Bird Enthusiasts
With its wide variety of habitats and lying along the eastern coastal migration corridor, Appleton sees nearly 300 species of birds annually, with nearly 150 recorded in May alone! Our pastures are managed to support the mating season of ground-nesting Bobolinks and Meadowlarks, mid-May to early September. Bird boxes along the farm roads hold nests of Eastern Bluebirds and Tree swallows in spring and summer. Red-Winged Blackbirds, Glossy Ibis, and herons are among our many wetland visitors, while raptors patrol the skies all over; there’s no shortage of habitats to explore! Staff recommends viewing the Bobolinks from Broad Meadow and the Great Pasture, trekking toward Williams Field for a wide variety of swallows, swifts, perching birds, and maybe even the elusive Sora! Hike the Plains Loop year-round to see who’s calling Appleton home.
Farm & Foodies Afternoon
Take the crop field trail and walk through the vegetable fields from the barnyard to the Farm Store. Along the way, read about the work we are doing in regenerative farming, see what’s growing in our high tunnels and take in the views of the organic crops that surround these trails. This walk ends at historic Jimmy’s Barn, home to our CSA operation and the Farm Store. This is the perfect place to stock up on Appleton grown ingredients, homemade baked goods right from our very own kitchen and locally produced treats to enjoy after finding a scenic spot on property to picnic! Picnic tables are located at the Farm Store, the Stone Paddock and the Farmhouse- or feel free to find your favorite grassy spot to spread out a blanket and pass the day.
History Buffs
Visit our historic Farmhouse for a glimpse into Appleton’s past. Historic photo albums, family portraits, and a variety of agricultural books are located in the library, and an 18th century Parlor retains the family’s original décor. Take a short stroll past the paddocks lined with stone walls built in the 1680’s. This leads you to the to the Carriage Barn, originally home to the Appleton’s horses. The barn is open for visitors to view the 19th century architecture, cobblestone floors, bead board walls and a restored pony carriage given to Jimmy Appleton in 1906. Looking to venture further? Hike over the Railroad bridge to all 4 historic Pinnacles brought here in 1912 from Harvard University’s Gore Hall. Pinnacles are marked on the trail map as triangles and honor various members of the Appleton family.
Child’s Play
At Appleton, our goal is to foster the next generation of nature lovers and conservationists through immersive and hands-on experiences. The garden is an opportunity to see all stages of plant growth up close, explore, smell and taste what’s growing. We encourage a close relationship with the earth, so get your hands dirty and dig in the mud-kitchen and check out the little library for scavenger hunts, activities and magnifying glasses to explore plants, bugs and soil. Here you can also observe the goats, bunnies and chickens that call the barnyard home. Walk through our historic barn, see where the animals sleep or cozy up in the play corner to read a book, build with sticks or enjoy the play market. Our wide-open paddocks are the perfect spot for kids to run, play tag and soak in all of the activity taking place on our working farm. Keep an eye out for tractors!
Dog Lovers
While not permitted on the farmstead side of property, we welcome dogs to our 259-acre section of Appleton Farms known as the Grass Rides. Originally created as horse and carriage paths for the Appleton’s, the trails are now beloved by hikers and dogs alike. This wooded area is accessible from the Highland Street parking lot. Please read the advisory section for more information regarding dogs at Appleton.
Get Involved!
Appleton Farms relies on a wide network of Volunteers to help us accomplish our mission, from education assistants, to trail cleanup, to livestock volunteers, there is something for everyone. Check out our current opportunities here. Appleton Farms also welcomes school, corporate and social groups to work on various types of projects across the farm. We offer curated opportunities and are so appreciative of the time and talent of the people that volunteer. Learn more about community groups corporate volunteer days here.