New Entry Sustainable Farming Project will open its training farms to the public during the Open Farms Tour on Thursday, August 6th, beginning at 5:15 PM - Rain or Shine! The training farms are located in Dracut, MA. Please wear sturdy walking shoes or boots and dress for the weather.
New Entry provides hands on training and technical assistance to a multi-cultural beginning farmer audience, including immigrants and refugees, as they do their part to help sustain local agricultural systems, and provide fresh, locally-produced crops to surrounding communities.
New Entry's farmers attend a six-week, 18+hr classroom training and associated field trips in which they learn about enterprise budgets, market opportunities, farm resources and the inherent risks and risk management strategies associated with farming. They then continue on to participate in a 12-session series of hands-on, field-based practical skills workshops throughout the growing season to learn new skills. Individuals receive many hours of technical assistance and consultation. All farmers develop detailed farm business enterprise plans which they implement in the field.
Join the farm tour and speak with project staff and farmers to learn about our beginning farmer training programs, our farmland preservation efforts, and farm employment resources. Meet and network with other project supporters who believe in our mission. All ages are welcome!
This event is free and open to all New Entry friends and supporters. Please RSVP to [email protected]. Donations are always welcome to support and expand our work. To learn more about New Entry, visit our website: www.nesfp.org
Directions
The New Entry Open Farms Tour will begin at RICHARDSON'S DAIRY, Dracut, MA:
1471 Bridge Street (Rte 38), Dracut, MA 01826
FROM BOSTON OR EAST: Route 93: Take Rt. 93 North to exit 46, Rt. 110/113 Methuen/Dracut. At the exit, circle the rotary and follow Rte 113 WEST to Dracut. Follow Rte 113 West approximately 7 miles (continue past Dracut fire station and past a shopping area with Post Office and hardware store). At next stoplight past shopping area - turn right onto Arlington Street. Go about 3/4 mile to another light which is Bridge Street. Turn Right onto Bridge Street and the Dairy is ½ mile down the street on your left.
FROM WEST and SOUTH: Take 495 to the Lowell Connector, drive to the end of the Connector (Exit 5C). Turn left onto Gorham Street and continue north to a split, bearing right towards Bridge Street. Cross the bridge. After approximately 2 miles, you will see the Market Basket plaza on your right, keep going straight to the stoplight at Rte. 113. Continue straight on Bridge Street and the Dairy is ½ mile down the street on your left.
FROM LOWELL: Get onto Bridge Street from downtown towards Dracut. After approximately 2 miles, you will see the Market Basket plaza on your right, keep going straight to the stoplight at Rte. 113. Continue straight on Bridge Street and the Dairy is ½ mile down the street on your left.
PARKING: At the Dairy, please park behind the ice cream stand in the parking area in next to the hoophouse. Please carpool if possible, parking is limited and we want to keep adequate parking for the Dairy customers.