It Matters Now-Preservation, Education, Recreation
Donazione protetta
Our Mission:
Good Pickin’ at Meadowbrook Farm is dedicated to providing experiential learning for children, teens and adults through farming, arts, workshops, classes and recreation in an environment where nature and people connect.
Our Story:
Good Pickin’ will be a community farm; a place where people will go to connect with a time passed but not lost; a place where people will experience the joy of growing their own food; a place where children will have the freedom to explore; a place where people can connect with the natural world and all it has to offer. Examples of activities will include: farm to table cooking, gardening, learning about and riding horses, nature education, hiking, snowshoeing, to name a few. When fully established we will be offering preschool programs, summer camps, family camps, adult education, teens and tweens workshops and a petting zoo.
Most importantly it will be a place that will remind us of our roots in nature.
The historic Meadowbrook Farm of Westford, MA, was founded in the mid-1700’s by the Wright family and farmed by the Gould & Picking families (inspiration for our name!). This beautiful farm of 89 acres of pristine farmland and woods abutting over 1100 acres of trails is located within 40 minutes of Boston.
20 years ago a public/private partnership with the Town of Westford was formed to save the Picking/Gould Farm from development. After purchase of the land, Bob Webb and Bob Waskievicz restored the original house, barn, 1850 schoolhouse and cider mill. Bernice Picking (a former owner) had a vision that the 89 acre farm would become a viable education center encompassing the original cider press, farm house, blacksmith forge, barn, school house, saw mill, trails, pastures and land. Our mission is to make her vision a reality.
We need this seed money now to bring this vision to life. Donations of any size are welcome and greatly appreciated. Your donations will ensure the continued use of this historic New England farm.
Your Generosity Will Create:
- a permaculture garden
- a pollinating garden with bees
- a permaculture orchard with rain catchment system intermixed with livestock
- installation of composting toilets
- use of solar energy
- music in the woods
- a secret garden
- a natural playground and treehouse
- the remodel of a heritage schoolhouse
- the restoration of the historic cider house
- continued use of the preservation of a quintessential New England farmstead
Who we are:
We are three determined women.
Sandra, an energetic leader who strongly believes that community involvement leads to the enrichment of all lives. She has degrees in business and education and has created and implemented comprehensive after-school programs, camps and numerous recreational programs through Westford Recreation. Most recently Sandra, in her role as Director of Operations, in three years transformed a former publishing warehouse into the Mill Works Complex for Sports, Health, Arts & Education.
Erin is an artist and observer. As a photographer, she loves capturing all of the little quirks and details that make each person or relationship unique. She went to school for art at Syracuse University and opened her photography business, Erin Chapman Imagery in 2008. She, her husband and 3 kids are proud of their menagerie of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, goats, pigs, chickens, ducks and geese. Erin has always dreamed about putting her talents to work for a community organization like Good Pickin’ Farm.
Jen, a farmer and educator with a degree in Biology brings a lifetime of homesteading and sustainable ecology experience to our venture. Jen grew up on a small hobby farm in Shirley; she was avidly involved in 4-H throughout her childhood. Jen earned her BS degree in Biology from UMass Dartmouth and went on to spend years as an ecological field researcher. Her desire to work with kids led her to teach at multiple outdoor education organizations where she gained an abundance of knowledge about how to young minds through the natural world. Jen aspires to share her passion for farming and nature with others through Good Pickin’ Farm programs.
Good Pickin’ at Meadowbrook Farm is dedicated to providing experiential learning for children, teens and adults through farming, arts, workshops, classes and recreation in an environment where nature and people connect.
Our Story:
Good Pickin’ will be a community farm; a place where people will go to connect with a time passed but not lost; a place where people will experience the joy of growing their own food; a place where children will have the freedom to explore; a place where people can connect with the natural world and all it has to offer. Examples of activities will include: farm to table cooking, gardening, learning about and riding horses, nature education, hiking, snowshoeing, to name a few. When fully established we will be offering preschool programs, summer camps, family camps, adult education, teens and tweens workshops and a petting zoo.
Most importantly it will be a place that will remind us of our roots in nature.
The historic Meadowbrook Farm of Westford, MA, was founded in the mid-1700’s by the Wright family and farmed by the Gould & Picking families (inspiration for our name!). This beautiful farm of 89 acres of pristine farmland and woods abutting over 1100 acres of trails is located within 40 minutes of Boston.
20 years ago a public/private partnership with the Town of Westford was formed to save the Picking/Gould Farm from development. After purchase of the land, Bob Webb and Bob Waskievicz restored the original house, barn, 1850 schoolhouse and cider mill. Bernice Picking (a former owner) had a vision that the 89 acre farm would become a viable education center encompassing the original cider press, farm house, blacksmith forge, barn, school house, saw mill, trails, pastures and land. Our mission is to make her vision a reality.
We need this seed money now to bring this vision to life. Donations of any size are welcome and greatly appreciated. Your donations will ensure the continued use of this historic New England farm.
Your Generosity Will Create:
- a permaculture garden
- a pollinating garden with bees
- a permaculture orchard with rain catchment system intermixed with livestock
- installation of composting toilets
- use of solar energy
- music in the woods
- a secret garden
- a natural playground and treehouse
- the remodel of a heritage schoolhouse
- the restoration of the historic cider house
- continued use of the preservation of a quintessential New England farmstead
Who we are:
We are three determined women.
Sandra, an energetic leader who strongly believes that community involvement leads to the enrichment of all lives. She has degrees in business and education and has created and implemented comprehensive after-school programs, camps and numerous recreational programs through Westford Recreation. Most recently Sandra, in her role as Director of Operations, in three years transformed a former publishing warehouse into the Mill Works Complex for Sports, Health, Arts & Education.
Erin is an artist and observer. As a photographer, she loves capturing all of the little quirks and details that make each person or relationship unique. She went to school for art at Syracuse University and opened her photography business, Erin Chapman Imagery in 2008. She, her husband and 3 kids are proud of their menagerie of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, goats, pigs, chickens, ducks and geese. Erin has always dreamed about putting her talents to work for a community organization like Good Pickin’ Farm.
Jen, a farmer and educator with a degree in Biology brings a lifetime of homesteading and sustainable ecology experience to our venture. Jen grew up on a small hobby farm in Shirley; she was avidly involved in 4-H throughout her childhood. Jen earned her BS degree in Biology from UMass Dartmouth and went on to spend years as an ecological field researcher. Her desire to work with kids led her to teach at multiple outdoor education organizations where she gained an abundance of knowledge about how to young minds through the natural world. Jen aspires to share her passion for farming and nature with others through Good Pickin’ Farm programs.
Co-organizzatori (3)
Erin Chapman
Organizzatore
Westford, MA
Sandra Habe
Beneficiario
Jennifer Mitton
Co-organizzatore