While Stonewall Farm has existed as a nonprofit 120-acre educational center for 20 years, its agricultural roots as a working farm reach back over 250 years to 1759. Successive families managed the fields, pastures, and woodlots through the Chase family, who owned and ran Stonewall Farm during most of the 20th century. They steadily grew a dairy presence which delivered fresh milk throughout Keene and nearby towns. In 1994, the Chase family transferred ownership to Michael Kidder, who in turn partnered with other Keene community members to formally charter and secure all of the Stonewall Farm property under the current nonprofit agritourism organization. Today, you can find certified organic dairy and crops for sale at their retail store.
By Helen Brody (October 23, 2013)
While Stonewall Farm, as a nonprofit 120 acre educational center has existed for 20 years, its agricultural roots as a working farm reach back over 250 years to 1759. Successive families managed the fields, pastures, and woodlots through the Chase family, who owned and ran Stonewall Farm during most of the 20th century. They steadily grew a dairy presence which delivered fresh milk throughout Keene and nearby towns. In 1994, the Chase family transferred ownership to Michael Kidder who in turn partnered with other Keene community members to formally charter and secure all of the Stonewall Farm property under the current nonprofit organization.
The farm operates a 30 head certified organic dairy and a 3-acre year-round community supported agriculture (CSA) garden that includes a three green houses, a farm store and a sugar house. There are two animal paddocks which hold alpacas, Dorset sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats, and two breeds of chickens. Stonewall Farm takes advantage of current technology by maintaining a micro-pasteurizer to make yogurt, a hydroponic barley fodder system to grow feed for cows, and a Cool-bot walk in cooler to keep produce and dairy products cool.
Although Stonewall Farm treasures its core identity as an active working dairy farm and a year-round CSA, it also recognizes a unique non-profit position as an event and recreational venue in the Monadnock region. Belgian draft horses pull sleigh and hay rides. Over four miles of biking, hiking, and horseback riding paths connect to the Cheshire Rail Trail and a broader network of pathways in Cheshire County. In the winter time, trails are open to cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
As a site for events, they host workshops, wedding ceremonies, and receptions each year in their timber-framed Community Room which can accommodate up to 150 people.
Located within an hour of Concord and Manchester, and 2 hours from Boston, the dairy farm and Learning Center is the only working dairy farm and education center in the region and draws 20,000 visitors per year. Attendance is free and the site is open seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Stonewall Farm 242 Chesterfield Rd Keene, NH03431 Farm Manager: Glenn Yardley Farm Contact: Joshua Cline (603) 357-7278
Sales outlets Direct from the farm:
Farm Store: farm’s own year around produce and products and from neighboring farms.
Wholesale to: Monadnock Co-op, Keene, NH Hannah Grimes Marketplace, Keene, NH
Walpole Mountain View Winery, Walpole, NH
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