Agriculture

The preservation of agricultural landscapes has been a core tenet of our work, resulting in the protection of over 12,000 acres of farmland and community gardens throughout the Commonwealth since our founding. Most of these acres are now farmed as part of the broader agricultural community, supporting the local agrarian economy and landscape in perpetuity. Those that remain in the hands of The Trustees are actively farmed with an agroecological approach. These farms provide food for local communities and engagement opportunities so the public can learn with us about the best emerging climate-smart practices. The vibrancy of these farm and community garden operations, and their capacity to mobilize our mission, is inspiring The Trustees’ agricultural aspirations as never before.

The Trustees is committed to farming in ways that produce high quality food locally while preserving biodiversity and native species habitat, mitigating climate change, building healthy soils, and ensuring that our farmland is even healthier for the next generations. Across more than 2,500 acres of farmland, we use site-specific, regenerative farming practices to enhance organic matter, soil fertility, forage quality, and annual crop yields. We employ thoughtful grazing practices that help reduce habitat disruption as well as maximize our landscapes’ carbon sequestration potential. Our methods draw on time-honored land stewardship techniques as well as innovative, modern technology, an approach that sets an example in certified organic vegetable and grass-based livestock production.

Across the Commonwealth, our farms also provide a platform for public engagement. Each year, tens of thousands of visitors journey to Trustees farms, participate in CSA membership, shop our farm stores, and engage in culinary programing featuring Trustees-Grown ingredients. We aim to make our farms accessible and interactive, deepen visitors’ understanding of regenerative and organic farming, and search for new ways to connect folks with food and farming. Our community gardens are sources of neighborhood pride that turn neighbors into friends, strengthen family bonds and traditions, and inspire joy in the shared work of growing fresh, healthy, and delicious food.