The Walden Woods Project Farm, in its current iteration, was founded in 2007 to protect a patch of farmland in a highly visible landscape off of Massachusetts Route 2 in Concord. The farmland has been in continuous agricultural production since 1928.

Walden Woods was largely known to have infertile soil, which is why it is thought to have attracted outcasts: first a settlement of Black Americans, then the writer, environmentalist, and social reformer Henry David Thoreau. However, this 8-acre patch of land near the Sudbury River proved fruitful and became an agricultural fixture in the community.

The Walden Woods Project is a non-profit organization that aims “to preserve the land, literature, and legacy of Thoreau to foster an ethic of environmental stewardship and social responsibility.” The organization purchased the farm in order to save it from development and conserve the historical and ecological lands that it borders. The Walden Woods Project Farm abuts 50 acres of land owned and managed by The Walden Woods Project, as well as 340 acres of conservation land at Fairhaven Hill.

Farmers Dan Schmid and Robert Friberg maintain The Walden Woods Project Farm’s agricultural legacy by growing and selling certified organic vegetables and preserving the rural and scenic character of the town of Concord. They offer a CSA program as well as a farm stand located on Route 2 near the intersection of Sudbury Road in Concord. Their produce can also be found at local markets and restaurants.

Photo courtesy of The Walden Woods Project

Sources: walden.org, nrdc.org