Welcome to Swango Farm

Swango Farm is located in rural Woolwich, nine miles from the small city of Bath, fifteen miles from the Atlantic Ocean, one hour north of Portland, Maine's largest city. The farm consists of 55 acres of fields, woods, and wetlands, and is located directly on Merrymeeting Bay through which the Kennebec River flows from Maine's mountains to the Gulf of Maine. Native Americans farmed here, and the land has been used for food production continuously since European settlers arrived. Swango means "eagles" in the Abenaki tribal language; bald eagles nest around Merrymeeting Bay, which is an inland fresh water tidal estuary and is designated a Natural Resource Protection Zone because of the wide range of species (some endangered) that inhabit the Bay.

Jon and Jim Economou purchased the farm in 1979 and have produced vegetables annually since. We were drawn to the productive alluvial soils, and the setting continues to inspire us with it's natural beauty and solitude. In 1979 we built a home, in 1980 a barn was constructed. That year we planted eight acres of asparagus and two acres of raspberries. The farm operation expanded as our family grew; our children Janet, Coe, and Aaron were active helpers during their growing years. Currently we produce ten acres of mixed vegetables, herbs, and flowers marketed through our West Bath farm stand and local restaurants. We also raise beef, pigs and chickens for home consumption and turkeys for sale at Thanksgiving.

Swango Farm is a community resource; a conservation easement preserves it in perpetuity for farming use only. We view ourselves as caretakers of this land. Our goal is to pass the Farm to the next caretakers with a greater capacity for growing food than when we came. Sustainable farming methods have always been practiced. Healthy food depends on healthy soil. We are strongly committed to farming that is respectful of the soil resource. Fertility is based on the incorporation of animal and green manures. We do not use dangerous pesticides.

We feel privileged to grow food for our neighbors.