[MassHistPres] Farms in municipal ownership

[Harnden Tavern]

Ann -

I asked almost this same exact question a couple of months ago.  If you can, look back at old e-mails on this listserv in mid-October of 2010.  I received a lot of interesting responses.  Among many successful farms I learned about was one in Newton, which was particularly relevant to our own situation, because it was small acreage with an historic farmhouse on site.  Unfortunately, for various reasons, we are not going to be able to go forward with a community farm in Wilmington because the property we expected to acquire for the town became unavailable to us.  One thing I did conclude from studying the issue is that the most success town owned farms are usually leased out to a nonprofit group that runs the farm.  Most towns don't want the headache or expense of running a farm or caring for the buildings.  If you have an interested, qualified group willing to lease and run the farm, community supported agriculture, CSA's, seem to be a good business plan.  As for maintaining the actual buildings on the site, I think it is common practice to have the nonprofit group who is running the farm maintain the buildings.  But there are so many variations throughout the state - you'll hear many different stories.  Good luck!

Terry McDermott
Curator
Wilmington Town Museum at the
Col. Joshua Harnden Tavern, c.1770
430 Salem Street
Wilmington, MA  01887
978.658.5475
htavern at town.wilmington.ma.us
http://www.town.wilmington.ma.us/Pages/WilmingtonMA_BComm/Historical/index
 
The Wilmington Historical Commission can also be reached at the above addresses and phone number.

 
 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Anne Forbes 
  To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu 
  Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 1:11 PM
  Subject: [MassHistPres] Farms in municipal ownership


  The town of Acton owns a farm with a 1930s farmstead that has been determined by MHC as eligible for the National Register.  I hope to put together a list of other farms in municipal ownership with farmsteads that have been maintained and preserved by the community.  I'm especially interested in what funding has been used in addition to CPA funds - e.g. federal grants, Mass. Preservation Projects Fund, etc.

  I'd appreciate hearing if your community owns a farm, and how work on the buildings has been paid for.  Thanks!

  Anne Forbes, Acton
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