Waltham Farm Day Combines Local Farming and Fun

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Waltham Fields Community Farm has seen an increased interest in local foods over the 21 years they’ve been growing crops. The farm strives to distribute at least 20 percent of all the produce they grow to a variety of food assistance programs, and is the host of the annual Waltham Farm Day.

Waltham Farm Day takes place on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 2-6 p.m. at Waltham Fields Community Farm, 240 Beaver St.

The event includes tractor climbing, face painting, recipe tasting, arts and crafts, a visit with the chickens, live music by Royer’s One Man Band, but most importantly, a chance to learn about and visit Waltham Fields Community Farm.

“People appreciate the fact that our vegetables were grown using organic methods, and have been grown nearby and harvested only days ago,” said Marla Rhodes, development and volunteer coordinator at Waltham Fields. “Our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm share program regularly sells out shares (500 this season) to households who come once a week throughout the season to pick up seasonal, fresh vegetables and to participate in some pick-your-own crops. This is especially popular with families with young children and we often hear from parents that they appreciate having their children see how food is grown. We offer many children’s educational programs which all feature farm-to-table activities, as well.”

Rhodes says the farm is happy to serve as a reminder to Waltham, a city with an illustrious industrial heritage, that it also has an interesting agricultural history. Waltham Butternut Squash and Waltham Broccoli are two varieties developed right on the grounds of the farm and still used widely today.

“We are a non-profit community farm with a mission to serve all community members, and we do that with events such as our free, family-friendly Farm Day,” said Rhodes. “We also make our produce available to others with limited means through a variety of programs (our weekly Outreach Market, distributions to local food banks, half-price CSA shares, and the Vegetable of the Month program through the Waltham public school system are some examples). We hope that Farm Day will bring people to the farm to connect to the land and to open space; this is their community farm, also.”

Farm Day goers note: Waltham’s Tick Tock Trolley operates on a free loop between Waltham Center and Waltham Fields throughout the afternoon, so residents are able to park downtown and take the trolley to the event.