In 2024, Brunswick-Topsham land Trust received the rare opportunity to secure Dionne Farm, a beautiful and historic property at 262 Pleasant Hill Road in Brunswick, thanks to the generosity of a local resident. Since then, we’ve been hard at work actively fundraising and thoughtfully envisioning what this extraordinary place can become for our community and our mission.
Our long-term vision includes a regional hub for conservation and connection; a welcoming space for community events, workshops, and hands-on education; improved trails and outdoor gathering spaces that connect people to nature and each other and; a revitalized home for our beloved Farmers Market, supporting our local food economy. Read below to learn more about the first phase of this exciting endeavor!
Dionne Farm: The Journey Starts Here
Since its beginnings over 25 years ago, the BTLT Saturday Farmers Market at Crystal Spring Farm has been more than a place to purchase fresh food. From the first market days to the bustling mornings of today, the Market has always been a place to gather—a place where our community shows up not only to shop, but to connect, celebrate, learn, and feel at home.
Over the years, this special gathering has grown beyond anyone’s imagination. In a single season, it offers more than 42 local vendors an opportunity to bring their goods to market. The economic value of the market is estimated at greater than $1.7 million.
Now recognized as Maine’s Best Farmers Market for four years in a row by the American Farmland Trust—and celebrated by the Maine Legislature in multiple resolutions—our Market has become a cherished weekly ritual for over 1,500 people each Saturday at the height of summer.
Neighbors come to chat with friends, children delight in Power of Produce “POP” Club activities, vendors share stories and recipes, and people of all ages tuck away moments of joy that carry them through the week. It is, quite simply, a place where people belong.
Why We’re Moving — and What We’re Becoming
The land that has served us so well for decades can no longer hold the momentum and demand of this vibrant community centerpiece. We’ve outgrown the parking lot, the traffic flow is strained, vendors and shoppers met weekly challenges during the recent extended spring mud seasons, and the energy of our market has exceeded the limits of its current space.
Our move—just across the road from where we’ve always been—is rooted in a simple and powerful idea: we want to expand the opportunities to gather. And we want to do it in a way that honors the values at the heart of our work: community, connection, food, and place.
Central to this vision is the addition of a Pavilion—a welcoming, open-air structure that will transform the market’s new home into a year-round destination for gathering, learning, and celebration.
