The Friends of the Olmsted Landscape at Moraine Farm invite the public to a campus-wide Open House at 719 Cabot Street, Beverly on Saturday, October 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will showcase the non-profit organizations that share this distinctive North Shore property. Free tours, lectures, snacks and activities throughout the campus will welcome visitors who can also learn more about the history and future plans for Moraine Farm, as well as the specific work carried out by the participating organizations.
Moraine Farm is a 170-acre tract of permanently protected conservation land along the shores of Wenham Lake. The landscape at Moraine Farm was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in the 1880s and remains little changed from the original Olmsted design. The grounds of Moraine Farm include meadows, woodlands and formal gardens as well as farmland. Visitors who walk the carriage roads are rewarded with sweeping vistas of Wenham Lake, acres of open meadows, and woodlands studded with mature rhododendron and azaleas.
Today, Moraine Farm is home to three non-profits organizations, Cape Ann Waldorf School, Project Adventure and The Trustees of Reservations. Three other non-profit organizations that share a stewardship interest in property are Essex County Greenbelt, which monitors the conservation restriction on the property, the Friends of the Olmsted Landscape and the Batchelder Trust. All six organizations will offer attendees an opportunity to learn more about their respective missions and unique roles within the Moraine Farm property.
The Batchelder Trust, will have a presence in the historic 1907 Peabody and Stearns designed Red Barn. Friends of the Olmsted Landscape at Moraine Farm will offer presentations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. given by National Park interpreter Alan Banks, on the Olmsted influence and design of Moraine Farm in the Red Barn.
Essex County Greenbelt, the region’s premier member-supported, non-profit land trust, will be on hand in the Red Barn, describing its stewardship role within Moraine Farm and educating the attendees on Greenbelt’s success in conserving over 14,000 acres of local land since 1961.
Celebrating its 25th year, Cape Ann Waldorf School currently serves 130 children enrolled in Nursery, Kindergarten and Grades 1-8, as well as Parent and Child classes. As a member of the worldwide Waldorf education movement, the school offers a multi-sensory, experiential and developmentally-appropriate learning approach integrating rigorous academics with the arts, music, movement and foreign language. During the Open House, a wide range of activities will be offered for visitors of all ages, including bread-making, strings music performances, a chemistry demonstration, circus arts and tours of their new home.
Project Adventure will be opening its International Headquarters for visitors to check out the innovative programming and trainings they have been delivering for the past 40 years. This will include an opportunity to tour PA’s world class Challenge Course, which features elements unique to both Project Adventure and developed here on Moraine Farm. PA’s headquarters is housed in the former main house, and there will be opportunities to explore and picnic on the Olmsted designed grounds (including the garden and the historic tea house).
The Trustees of Reservations protect more than 100 special places across Massachusetts. The Trustees will offer tours of its working farm and new Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA) operation. Growing in popularity around the nation with demand significantly outpacing supply, CSAs offer community members the opportunity to buy fresh, local, seasonal food directly from a farmer by purchasing a ‘share’ in the farm. A mini farm stand will be open and selling fresh fall vegetables to all visitors.
Dom’s Trattoria will be on site selling their signature Italian food, made with ingredients right from the farm.
Mimi Batchelder-Brown, voted 2011 Conservationist of the Year by the Trustees of Reservations, shared that ‘this is a wonderful opportunity for all of us at Moraine Farm to share this extraordinary place with our neighbors, friends and communities. We look forward to seeing you on October 1st – rain or shine!”
Sidebar: If you go:
Event Details: Saturday, October 1, 2011 10 a.m. ‘ 3 p.m.
Moraine Farm, 719 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA
Tour and activities schedule ‘
11:00 A.M. ‘ Friends of the Olmsted Landscape at Moraine Farm – Red Barn
Cape Ann Waldorf School
12 Noon – Project Adventure tour
The Trustees of Reservations CSA tour
1:00 P.M. ‘ Friends of the Olmsted Landscape at Moraine Farm ‘ Red Barn
Cape Ann Waldorf School
2:00 P.M. ‘ Project Adventure tour
The Trustees of Reservations CSA tour