Our Story

We are Deede and Kathy, and we do just about everything here at Bessie's. For us, Bessie's is more than a store. It is a reflection of the people who taught us the value of hard work. Everything we do at Bessie's is steeped in the traditions we learned from a couple of amazing women: Kathy's Aunt Bessie and Deede's mother Granny Ritchie. Through the years, they nurtured our love of the outdoors, the handmade, the unique, and the beautiful. With Bessie's, we honor their lives and the lives of strong, tenacious, and intrepid women everywhere. As we like to say, there is nothing two women can't accomplish before noon!

Our story began years ago, when two friends dreamed of a place that embodied what they held dear. A place where quality trumped quantity; where handmade and local goods had a home; where craft was revived, mastered, and passed down to children; where, in a society that knows the price of everything yet the value of nothing, people took the time to do things the right way. Naturally, we had to build it ourselves! 

We broke ground in the fall of 2009, and in the course of a Maine winter, put up every wall, nailed every board, and installed every window by hand. With the love and support of our families, Bessie's officially opened its doors the following spring. It's been a few years since then and we're proud to say that Bessie's is more than we could have ever imagined. We think this is a very special place, and know that Granny and Bessie would agree. 

Our Fiber

We teach spinning in our workshops, sell a ton of hand-knit goods, and harvest, spin, and dye our own yarn from our own animals. We also carry some of the finest fiber made throughout Maine—from way downeast in Washington county to right here in Freeport. With the addition of felting kits, looms, and supplies to get you started, Bessie's is the perfect place for your next project. 

Our Kitchen

We bake, cook, and prepare from scratch, using only the finest local ingredients. Come in the morning and indulge in one of our delicious breakfast treats, or stay for lunch and we'll make you a fresh salad straight from our garden beds. Either way, there is always something tasty and fresh at Bessie's. 

Our Garden

Walk around our property and you'll be sure to see something in full bloom or just getting ready to sprout! From kale, arugula, tomatoes, and string beans in the summer, to winter squash and pumpkins in the fall, there's no better place for fresh produce than Bessie's. And don't forget to grab a bouquet of Maine flowers for that special someone, even if that someone is you!

Our Store

From clothing, jewelry, and home goods, to beauty products, garden supplies, and groceries, we've got you covered.  And you can bet almost  everything we carry is made right here in Maine. From Buxton to Portland, Freeport to Addison, we're proud to be a genuine Maine country store.

Our Family

Endlessly inventive, courageous, and caring, our husbands, children, and grandchildren mean the world to us. Chances are you'll see some of the at Bessie's most days, and that's how we like it. We welcome you and yours as well! Come by and play in the grass, go on a guided forest walk with Kathy, make some arts and crafts at the picnic table, or simply relax with a cup of coffee on our porch. No matter what you do, Bessie's is the perfect place to get away from it all with the people you love.

Our Animals

We raise alpacas, chickens, goats, llamas, ducks, and geese. We cook with and sell our chicken's eggs, and knit with our animals fiber and mohair. All of our animals roam our property in large, spacious enclosures, and are about as happy as can be.