area food banks.
Produce and flowers grown
Tomatoes (21 varieties), Romanesco broccoli, salad greens, cucumbers, green beans, finglering potatoes.
Blueberries, Saskatoon berries, Apples (Baldwin, Cortland, Golden Transitional, Honeycrisp). Annual flowers
including sunflowers, cosmos, giant zinnias, dahlias, lisianthus, amaranthus and multiple perennials.
History
As a 12 - year old boy, Dr. Voisine delivered the morning paper to the 150-year old home that he now owns on
Apple Tree Hill. At the time, it was owned by Donald and Marjorie Fowler, who lived there for more than 50
years. Mrs. Fowler was a devoted gardener, and the farm still uses the compost heap she continually enriched
during her decades of gardening on the property. Prior to the Fowler family, the home was owned by the Ford
family of Summit, NJ. It was Mrs. Ford who named the home, Apple Tree Hill.
When he was 14, Rodney picked strawberries on the Peabbles’ farm, which was up the road from Apple Tree
Hill. The farm was sold in the late 1970’s, part of which is now Whaleback Ridge. Dr. Voisine still has a vivid
memory of the Sparkle strawberries grown there. He says the luscious, high-sugar strawberries had a short
shelf-life, so they weren’t suitable for grocery stores, but all the neighbors loved buying them directly from Mr.
Peabbles’ stand on Old Ocean House Road.
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| Apple Tree Hill Farm |
July 2008 Update:
It has been a very busy season at the farm on Old Ocean House Rd. Three
years ago we imported 72 bare root Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoonberry,
Saskatoon, Serviceberry or Juneberry) plants. After researching the
species we thought the berry would be a good fit for the community. We had
our first crop of berries, over 5 gallons were picked and sent off to test
kitchens around the state. Abby Hoffman, the executive chef at Caiola's in
Portland has given the berry two thumbs up after serving tarts with the
Saskatoon berries as the main ingredient. Caiola's will be featuring the
Saskatoon berry on their dessert menu for the next week or two. The
Saskatoon berry has a very similar antioxidant profile to the blueberry, but
ripens about a month before. Interestingly, the plant is related to the
rose family. The berry grows in clusters and has a slight cherry almond
flavor and looks like a large blueberry. The plant makes a beautiful
landscape plant as well. A wonderful one crust berry pie recipe can be
found on our website, www.appletreehill.us
It has been a very busy season at the farm on Old Ocean House Rd. Three
years ago we imported 72 bare root Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoonberry,
Saskatoon, Serviceberry or Juneberry) plants. After researching the
species we thought the berry would be a good fit for the community. We had
our first crop of berries, over 5 gallons were picked and sent off to test
kitchens around the state. Abby Hoffman, the executive chef at Caiola's in
Portland has given the berry two thumbs up after serving tarts with the
Saskatoon berries as the main ingredient. Caiola's will be featuring the
Saskatoon berry on their dessert menu for the next week or two. The
Saskatoon berry has a very similar antioxidant profile to the blueberry, but
ripens about a month before. Interestingly, the plant is related to the
rose family. The berry grows in clusters and has a slight cherry almond
flavor and looks like a large blueberry. The plant makes a beautiful
landscape plant as well. A wonderful one crust berry pie recipe can be
found on our website, www.appletreehill.us
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