Part art studio, part working farm, Old Frog Pond Farm and Studio is one of the only certified organic orchards in the state of Massachusetts. It is located on 30 acres of land abutting the Delaney Wildlife Management Area in Harvard, MA. 15 of those acres are historic orchards, while the remainder of the property includes a pond, brook, and a farmhouse dating back to 1800.
In 2001, Linda Hoffman moved to the historic farm to find brambles and poison ivy choking out the dying trees. Determined to restore the orchard to its former glory, Hoffman revived the orchards and berry patches using natural methods and organic nourishment. She was soon joined by her husband — farmer, counselor, and woodworker Blase Provitola — who began the farm’s vegetable garden. Farm manager Kevin Smith helps tend the orchards.
Old Frog Pond Studio integrates art into the natural and agricultural experience. The farm hosts sculpture installations, en plein air poetry sessions, and meditation sittings. The studio has also published a suite of poetry collections. In 2021, Hoffman published The Artist and The Orchard: A Memoir.
In addition to art walks and events, the farm welcomes visitors for CSA programs, pick your raspberries, and pick your own apples. Their focus on community and regenerative farming practices encourages a connection to the land that goes back more than 200 years.
Photo: oldfrogpondfarm.com
Sources: oldfrogpondfarm.com, edibleboston.com, redfin.com