Concord's Abundant Farm Stands

BY ANNE LEHMANN

There are 812 acres of working farmland surrounding Concord, and summertime provides a bumper crop of fresh fruit and vegetables. These working farm stands use every acre of farmland to provide healthy options for every meal! It is worth a visit to these ‘grocery stores of summer’ where the harvest can go from your grocery tote to dinner plate without needing more than a splash of oil and vinegar.

The Walden Woods Project Farm is a USDA-certified organic farm and profits support the Walden Woods projects. Harvests from the farm are sold at their farm stand near Sudbury Road off Route 2. They offer a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA) which accepts full and half share memberships. The 12 acres of farmland yield a variety of items such as beets, squash, lettuce, eggplant, and tomatoes and offers locally sourced corn and jams. The Walden Woods Project Farm continues to advocate for minimizing the world’s carbon footprint. Sourcing and consuming locally is a healthy way to shrink our individual carbon footprint.

Courtesy of Walden Woods Project

Built in the 1940s, Saltbox Farm is a combination of new ideas and old-school technology. The farm relies on keeping things pure by using organic and sustainable farming practices. They do not use pesticides preferring to focus on the soil, the deeper and fresher the soil the better. Crop rotation, compost, and a no-till approach are all part of their strategy. The farm produces a variety of fresh vegetables, meat, eggs, honey, flowers, and even the hops used in their brewery at Saltbox Kitchen. While there is no farm stand at Saltbox Farm itself, during the growing season you can pick up farm produce inside Saltbox Kitchen in West Concord.

Marshall Farm can boast that they have the two largest mobile chicken tractor coops in Eastern Massachusetts! Thanks to their chickens and bees, fresh eggs and honey are abundant on this farm. Their farm stand boasts pickling cucumbers, watermelon, and cantaloupes along with the mainstay veggies from the farm. In addition, they sell their own farm-raised chickens and have partnered with local vendors to provide farm-fresh milk and locally sourced meat including bacon, steaks, sausages, and ground beef. Cut flowers and front door planters are abundant and seedlings of flowers and herbs are available as well.

At Barrett’s Mill Farm, Lise Holdorf, one of the farmers and owners, told me that they have expanded their pick-up area and included a CSA pick your own (PYO) option as well as a PYO flowers at the farm stand. She shares “If people have time to go out into the fields they will have space, fresh air, and plenty of crops to harvest, otherwise our pick-up option is fast and easy.” Carrots, onions, spinach, scallions, sugar snap peas, peppers, radishes, and a lettuce mix are in high demand as well as watermelon and summer strawberries.

Courtesy of Barrett’s Mill Farm

On your way out of town via Monument Street, you will find Hutchins Farm. Trust is part of their fabric, and early in the growing season the farm stand runs on a self-service honor system. You select your herbs and veggies, plunk the cash in the wooden box for payment and you’re on your way!

Hutchins Farm uses seeds from past harvests to begin their season, providing unusual vegetables to customers such as garlic, chives, kohlrabi, amaranth, and spicy hot peppers. The standard vegetables are always available as well as fresh blueberries and strawberries.

The Verrill family has been farming in Concord for more than 100 years. Today, Verrill Farm hosts a farm stand, bakery, and lunch hot spot which features all types of fresh salads and ready-to-heat meals. Late in the summer they offer a reduced rate box of ‘seconds’ tomatoes that are just perfect for making homemade marinara or tomato bisque. While you are there, pick up a copy of their book, A Farm Grows in Concord –Celebrating 100 Years of Verrill Farm¸ while you’re there. In addition to the history of the farm and Concord, the book includes 80 Verrill Farm kitchen recipes.

Courtesy of Walden Woods Project

If you are craving a light summer salad tossed with corn, green beans, summer squash, and tomatoes, Scimone’s Farm is a great place to stop and pick up these ingredients. They skirt the Bedford town line and are located right off Old Bedford road. Millbrook Farm has a nursery that is bursting with gorgeous flowers for your garden, as well as hanging baskets and delicious produce. The friendly staff is always there with a helping hand and good advice for planting.

In the 1820s John Brigham bought a farm primarily to grow produce for home consumption. Today the 11-acre Brigham Farm is noted as a market farm growing crops for sale at their farm stand. They are well known for growing sweet corn in late summer and offer farm-grown produce, fruit, and flowers throughout the growing season.

Concord provides a rich and healthy array of produce, so take advantage and enjoy the fresh bounty our local farms provide.

Courtesy of The Walden Woods Project

Anne Lehmann is a journalist, freelance writer, and business consultant.