Natick Community Organic Farm Begins Barn Rebuild After 2021 Fire

NATICK, MA — Two years after a fire destroyed Natick Community Organic Farm's 200-year-old barn and killed more than a dozen animals, the farm is finally starting to see the beginning stages of a barn rebuild.

Through a GoFundMe and other fundraising means, farm officials said they raised $1.1 million toward the raising of a new barn in 2022. On Monday, the timber for the new barn was delivered to the Natick farm. On Tuesday, the rebuild began.

The pieces are set to be constructed this week, farm officials said, even inviting the public to come to view the process on Tuesday.

It's been a long road for the farm, which has included countless donations from people both close to the farm and others.

The fire broke out in the early morning of July 17, 2021. By that afternoon the farm had raised nearly $100,000 in donations.

But it wasn't until a year later that the far cleared the $1.1 million mark, giving them enough money to pay for the full rebuild.

"This has been a true community effort, with our first gift given by twin 6-year-olds, and our last donation given by the family of 1-year-old Skyler, a joyful participant in this summer’s toddler program," farm officials said in July 2022.

"We appreciate the generosity of individuals, families, small and large businesses. The Farm Staff and Board are humbled by the community support and are excited to get the barn build underway."

With the pieces finally being put into place, the next 200 years of the Natick Community Organic Farm will hopefully include a new barn.