Nourse Farm has created a self-guided informational walking trail to give you the chance to walk through the fields and learn about the farm. The trail passes by Civil War-era barns, proceeds past Nourse Brook, and up a hill to some of the farm’s most productive land. The half mile walk along a dirt road takes about 20 minutes. At numbered stations along the way, read more information about our farm, food, and history. Visitors are encouraged to look for red-tailed hawks in the sky, farm animals in the pastures, and crops in the fields.
Can’t visit us in person? Take the virtual tour below. Use the “Learn More” buttons after each station summary for additional details about the history and food grown near each spot along the trail. We value your feedback, so when you complete the trail, on-line or in-person, please share your experience and tell us what you learned.
#1:
The Barns
The two connected barns at this station were built in the 1860’s and 1870’s. They have been used through the years to shelter equipment, hay, dairy cows, and horses. Both barns are post-and-beam construction to create large interior spaces for boarding animals and storing hay.
#2: Nourse Brook
Nourse Brook, one of the headwaters of the nearby Assabet river, has been a reliable source of water for the farm since its founding. Flowing even in the driest summers, the brook and pond provide water for drinking and irrigating crops. Prior to refrigeration, ice from the pond was collected in an ice house and used to cool milk in the summer.
#3: Raspberries
This station lies halfway up a hill and provides a good place to catch your breath and admire the central part of Nourse Farm, including the barns, farm house, Nourse Brook, and one of our signature crops—raspberries. One of our Pick Your Own raspberry plantings grows next to this spot.
#4: The Farm House and Herd
From this station you can gaze down at the Nourse Farm House and across the fields to one of the pastures where the farm’s Hereford beef cattle graze. The main section of the Nourse Farm House was built in 1813 on the site of the original 1722 structure. The herd averages a dozen cows and generally produces eight calves yearly.
#5: Peaches and Fall Raspberries
At the crest of the hill, you arrive at some of Nourse Farm’s most productive land. In front of you is the Peach Orchard and to your right are fall raspberries. Learn more about these fruits at this stop.
#6: Blueberries
A new planting of blueberries lies at this station. They will begin to be harvested in 2021 and may bear fruit through 2050! Blueberries are one of the six distinct berries that Nourse Farm produces.
#7: Vegetable Production
In front of you and in the fields stretching up the hill to your left is the heart of the farm’s vegetable production. Vegetables planted here include sweet corn, bell peppers, hot peppers, okra, cauliflower, green beans, cabbage, eggplant, sugar pumpkins, and Brussels sprouts. Read about one of these featured vegetables, its growing cycle, and nutritional characteristics at this station.
#8: Geology of the Farm
Glaciers formed many of the topographical features of Nourse Farm, including this hill, which is classified as a “Drumlin” due to its elongated oval shape. The hill’s soil, classified as a “Paxton fine sandy loam,” is composed of glacial till and is particularly suitable for growing vegetables such as the rhubarb to your left and corn to your right.
#9: Top of the Hill
Here you arrive at 460 feet above sea level, the highest point at Nourse Farm. From here you can view hawks circling overhead, Fay Mountain, and additional plantings of corn, beans, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. Learn about these sites, crops, and wildlife in the area at this station.
Thank you for exploring Nourse Farm! Please remember to share your experience with us through this on-line form.