Farm News & Events

We were all sad that Farm Day 2009 got rained out.  We are sorry to say there is not rain date this year, but keep checking back for news on Farm Day 2010, which will be scheduled for next fall.  Hopefully Mother Nature will be more cooperative!

Update on new Chandler Trail

With special thanks to Ernie and Kathy Alander, Fred Nava, John Davis and a Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Greenways Grant, the Historic O'Neil Farm's new Chandler Trail is now open. This loop will take you through the woods to another of our beautiful fields where deer are often seen. From there the trail crosses the field and enters a large wooded area with an intermittent stream. After a walk in the woods, the trail opens onto a cleared National Grid power easement. Because of the open field-like space, raptors, such as hawks, can sometimes be seen soaring overhead. The trail loops past the power easement and returns to Autumn Avenue through the woods and fields.

Trail head parking is available on Autumn Avenue at the existing parking lot. You're welcome to experience the two Historic O'Neil Farm trails during daylight hours.

Our first visitors, NJ and EJ were walking our new Chandler trail as we were installing our signs!  I am glad they enjoyed themselves and it was great to meet them! 

Appalachian Service Project Continues to Improve the Farm

The Historic O'Neil Farm is normally a very busy place, but it was extra busy this spring when 55 high school students from Holy Family Church made repairs to the barn and shed. The two days they spent a the farm were practice sessions for their trip to West Virginia working for the Appalachian Service Project (ASP).

Under the tutelage of several adults, they scraped and painted the barn and roofed the shed. These were only a few tasks that will confront them in West Virginia, where the ASP organizes groups to help impoverished families in mostly rural areas. There they will repair leaking roofs, insulate inside or under houses, put up dry wall, repair plumbing, build porches, or construct ramps and widen doors for wheelchairs.

Students work all year to earn money for the week-long trip, as they must pay for their transportation and food as well as materials they use for the repairs. The Historic O'Neil Farm is fortunate to have such a willing and energetic group learn the needed skills while doing badly-needed repairs to its buildings. We are very grateful to Greg Chandler and his crew of teens and adults for their expert repairs again this year.