In 1929, the Shayer family laid the foundation of the beautiful bungalow that was to become Mapleville Farm. Originally the property encompassed quite a bit of acreage. Over the years the original land was sold off in lots, but signs remain of the sprawling homestead that once was. Stone walls run for hundreds of yards through the woods, and the house next door was built on what was originally the chicken coop.

We bought the place in 1984 and have been growing produce ever since, at first for our own use and more recently for sale. In the mid-’90s we expanded to include a small flock of laying hens, and once you begin getting used to having a ready supply of the freshest free-range eggs at your fingertips, there’s just no going back. Our operation now includes a mixed herd/flock of dairy goats and sheep for milk and wool, a small orchard, specialty fruits, and a dedicated aquaponic greenhouse that keeps us supplied year-round with fresh herbs, greens, vegetables and flowers.

The larger part of our production by now goes into the delicious products we sell at our on-site bake shoppe, which include handmade breads, pastries, pies, cookies, as well as other products such as jellies, preserves, and milk soap. Foodies to the core with a strong local bent, we are committed to bringing you only the best and the freshest. To that end, we are bound to a seasonal menu, and thrilled to be able to feature the bounty of the harvest. We grow as many of our own ingredients as possible; if we can’t grow enough of those, we do our best to help to reinforce our local food structure by buying from other small area farmers and producers. Apple pie is so much better when you have to wait for it.

Our history in fine artisan foods goes back to Boston’s famously Italian North End, where our family first took up residence after emigrating from Napoli, some eventually settling six decades ago into Providence’s Federal Hill neighborhood. We have been in Rhode Island ever since. Recipes that have been handed down through the generations account for many of our savory baked goods; we have also, of course, added a few of our own creations. But regardless of their origin, our goods are all made with the finest ingredients, and are tested to a very high standard of excellence.

As always, we’re committed to bringing you the best products. After all, we want you to keep buying them! But try them yourself, and let your tastebuds convince you. We have faith that they will.