17th Annual Concord Ag Day!

17TH ANNUAL CONCORD AG DAY: September 10th, 2022

10am – 2pm right on Main Street in downtown Concord

Concord Ag Day is a once a year farmers’ market celebrating local agriculture organized by the Concord Agriculture Committee to showcase Concord farms and local produce. This unique market showcases the bounty of Concord’s many farm businesses at the height of the growing season.

Ag Day 2022 will feature your favorite Concord Farmers selling their bounty, as well as the return of the famous Veggie Race Track this year sponsored by Vanderhoof Hardware! In addition, several Concord nonprofits will be there with information on a variety of environmental and ‘ag’ related topics. Come experience what Concord’s land can produce!

2022 Ag Day farm participants include:

To Celebrate Ag Day the Concord Free Public Library in partnership with Concord Conservatory of Music is holding a free outdoor concert on the library lawn on also on September 10th from 11am-1pm: Tader Shipley & Maxfield Anderson ‘s sound is rooted in classic country and western, welcoming elements of bluegrass, traditional string band music, musical theater, and modern folk.

Additionally the Concord Library will have a table at the Ag Day market to donate books, and to purchase used books to support the Friends of the Library.

Please come enjoy Concord’s wonderful downtown!

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The Concord Ag Committee with Minuteman Media Network has been working on a series of videos highlighting Concord farmers’ work throughout the season – please enjoy the three already finished on youtube!

February 2022: Verrill Farm

March 2022: Hutchins Farm

May 2022: Barrett’s Mill Farm

Coming Soon!
April: Saltbox Farm
June: The Farm at Walden Woods
August: Marshall Farm

 

Check out Guide to Concord Farms

Read more about AG Day

Celebrate Concord’s 386th Birthday and all-new Concord Museum Celebration

WE’RE MAKING HISTORY (Literally)!

CONCORD’S BIRTHDAY AND THE ALL-NEW CONCORD MUSEUM!

In celebration of Concord’s 386th Birthday and the opening of the Concord Museum’s 16 new permanent galleries, the public is invited to a week of activities including Forums, Gallery Talks, Encampments, and Family events starting Labor Day, September 6 through Sunday, September 12, 2021.

The week-long celebration includes free Museum admission for all Concord residents and the opportunity to see the newly renovated Museum first-hand on Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12, 2021.

 

On Tuesday, September 7, 2021 the public is invited to a panel discussion “Concord Farms: Resilience, Revolutionaries, and Renegades” on the history of agriculture in Concord that is both informative and celebratory as we help spread the word about the resilience of the Concord farmer. On Wednesday, September 8 join Jacqueline Jones, the president of the American Historical Association and Concord resident, in a conversation about her prize-winning books including: Labor of Love, Labor of Sorrow: Black Women, Work and the Family from Slavery to the Present.

 

Drop by the Museum to experience the history of Concord’s incorporation as a town! Families can participate in activities that explore life and craft in the era of the 1600’s Concord from Friday, September 10 through Sunday, September 12.

Free outdoor community activities are scheduled on the weekend! Meet baby lambs and a fluffy angora rabbit outside the Museum. Watch as their wool and fur are carded and spun into fine yarn with a master weaver at work at a loom. On Sunday, visit an encampment with the Acton Minutemen for cooking, music, crafts, and musket drills as the men and women prepare for battle.

 

The final phase of Concord Museum’s decade-long $16 million renovation project is culminating with the opening of renovated and interactive galleries and celebration starting on Labor Day, September 6, 2021. The ten newest galleries include a renewed focus on Concord’s famous Transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, the women who led the effort to abolish slavery, and African Americans who lived in Concord before and after the Civil War.

Friday, 9/10:

11am: Henry David Thoreau Gallery Talk

2pm: Farming in Concord: History Learning Center Program

 

Saturday, 9/11:

10am Celebrate Concord Community Day

11am Mill Brook Walking Tour 

2pm Getting a Living Gallery Talk

 

Sunday, 9/12:

10am Celebrate Concord Community Day

11am Incorporating Concord Gallery Talk

2pm History Learning Center Program

For a full program listing of Family Activities visit www.concordmuseum.org

Sponsors: WBUR, Gourmet Catering and Middlesex Savings Bank.

 

 

February Staycation Ideas

No plans to leave town for the Concord Schools February Vacation Week?

You’re in luck – Concord & Carlisle have so many wonderful offerings to keep your crew entertained!

The Concord Free Public Library offers free take and make crafts each week to help inspire creativity and fun for children. Sign up for February 19th session!

Tap into your inner artist! At The Umbrella, they believe that everyone is an artist. The Umbrella February Vacation Week programs give students the opportunity to discover, explore, and experiment in the arts.

Looking for fun outdoor activities for your school-aged children over February vacation week? Discover the wonders of winter at Clark Farm!

Vacation Week Cartooning Afternooning! This online February Vacation Week class is perfect for 7-12 year olds who love cartoons and drawing!

 

President Lincoln is beaming in to answer your questions! The Concord Museum is pleased to bring its popular Presidents’ Day program A Visit with President Lincoln to the virtual stage.

Check out special Black History Month program from the Concord Museum! Join the Concord Museum Forum: Sarah Johnson’s Mount Vernon with author Scott Casper.

Concord History with a Chocolate Twist Tour Dates : February 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th Tour Start Time : 1:00pm, departs Concord Visitor Center at 58 Main Street

The Concord Free Public Library is teaming up with The Nature Connection to invite children to explore plants and animals, geek out over nature, and connect with self and others in new ways – all through nature-based stories and poems!

Manga! Draft images of silly dragons, charming creatures, ghosts, and goblins. In this easy-paced online February Vacation Week class with popular Umbrella Arts teacher Alicia Herman, time travel back to ancient Japan! Learn about how the tradition of manga comics started long ago and experiment with creating our own. Sketch, blend, and overlap colors with illustrative markers.

 

Thinking of learning to play an instrument? Now is a perfect time! The IMSCC Winter-Spring session is underway and we welcome new students!

Looking to connect hands-on learning to big ideas? Students will access foundational design learning by creating their own Escape Room style lock codes. Escape room design is a fundamentally social process which taps design principles such as deduction, induction, design space, feedback loops, and more. Sign up here!

Teddy Bear Sewing Project! Sew your own huggable bear! You’ll learn how to construct and sew the bear, and design it yourself by choosing different felt muzzles, noses, belly patches, and more. You’ll learn basic hand stitching and some embroidery stitches, too.

Take a family friendly tour of Concord, spend 45 minutes to discover more about the town where we live!

The Concord Free Public Library invites children of all ages to join us on Thursday, February 18 at 11am on Zoom and talk about your favorite books. We will share a few of our favorites, and invite each child to share some of their favorites.

Trivia Night at the Concord Museum! Calling all history nerds and trivia champs! Join us for an evening of virtual trivia at the Concord Museum on Thursday, February 18!  Test your knowledge of American history, geography, and all things Concord in this friendly competition.

Check out art show at a local Three Stones Gallery. The paintings and mixed media works of Helen Canetta and Jill Goldman-Callahan transmit a dynamism and fresh perspective as we release this past year and catapult into lighter days ahead. This is the last week of the show so don’t miss it!

Interactive sing-along! The Concord Free Public Library invites kids and families to join us for an interactive sing-along with Ed Morgan, “The Music Man”, on Friday, Feb 19, 10 am on Zoom. Enjoy fun rhymes and tunes, and connect with your family through music. These family-friendly performances will have everyone up moving, dancing, and singing.

Have some fleece-y fun when you create your own one-of-a-kind fleece headband! Sign up with the Umbrella Arts for this fun class!

Family Trivia Night!

Learn about Winter Habits and Winter Movement... Animals respond and adapt to the winter by burmiating, aestivation, hibernation, migration, and embracing the snow! Learn about all the cool ways animals thrive in the winter through interactive stations, games, creative movement, investigations of art and nature, and creating original art projects for the whole family!

 

 

Movie / Game night at home – Grab a special meal from one of our many fabulous restaurants !

 

Take a hike on a local trail then grab some hot cocoa or treat from cafe / bakery!

 

Enjoy your week!

Saltbox Farm & Saltbox Kitchen – a multilayer gem right here in Concord!

SaltBox Kitchen and Farm is a true gem of Concord. It’s like one of those gifts you open and continue to find one gift wrapped inside the next…

 

That’s what we found when we went behind the scenes and learned a little more about Ben Elliott, Saltbox Farm and Saltbox Kitchen.  Each layer of the story Ben peeled back for us just highlighted more delight and inspiration.  The original story for Saltbox Farm is only the beginning.  From that foundation that has brought so much joy and culinary delight to us, sprung many astonishing chapters.

 

 

Ben Elliott, owner of Saltbox Farm and Saltbox Kitchen is a Concord native. Saltbox Farm got it’s name for the saltbox style of the main house on the farm that was built n the 1940s by Ben’s grandparents, Edward and Emilie Thomas. Ben, his wife, their children and adorable Golden Retriever now live at Saltbox Farm and have since 2004. Ben was working in a Boston restaurant as a professional chef but in 2010 decided to shift his attention to restoring and running the farm he loved so much as a child.

 

We were given a tour of the Saltbox Farm and Saltbox Kitchen, take a peak with our Behind the Scenes video

 

We love the Saltbox Team description & mission:

 

We are a passionate group of farmers, chefs, brewers, servers, and event planners, who share a dedication to honoring the land, sourcing locally and eating seasonally, and creating incredible dining experiences. From our cozy, neighborhood restaurant with its microbrewery to our cooking school and our catering company, all that we are is rooted in Saltbox Farm and its traditions of sustainable agricultural practices and seasonal cooking. We invite you to learn more about Saltbox.

 

  

 

Check out the story of how it started and how things evolved over the years on their website – here is a snippet:

 

That first spring when Ben made the transition from full time chef to full time farmer he  spent all his time outdoors, mending fences, building a chicken coop and filling it with chicks, creating a small orchard filled with apple, peach, and pear trees, and planting raspberry bushes. A close friend of the family who happened to be a “real” farmer came over to help Ben and till 1.5 acres of land. Ben ordered seeds and soon had an acre of vegetables – a lot of veggies for a small family!- so he joined a farmer’s market and began selling his produce to local restaurants. 

 

From that point, Ben was on his way to realizing his dream and building Saltbox into what it is today. He returned to cooking professionally- at Saltbox- working as a private chef and catering local events before eventually establishing Saltbox Catering. In 2015 Ben opened Saltbox Kitchen, a restaurant and microbrewery, in West Concord, as well as a cooking school at The Little House located here at the farm and began hosting events in the Little Fields overlooking the orchards.

 

During this time, the farm continued to grow and strengthen, producing fruits, vegetables, eggs, honey, lamb, and hops for the restaurant, the brewery, catering, the cooking school, and the seasonal farm stand. The farm has continued its mission, not only to follow sustainable agricultural practices, but to also be a connector in the community, an educational resource via it’s Apprenticeship Program, and the foundation for all that Saltbox’s chefs, brewers, and teachers create and share each season. 

 

 

When the pandemic hit, Saltbox Kitchen had to close for several months and most of their catering engagements came to a halt.  Ben & his team had to figure out how to pivot & shift their attention to other opportunities and safe ways to bring their delicious offerings to the community.

 

There were all the logistical brain twisters of how to create a Covid-compliant shopping experience.  Everything from plexi-glass shields, to traffic flow, to occupancy limits, to how to accept payments all had to be reconsidered and reconfigured.

 

   

 

They rearranged the store to allow customers to move through while practicing safe social distancing. The gourmet grab & go selection is incredible and hard to narrow it down to picking just one meal. The SBK (SaltBox Kitchen)  Team has been busy preparing and cooking up scrumptious  prepackaged meals,  expanded it’s offerings and now offering delivery is an option, too.

 

 

 

Did you know their Saltbox Kitchen Brewery is Concord’s only craft brewery? Their beer offerings change each season and feature hops and flavorings that are organically-grown right here in Concord on Saltbox Farm. Beer can be pre-ordered and delivered in and around Concord.

 

   

Some other new additions are Cocktail  kits (try the grape, lemon juice  & vodka – made with their own grapes!) & wine to go. They recently just added delivery to offerings surrounding towns so tell your friends in neighboring towns. The assortment of specialty packaged foods has expanded as well  – be sure to pop by the shop to take a look at the selection.

 

 

A small farm stand shop is located in the shop now, too. In the summer and fall, you would have seen a table piled high with a colorful gorgeous selection of fresh vegetables from Salt Box Farm which is just a few miles away from the shop.

 

  

 

We know one of the greatest joys of this holiday season is exploring our local treasures to find the perfect gift for loved ones and dearest friends. While the current climate is not conducive to such leisurely exploits, happily for us,   SaltBox Kitchen has you covered. This beloved local favorite has a bevvy of options for all kinds of gift giving. Choose one of their lovingly curated theme gift baskets or place an order for a luscious handcrafted meal (available for pick-up or delivery). For those who miss the pleasure of in-person shopping, this beautiful light & airy space, filled with the most wonderful treats (adhering to the most recent stringent health guidelines)  gives plenty of space to peruse all their wonderful offerings

 

Take a look at some of the Saltbox Kitchen Gift Baskets – the descriptions are guaranteed to make your mouth water!

 

 

Their Christmas Menu will surely lure Santa to your home and may never want to leave! Whether you are looking for festive appetizers or entrees or sides, Saltbox will make your holiday feel like a feast.

 

 

There is something about Saltbox that is very special. The love and attention Ben and his team bring to everything they grow, make and create makes us feel so lucky  have SaltBox right here in Concord. SaltBox Kitchen is the perfect marriage of small New England town charm with big city sophistication.

 

 

Fuel up for a day of window shopping with one of their too-die-for egg sandwiches and grab some gifts for neighbors and girlfriends while in the shop. Pop by their shop and visit their website or shop today!

 

 

Saltbox Kitchen is currently open Wednesdays – Saturdays from 9am – 6pm. Stop in to pick up fresh veggies, eggs, honey and more from our Saltbox Farm “farm stand”, prepared meals, sides, soups, and salads, and Saltbox Brewery beer, bottles of wine, tea and coffee. We also offer a lunch take out menu from 11am-2pm and Catering To-Go which is perfect for gatherings of 10 or more.

Must see: Concord Scarecrow Festival on Concord Main Library Lawn

Where can you spot a variety of fun & creative scarecrows made by local organizations and businesses?

Come to a Scarecrow Festival!

On display on the Concord Main Library’s Lawn every day

Sat Oct 17 – Fri Oct 30, 2020

Open Table’s scarecrows are a cheerful welcome to side entrance to Library…

 

The Louisa May Alcott Orchard House’s Scarecrow looks almost life-like…

 

 

Saltbox Farm / Saltbox Kitchen farmer scarecrow reminds us of all the fabulous Farms in Concord and the delicious farm to table options offered at Saltbox Kitchen.

 

 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and no scarecrow festival is complete without a pilgrim

 

 

Visit the cute SCAREBEAR that the new Concord Toy Box @ Revolutionary Concord / Albright Art has created. And visit their shop!

 

 

Feeling musical? Visit the Concord Conservatory of Music scarecrow (and their website to learn about offerings)

 

 

Concord Recreation’s Scarecrow is more smiley than scarey…

 

 

And leave it to the Beede Center to come up with clever way to use pool noodles for their scarecrow…

 

 

The Barn Cooperative Nursery School has these adorable scarecrow children

 

 

The Visitor’s Office has a cute reminder to mask up when visiting town.  

 

 

 

The Wild Things Scarecrow on display at the front of the lawn reminds us that “We’ll Kick This”

 

 

Bonus: While there, you’ll see an abundance of gorgeous fall foliage….

 

 

and also some info about many of the Concord Library’s offerings.

 

 

Grab hot cocoa or sandwiches in town and sit in the cafe tables on library lawn while you enjoy the view.

 

 

Visit some local farms to get some hay bales and visit this website so you can start making your own scarecrows for your lawn.

 

Share your photos with us!

 

   

        

Day Trip (Or Night): Date Night Out of the Town

Venture out for a Night OUT of Town….

Two great spots for a date  night (or family night or night with a friend):

 

LookOut Farm , 89 Pleasant Street, South Natick

You may know about LookOut Farm from apple picking but you’ll gain a whole new appreciation for this beautiful spot once you have enjoyed an outdoor  dining experience on their 180 scenic acre farm. The spaciously distanced picnic tables are sanitized between use and orders are placed via customer smart phone/device. Try some Lookout Farm beers, hard ciders and New England cuisine while taking in the surrounding farm views and fresh air. After or before your meal, take a walk along the paths through the fruit orchard which are open until 8pm.

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 12noon until 8:30pm

Last Seating is at 7:30pm, kitchen and drink orders must be placed by 8pm.

– Masks/face coverings are required while walking in common areas.

-Family friendly, children welcome, high chairs available.

– Sorry, no dogs allowed.

– Reservations recommended but Walk-ins are welcome.

– If you want to request a table under the tent or with an umbrella, please note that in your reservation. It’s first come first serve but they will do their best to accommodate your request.

Date Night at deCordova, 52 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln

Spend an evening with someone special at deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park.  Enjoy a private picnic throughout the sculpture park or select a candlelit table on the sculpture terrace.  Listen to live music, wander the sculpture park and relax in the beautiful surroundings.

Picnics include:

  • Sit at a candlelit table with a gorgeous view of Flint Pond and the sculpture park. Or bring your own picnic blanket and set off to explore the lantern-lit park
  • Catered picnic basket with meal of your choice and a bottle of wine
  • Live music

Please remember to bring a picnic blanket and insect protection.  Registrations must be completed the Tuesday before the event in order to confirm your meal selection.

For any questions please reach out to sbuyer@thetrustees.org

 

Concord & Carlisle is brimming with Fantastic Farms & Farmstands

Concord & Carlisle is full of farms, farm stands and  nurseries. We’re so lucky to have such an abundance of local growers and suppliers, all within our town borders. 

“Concord has been an agricultural community for centuries, and agriculture remains a
central piece of Concord’s identity and economy even today. With 1004 acres in active
agricultural production, some 16 farm businesses and 11 farm stands, Concord stands out
among the suburbs of Boston as a place that is friendly to agriculture. Many residents
enjoy the sight of open spaces in active agricultural production, and they enjoy eating the
bounty of the harvest from these working lands.” Agriculture Committee Long Range Plan Submission 

Be sure to visit these local gems and stock up on vegetables and items for your garden. Nothing tastes better than locally grown food and nothing feels better than supporting these local farmers.

Barrett’s Mill Farm, 449 Barretts Mill Road

Barrett’s Mill Farm is a Certified Organic vegetable farm located on the McGrath Farmstead in Concord, Massachusetts. They sell their vegetables through our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Barrett’s Bucks programs, as well as through their Farmstand.

 

  

Brigham Farm Stand & Greenhouses, Concord, MA, 82 Fitchburg Turnpike, Concord

Brigham Farm is a small family farm and greenhouse business located on one of the oldest farms in Concord Massachusetts. We hire for the summer and fall seasons. We hire 6 to 10 full or part-time workers each year.  Working at Brigham Farm for many young people is their first real job!

Starting in late June, come to Brigham Farm Stand for fresh vegetables, fruits, berries, and cold drinks.  Strawberries in June. Corn all summer. Pumpkins in fall. We also sell Christmas trees and wreaths starting on November 30th. 

Come and stop by! Our summer corn is well known for being the sweetest around. 

Clark Farm 201 Bedford Road, Carlisle

Clark Farm produces certified organic vegetables and berries for its CSA community, farm stand and local farm-to-table restaurant.

In addition to vegetables, Clark Farm raises lamb, goats, pastured pork and laying hens.

The farm’s name honors the family who served as its stewards before Marjie Findlay and Geoff Freeman bought the property in 2010 with the intention of restoring the farm as an agricultural institution in the community – a place where families can connect with their food and farmer.

Colonial Gardens, 442 Fitchburg Turnpike

Colonial Gardens has been florists in the Concord area for more than 40 years. Family owned and operated, we are also greenhouse growers and operate a garden center year round. We grow the majority of the plants we sell, and seasonally grow cut flowers in our greenhouses for our florist shop as well!

Colonial Gardens Florist And Greenhouses has been hand-delivering premium floral arrangements and gift baskets to help strengthen relationships, give love and support, and celebrate life’s special moments since 1962. From birthdays to anniversaries to commemorating a loved one, and every little “just because” moment in between.

 

The Farm At Walden Woods

The Farm at Walden Woods is a USDA certified organic vegetable farm. Through growing and selling a range of produce like squash, eggplant, pumpkins, tomatoes and corn, the Walden Woods Project is able to use all proceeds to directly support the Farm at Walden Woods and also fund the Project’s efforts to protect more land within historic Walden Woods.

Gaining Ground, 341 Virginia Road, Concord

Gaining Ground, a nonprofit organic farm in Concord, Massachusetts, grows vegetables and fruit with the help of several thousand community volunteers and donates all of this fresh food to area meal programs and food pantries.

Gaining Ground grows organic produce for hunger relief with help from volunteers of all ages and abilities, who work and learn in our fields. In short, we grow food and we give it away to people who need it. For free. This refreshingly simple approach lets us focus on meeting the needs of our volunteers and the people we help feed. These two aspects of our work are closely intertwined—one wouldn’t work without the other.

We work hard to grow high-quality produce, provide an exceptional experience to each volunteer, serve the needs of our recipients and maximize the generous support of our donors.

Hutchins Farm, 754 Monument Street, Concord

Hutchins Farm is one of the oldest and largest certified organic vegetable and fruit operations in Massachusetts. Organic since 1973, every season Hutchins actively cultivates over 35 acres of vegetables, about an acre of small fruit, and 8 acres of apples. We sell our produce directly to consumers at our farm stand in Concord, MA, and at three weekly farmers’ markets, with a small amount of sales to local restaurants. Our farmstand is located right on the main farm and is open seasonally June – October. 

The main farm is 63 acres, and about half of the fields can be viewed from our farmstand. Unless otherwise noted, all of the produce in the farm stand is Certified Organic and grown here at Hutchins farm. Owned and operated by the same family since 1895, Hutchins Farm has evolved over the years. 

Marhsall Farm, 171 Harrington Ave., Concord

Marshall Farm is a 3rd-generation family farm that sells firewood year round along with our own chicken eggs! Annuals and perennials in the spring! Farm fresh vegetables and cut flowers in the late spring to early fall, specializing in tomatoes. Pumpkins in the fall and Christmas trees and wreaths for the holidays.

Kids of all ages are welcome to stop by and meet and feed our goats, chickens and bunny!

Millbrook Farm, 215 Cambridge Turnpike

Family run nursery and farmstand

 

 

Rotundo Farm, 737 Bedford Street, Concord

Seasonal farmstand offering fruits & vegetable

Frank Rotundo runs this Family farm that has been in operation since the 1920s.

 

Saltbox Farm 40 Westford Rd., Concord

Saltbox Farm is a family farm, where our farmers are dedicated to continue pursuits of regenerative agricultural practices ensuring survival and sustainability of this land, while still remaining an intricate part of the surrounding community. 

We believe that the best quality produce comes from the best quality soil, and for that we spend all season building up the structure and nutrients using techniques like cover cropping, crop rotation, and compost and bio-nutrient density applications.

Our focus is on growing for our public Farm Stand out of our barn, our farm-to-table restaurant – Saltbox Kitchen, our Catering by Saltbox, Cooking School on the farm, Brewery, and all the Community Events on the farm throughout the season! 

Scimone Farm, 505 Old Bedford Road

Scimone’s Farm is run by Scimone Family.

The Frank Scimone Farm has been in business for 80 years. Father Frank Scimone began farming in Concord in 1923 and was married to Grace Josephine Scimone and had four children Domenica, Tony, Angelina, and Frank. Scimone’s Farm, established in 1923, is a family run farm that produces great corn and a variety of produce. They sell their products at their farm stand in Concord.

Silferleaf, 460 Strawberry Hill Road 

PYO certified organic raspberries, open daily from September 1 through October 21.

Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Road, Concord

To nourish the body and soul of our customers by providing healthful food of superb flavor in surroundings of beauty. Through the use of sound and efficient farming practices, we strive to maintain our land and animals in good health, and provide a good living for our employees and a reasonable return to the owners.

Explore the many wonderful farms and farm stands in Concord & Carlisle!