The Farm’s History

Land Use

Native Americans were the first farmers of this land. They were excellent agriculturists and taught the newly arriving English how to grow corn, beans, squash, cranberries, and other crops.


In the 1720s, the Reverend Peabody became the farm's first English owner. He taught the local Native Americans to plant apple orchards and to raise animals. Oliver Bacon bought the Peabody farm in stages, beginning in the 1750s. By 1800, he had purchased what encompasses the entire modern-day property. The barn was constructed in 1815 from local timbers blown down in severe storm that by modern standards measured as a Category Four hurricane.


Over the next century, the land had several owners who ran dairy, poultry, and equine operations. From 1905 to 1926, the farm was part of a group of six area farms, known as Carver Hill Farms, owned by William S. Patten and the Hunnewell family. Barr Carnation greenhouses succeeded Carver Hill Farms in 1927. Flowers were raised commercially on this property until the 1950s.


The Town of Natick purchased the land in the 1960s. It was put under the auspices of the School Committee in anticipation of its development into a school.


Birth of An Idea

The modern-day farm community concept was conceived by the Eliot Church, the Lions Club, and Natick's Youth and Human Resources Committee as a means of supplying much-needed summer jobs to local young people at risk.


The group called itself Red Wing Farm and planted a market garden on a two-acre plot of tilled land at the Broadmoor Audubon Sanctuary. By its second summer, Red Wing Farm was employing dozens of teens to raise and market vegetables to the public.


In 1976, the Town of Natick's School Committee agreed to lend land to the Red Wing Farm project. Red Wing Farm moved to 117 Eliot Street as a tenant-at-will and began using the existing barn as its headquarters.


The project became known as The Natick Community Farm, a 501 [c] 3 organization and took on its current ambitious environmental and education mission.


1980-Present

Lynda Simkins was hired as the Farm’s Director in 1980.  In the decades since, NCOF has become an integral part of the Town of Natick’s geographic and agricultural landscape and a rich center of community life.


Mothers and fathers bring their babes in arms and toddlers to NCOF to first see farm animals. Gardeners come here in the spring to buy organic seedlings that suit our climate and growing season. Families come to purchase fresh, locally-grown, certified-organic produce, meats, eggs, and maple syrup.


School-aged children take fieldtrips to study nutrition and the life cycle of plants and animals. Middle school, high school, and college children work in the summer, or on school vacations, or to complete their community service hours. People of special or differing abilities come to do meaningful work and contribute to their community.


Thousands of students, volunteers, and community members spanning several generations have now been introduced to the importance of open productive space, organic agriculture, and supporting local farms and farmers.


NCOF has served as both a model and a source of inspiration and practical information for several educational- and community-based organic farms in Massachusetts, in Athol, Medway, Cohasset, Concord, Waltham, and Newton, as well as for farms across the country.


The Farm continues to advocate organic agriculture, humane animal care, sustainability in life style, and living in an environmentally friendly manner.


Conservation and The Future

On April 14, 2009, Passage of Article 3 at the Town Meeting ensured that 27 acres on which Natick Community Organic Farm sits was secured in perpetuity as conservation land.

The land was put under the auspices of the Town of Natick’s Conservation Commission. Natick Community Organic Farm Inc. took over paying the full salaries of its Director, Assistant Director, and Farm Administrator, well over $140,000/year.

On March 13, 2010, Natick Community Organic Farm Inc. was awarded management of the land until 2013.


Efforts are now underway to procure a long-term management contract for NCOF, and to make the Farm financially self-sufficient. Please consider supporting this effort and helping us ensure our future for generations to come.

 

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