Blue Sky Farm

Blue Sky Farm, with its vivid red barn and shingled farmhouse, is a classic example of a New England salt farm and an iconic property in the Essex landscape. Set on 17.64± acres just south of the Essex Village, the Farm includes 658± feet of frontage on the main channel of the Essex River with a fully-licensed boardwalk and floating dock. The landscape includes a broad mix of salt marsh, fenced pasture suitable for small scale farming, sweeping lawn and cedar woodlands situated above the Great Marsh and tidal flood plain. Accessed via a long private drive, the main residence is a 2010 Davis Timber Frame farm house that was designed to take full advantage of the bucolic setting and unspoiled views to the Essex River basin and the permanently-preserved, 165-acre Cogswell's Grant property held by Historic New England. The three-bedroom house features an open layout with extra-large windows and doors that are almost always open to welcome summer breezes from the wrap-around porch and patios. The property also offers a detached Maine Barn Co. Timber Frame barn with a large central bay, two large stalls, a heated tack room, full bath and a spacious, unfinished loft. Accessories include a detached two- bay garage with tractor shed, a detached Amish-built two-bay run in with tack room and a chicken coop with split grain room.

The property enjoys abundant privacy while its in-town location right next to the village provides convenient access to all of the restaurants and antiquing that Essex has to offer. A fifteen minute boat ride provides breathtaking views of the Cox Reservation, Choate Island and Crane Wildlife Refuge and the sandy shores of Crane Beach. A conservation restriction on 13.28± acres is held by the Essex County Greenbelt ensuring that this very special place full of birdlife and wildlife will remain protected while allowing for continued agricultural and recreational use. For the inspired farmer, Blue Sky Farm offers fenced pasture for grazing and crops or it can simply be enjoyed as a peaceful retreat in a magical and unspoiled coastal setting. Imagine a place where you can keep your horse, tend your vegetables and head out to the ocean on your boat in search of striped bass!

• Main Residence: c. 2010 Davis Frame Company Timber Frame residence inspired by c. 1728 Cogswell’s Grant residence; Douglas fir timber frame with authentic joinery and industrial standing seam metal-surfaced, gabled roof; Wraparound covered porch with river stone surround and bluestone patio with fieldstone walls; Four stories including third floor lofted space and fourth floor cupola and unfinished basement; Andersen E-Series/Eagle windows and doors with HarborMaster impact-resistant systems. Interior trim is flat, stained, straight-grain Douglas fir and the first floor finish is glazed Saltillo tile
• Timber Framed Barn: Detached pine Maine Barn Company Timber Frame barn in excellent condition; includes three bents with a through-door central bay and two flanking bays, one of which includes two full-sized (roughly 10’x12’) horse stalls; Rubber ¾ inch mats in stalls and main isle; Storm windows and screens for tack room and bathroom; Finished and heated tack room; Full heated bathroom with soapstone sink and a stall shower, on demand hot water; Second floor is unfinished hay and equipment storage; 200 amp electrical service with lighting on each floor including cupola
• Detached Garage/Workshop: With two bays and a tractor shed
• Detached Run In: Detached Amish-built two bay run in with tack room
• Chicken Coop: Chicken coop with split grain room
• Wood Shed: Wood storage shed along path to the Essex River