Orchard and Garden
Our orchard and garden are integral parts of our community, providing sustenance and fostering a deep connection to the land.
We consider work on the land and in the kitchen to be crafts in their own right, reflecting our dedication to traditional practices and the intention involved in growing and preparing food.
“The garden, orchard and vineyard are laboratories for observation of ourselves and of the natural world we rely on for sustenance. Tucking a seed into rich earth, pruning a limb, or plucking a sun-warmed bunch of grapes is an opportunity to remember oneself. Each act can connect us to the vitality of the earth, if we are willing to engage deeply with the task.”
— Gardener’s Statement from the Folk Art Guild
Community Garden
We have produced food for over fifty years on our farm in Middlesex. Today, vegetables, herbs and flowers are grown for use in our kitchen on a daily basis and for special events and retreats hosted by the Guild.
We grow food using organic, sustainable and regenerative agriculture principles and practices. These include active soil health management (for example, applying composts and mulches), utilizing strategic pest and weed management approaches without the use of conventional insecticides and herbicides, crop rotation and reduced tillage.
The vegetable gardens have been carefully managed for decades by Michael Hunter. He is newly sharing this role with Cordelia Machanoff, who has been his garden apprentice since her childhood at the Guild in the 1990s.
The Orchard & Vineyard
In the two orchards on East Hill Farm, we use sustainable practices to grow a wide variety of apples, peaches, and plums, along with a few other specialty tree crops. David Barnet has cared the orchard for over forty years and offers seasonal workshops in tree fruit management such as pruning and grafting.
Our vineyard and arbor contain Concord and Delaware grapes, which are harvested for fresh eating and sale at our events.
Folk Art Guild Orchard and Vineyard produce is shared at select events at East Hill farm, including our Annual Craft Weekend and our Apple Fest and Open House. Tree fruit is seasonally available for Pick-Your-Own sales, please inquire at info@folkartguild.org.
