agriculture at the trustees at the trustees background • facts • figures | 2015 overview since...

AgricultureatTheTrusteesBackground•Facts•Figures|2015

OverviewSince 1891, The Trustees has worked to conserve remarkable landscapes and connect people to the natural,cultural, and historic places that makeMassachusetts unique. During that time, agricultural landscapes havebeen central to our work, resulting in the permanent protection of over 12,000 acres of farmland in theCommonwealth. Most of this acreage is now in the hands of the broader agricultural community inMassachusetts, to be protected and cultivated in perpetuity. Of the farmland we’ve protected over time,approximately 2,000 acres remain under ourmanagement, including our community farms and gardens, landthatweleasetootherfarmersandnon-profits,andprotectedgrasslandhabitat.

TheTrusteeshasextensiveexpertiseinfarmlandpreservation, isamongthelargestprivatefarmlandownersinthe Commonwealth, and has a large and engaged constituency across the state, including visitors,members,supporters, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shareholders and gardeners. We have a growingagricultural network that includes four community farms and 60 community gardens, which are visited andenjoyedbymore than140,000peopleeachyear.Ourwork inagriculturealignswithour largerorganizationalmissiontoprotectthespecialplacesofMassachusettsforpublicenjoyment,providingaplatformforvisitorstoconnecttoandenjoyourproperties,whethertheyarepickingupaCSAshareatoneofourcommunityfarms,cultivatingaplotinourcommunitygardens,orattendingoneofthehundredsoffarm,garden,andfoodrelatedeventsandprogramsweoffereachyear.

Weareexpandingourworkandimpactinagriculture,asdetailedinTheTrustees’newlydevelopedfive-yearagriculturalvision.Wewillcontinuetoprotectandcareforouragriculturallands,worktoincreaseaccesstofarmland for theMassachusetts farming community, provideaccess tofresh, local food for a diversity of consumers, educate and inspire ourvisitors and program participants about the value of local farms andcommunitygardensandthefoodtheyproduce,andworkwithpartnersand collaborators throughout the state and region to advocate forpoliciesthatsupportastronglocalfoodsystem.

TrusteescommunityfarmsTheTrusteesoperatesfourcommunityfarmsthroughoutthestate,includingAppletonFarms,oneoftheoldestcontinuously operating farms in the country. Almost two decades ago, we began to build a vibrant mix ofproductionandeducationalactivitiesontheseproperties,whichinclude:v Appleton Farms, Ipswich & Hamilton: Features a 650-member CSA, dairy and creamery,

grass-fed beef operation, historic home, educational kitchen, and year-round farm store.Educational programs include cooking classes, seasonal events, farm tours, youth andgroupprograms,andfarmdinners.

v PowissetFarm,Dover:Featuresa400-memberCSA,chickensandpigs,educationalkitchen,and seasonal farm store. Educational programs include cooking classes, seasonal events,andyouthandgroupprograms.

v Weir River Farm, Hingham: Features a 160-member CSA, grass-fed beef operation, andeducational barnyardwith a variety of animals. Educational programs include a summercamp,children’sbarnyardprogram,youthandgroupprograms,andseasonalevents.

v ChestnutHillFarm,Southborough:OurnewestCSA,currentlywith50members,expandingto200membersinthespringof2016.TheCSAandeducationalprogramswillbegrowingatthispropertyoverthecomingyears.

Trusteescommunitygardens&theBostonPublicMarketThe Trustees recently merged with the Boston Natural Areas Network—creatingaBostonRegionwithinTheTrustees,whichnowownsandmanages60community gardens over 16 acres in the City of Boston. These gardens serveover 5,000 Boston residents, who grow an estimated 300,000 pounds ofproduceeveryyear.

Also in the Boston Region, The Trustees is the lead educational programmingpartnerfortheBostonPublicMarket,thefirstall-localpublicmarketinthecountry.This isanexcitingpartnershipandthefirsttimeTheTrusteesoffersprogrammingonasite that isnotoneofourproperties.TheTrusteesmanages theKITCHENatthe Boston Public Market, a 3,200 square foot demonstration kitchen andeducationalspacewithintheMarket,offeringcookingclasses,workshops,events,lectures, films and more in collaboration with a diverse set of programmingpartners.Programsaddresstopicssuchasculinaryeducation,healthandnutrition,youthengagement,sustainabilityandconservation.

TheTrustees::agriculturalfacts

Agriculturallandpermanentlyprotectedsinceourfoundingin1891::12,000+acres

Agriculturallandcurrentlyownedandmanaged::2,000+acres

Farmersleasingagriculturalland::30+

Historicandactivefarmscurrentlymanaged::21

TrusteescommunityfarmswithCSAprograms::4

MembersparticipatinginTrusteesCSAs::1,250+

Fullandpart-timecommunityfarmstaff::36

Farmstoresandretailoperations::3

Producedonatedtofoodpantries(in2014)::35,000lbs

TypesofproductiononTrusteesfarms::produce,dairy,grass-fedbeef,livestock,poultry

Communitygardensowned::60(over16acresin8Bostonneighborhoods)

Communitygardenplots::1,500

Communitymembersservedbygardens::5,000+

Annualparticipantsineducationalprogramsoncommunityfarmsandgardens::14,000+

Annualvisitationstoourcommunityfarmsandgardens::140,000+