Scotts Yankee Farmer, East Lyme

Founded by Wainwright and Audrey Scott in the 1960s and now owned and operated by Tom & Karen Scott, Scott's Yankee Farmer is a 125-acre parcel of earth that helps visitors appreciate the natural world and its seasons. In the spring, the Scotts invite guests to purchase plants for their homes and gardens. As the weather warms, peaches, corn, tomatoes, and other vine- and stalk-fresh goodies become available for sale. Then, in summer and autumn, visitors pick from the farm's berry bushes, apple trees, pumpkin vines, and cocoa hot springs to pick snacks themselves. The Scotts also offer a CSA program and maintain a roadside stand.

But with these pick-your-own opportunities—and especially with fall's annual addition of a corn maze—many customers opt to visit in person. Scott’s Yankee Farmer offers wholesomeness on a molecular level, too—it participates in University of Connecticut’s Integrated Pest Management system, which helps keep pesticide use to a minimum.