In the years after his 1980 retirement, Major General George S. Patton IV and his wife, Joanne Holbrook Patton, turned an estate owned by Patton's father, General George S. Patton, Jr., into Green Meadows Farm, once the longest running organic farm in the region. Over several decades, Greenbelt has worked with the Patton family to conserve their land in Hamilton and Topsfield, culminating in the purchase of the former Green Meadows Farm and Vineyard Hill in 2019. After a year-long process, Greenbelt selected Iron Ox Farm as the recipient of a 99-year lease on the farm. Greenbelt staff and farmers Alex Cecchinelli and Stacey Apple will be on hand to describe that process and this model of affordable farmland conservation, and see how it's going in real time. We will also have the opportunity to visit adjacent Vineyard Hill Reservation, and a viewing platform on the Ipswich River. We will round out the day with a special tour of the Patton Archives, housed in the adjacent Patton Homestead, led by staff of the Wenham Museum.
Terrain:
Mostly level ground, some mild to moderate inclines of short duration. Walking on trails for 1 - 1.5 miles. Wide farm and woods roads, some roots and rocks. Bathrooms available.
Registration for this field trip will close at noon, April 25 - or earlier if filled - to give the host enough time to distribute directions and other information.
In case of inclement weather, the walk may be canceled or rescheduled at the discretion of the host. Your host will contact registrants with detailed directions (including parking) and in case of weather-related changes.
Due to limited capacity, if you are not able to attend after you register for the walk, please contact admin@massland.org a.s.a.p. so we can open your spot for someone else.