This Weekend and It’s Free!
I just checked my calendar and realized I hadn’t told you about this exciting yearly event, sponsored by NOFA- the Northeast Organic Farming Association. This year 9 farms that sell raw milk are open to the public. You can go to any of them Saturday and Sunday for a scheduled tour or a self-guided visit. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the production of raw milk in our state.
The farms are listed here and if you click on the links, you will find directions to get there. If you have any other questions, contact Winton Pitcoff – winton@nofamass.org.
Chase Hill Farm, Warwick
Saturday, 9/7 and Sunday, 9/8
Open during daylight hours
Mark and Jeanette Fellowes
74 Chase Hill Rd, Warwick, MA
978-544-6327, chasehillfarm@yahoo.com, www.chasehillfarm.com
Chase Hill Farm produces organic raw milk, farmstead cheeses, pasture-raised veal and beef from grass-fed cows and whey-fed pork. The farm practices sustainable farming methods, including rotational grazing, seasonal calving, and the use of draft horses. Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and walk around the farm.
Cricket Creek Farm, Williamstown
Saturday, 9/7 and Sunday, 9/8
Open 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tours (Saturday only) at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Observe milking at 5 p.m.
Jude Sabot
1255 Oblong Road, Williamstown, MA
413-458-5888, info@cricketcreekfarm.com, www.cricketcreekfarm.com
Cricket Creek Farm is a small, diversified, grass-based dairy nestled in the Berkshire hills of Williamstown, MA. The farm consists of our herd of Brown Swiss and Jersey cows, mixed heritage breed pigs, a small flock of laying hens, and an on-site bakery. Our mission is to produce nourishing food that honors our animals, respects the land, and feeds our community, and to exemplify a sustainable model for small-farm viability. We have a farm store open every day, year-round and carry our farmstead cheese, raw milk, homemade baked goods, pork, beef, maple syrup, honey, jams & jellies, books, pottery, and more. For Raw Milk Dairy days, property tours will begin at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Please either join us or stay to observe milking at 5 p.m.
Eastleigh Farm, Framingham
Saturday, 9/7
Open 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Milking at 3 p.m.
Doug Stephan
1062 Edmands Road, Framingham, MA
508-877-1753, EastleighFarmCow@gmail.com, www.eastleighfarm.com
Eastleigh is a rare find set in the rural area that is unique to the Framingham, Sudbury, Southboro, Marlboro area. We are milking about 120 cows, mostly Jerseys, with a few Brown Swiss and Guernseys, in our old fashioned milking barn which dates back to the 1930s! We also make Nobscot Artisan Cheese on site from our milk, as well as Queijo Fresco from Julima cheese which is also made on site! Our farm store offers other local products as well such as eggs, honey, ice cream, granola, jams and more.
We will be giving hay rides and farm tours, have an interactive pen with some of our calves, a chance to meet the owner and farm manager of Eastleigh, and an opportunity to taste our raw milk, Nobscot Artisan Cheese and Julima Cheese.
The Herb Hill Micro-Dairy, Andover
Saturday, 9/7 and Sunday, 9/8
Tour at 10 a.m.
Lucy McKain
320 High Plain Road, Andover, MA
978 475-7931, lucymckain@verizon.net, http://theherbhillmicrodairy.mckain.me
The Herb Hill Micro-Dairy is a small goat milk dairy and diverse farm just 30 miles north of Boston. It specializes in fresh, chilled raw goat’s milk and is a Mass. certified producer of organic greens, herbs, select produce, fresh eggs, and meat chickens. We sell our produce to several local restaurants, and offer 2 CSA’s: one is a Vegetable/Greens/Herb Medley, the other a Meat Chicken CSA.
Come learn about the farm, how we work with our livestock and how we grow produce and raise chickens organically. You can see our goats at the farm and at several New England fairs including the Westford 4-H Fair in late August, and the Topsfield Fair early in October. Owner Lucy McKain is the Middlesex County 4-H Dairy Goat Club leader for youth interested in learning about goats. Come and enjoy a walking tour of the farm at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday. Lucy will demonstrate and describe how goats are milked so that you can try your hand at milking a goat after the demonstration. Watch the chickens do what they do best. Conclude your visit by walking a goat to her pasture area gaining an awareness of why grazing is important. Try some moisturizing goat’s milk soap. Items are available for sale.
Northfield Mount Hermon School Farm, Mt. Hermon
Sunday, 9/8
Open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Rachel Onuf and Liam Sullivan
1 Lamplighter Way, Mount Hermon, MA
413-498-3467, ronuf@earthlink.net, www.nmhschool.org/about-nmh-farm-program
The NMH farm is a small, diversified New England farm. We have a small herd of Jersey cows. In addition to selling raw milk, we make cheese and ice cream and pasteurize milk for the school. We also work with students to make maple syrup and apple cider and grow strawberries, raspberries, vegetables, and flowers. We distill lavender and produce cider syrup and cider jelly. We will have cheese and ice cream available for sampling and for sale on Sunday, and our friendly cows and calves (and pigs!) would love to meet you.
Oake Knoll Ayrshires, Foxboro
Saturday, 9/7
Open noon – 4 p.m.
Terri Lawton
70 North St., Foxboro, MA
774-219-6257, oake_knoll_ayrshires@lawtonsfamilyfarm.com, www.lawtonsfamilyfarm.com
Oake Knoll, a working dairy farm, is located on a 275 year old family farm. We sell raw milk and harvest and sell vegetables in season. Our strength is milk quality, and customer input is very important in our management process. We will have milking demonstrations, calves to pet and cheese and raw milk sampling.
Robinson Farm, Hardwick
Saturday, 9/7
Farmstand Store open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Self-guided Pasture Walk: 9 – 4 p.m.
Ray and Pamela Robinson
42 Jackson Road, Hardwick, MA
413-477-6988, info@robinsonfarm.org, www.robinsonfarm.org
We will offer a self- guided pasture walk. Our farmstand store will be open. The Robinson Farm is a certified organic 35 cow dairy producing raw milk and award winning farmstead cheese from our own 100% grass fed cows. We attribute our success with cheese making to begin with the fresh, wholesome milk from our mixed herd of Jersey, Normandy & Holstein cows grazing in the rolling hills of Hardwick.
Our farmstand store is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering raw milk, farmstead cheese, pasture-raised rose veal, grass-fed beef, local yogurt, maple syrup, honey, jams, pickles & pork.
Sidehill Farm, Hawley
Saturday, 9/7 and Sunday, 9/8: Self-guided tours
Saturday 9/7 at 2pm: Guided tour
Amy Klippenstein and Paul Lacinski
58 Forget Road, Hawley, MA
413-339-0033, amy@sidehillfarm.net, www.sidehillfarm.net
Sidehill Farm produces fresh, delicious yogurt, raw milk, and beef from our herd of grass-fed cows. Come visit our new farm at the top of the mountain in Hawley! The farm is a little piece of big sky country right here in western Mass – rolling fields of grass, glorious sunrises and sunsets, gorgeous views of Mount Monadnock. Join us on Saturday for an afternoon stroll – we’ll peek in the creamery where the yogurt is made, visit the milking parlor and new pack barn, and then head out to pasture to meet the girls! Or, take a self-guided walking tour anytime on Saturday or Sunday – the map in the farm shop will help you find cows to visit. Bring a picnic lunch, or pick up lunch supplies in the farm shop! Our farm shop is open every day from 7am to 9pm, and is stocked with our raw milk, yogurt, grass-fed beef, and lots of other delicious local farm cheeses, pickles, granolas, and ice cream!
Upinngil Farm, Gill
Open 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. every day of the year
Always open to visitors and self-guided tours
Observe milking 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
U-pick raspberries in September
Clifford Hatch & Sorrel Hatch
411 Main Road, Gill, MA
413-863-4431, sorrel@upinngil.com, clifford@upinngil.com, www.upinngil.com
Upinngil is a small-scale diversified family run farm, located in the northern Connecticut River Valley. Our small herd of registered Ayrshires produces grass-fed raw milk and cheese year-round, which we market exclusively from our farm store in Gill. We also grow about 20 acres of wheat, rye, buckwheat, and flint corn, from which we make flour and fresh baked bread and cookies for the store. The store also sells our own maple syrup and fruit jams as well as other local products and convenience items (like cold beverages, potato chips, and ice cream!) Other major crops include: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, melons, sweet corn, potatoes, and winter squash. The small market garden supplies fresh greens, tomatoes, root crops, and much more. The farm stand offers a bountiful supply of fresh produce April-November.
