Farming in Farming in Franklin:Franklin:Then and NowThen and NowHost: Alan EarlsHost: Alan Earls

Presenters: Seth Rousseau, AkinBak FarmPresenters: Seth Rousseau, AkinBak Farm

Nick Hoffman, Hoffman FarmNick Hoffman, Hoffman Farm

Pre ColumbianPre Columbian

Climate and soil Climate and soil good for agriculture good for agriculture in many areas of in many areas of New EnglandNew England

Slash & Burn Slash & Burn Three Sisters (corn), Three Sisters (corn),

beans, and squash)beans, and squash)

European SettlementEuropean Settlement

Puritan and Pilgrim Puritan and Pilgrim groups practiced both groups practiced both subsistence agriculture subsistence agriculture (feeding immediate (feeding immediate group) and agriculture group) and agriculture for tradingfor trading

Most “moveable” Most “moveable” agricultural product was agricultural product was livestocklivestock

Settlement of interior Settlement of interior often centered on natural often centered on natural meadows near rivers meadows near rivers which provided pastureswhich provided pastures

Early Farming in FranklinEarly Farming in Franklin

Most people farmed at least part of the Most people farmed at least part of the timetime

Farmers often had other businesses, Farmers often had other businesses, such as milling or running a saw millsuch as milling or running a saw mill

Mostly subsistence farming with a few Mostly subsistence farming with a few people “doing well”people “doing well”

Livestock for export and mix of cropsLivestock for export and mix of crops

1919thth Century Franklin Century Franklin

Better roads and Better roads and railroads opened railroads opened new marketsnew markets

Development of Development of industry gave industry gave families new families new economic opportunityeconomic opportunity

……and new local and new local market for farmersmarket for farmers

Crops varied widelyCrops varied widely--Some new specialties --Some new specialties

such as cranberries such as cranberries (in 1860s Franklin (in 1860s Franklin was one of the top was one of the top growers)growers)

Late 19Late 19thth-early 20-early 20thth centurycentury Dairy FarmingDairy Farming

Many dairies in region Many dairies in region supplied Boston market supplied Boston market with daily milk trainswith daily milk trains

More business but large More business but large Boston dairies could Boston dairies could dictate pricesdictate prices

Poultry: Across New Poultry: Across New England, many local England, many local producersproducers

““Famous” locals include Famous” locals include Palmer family – the Palmer family – the Palmer Red ChickenPalmer Red Chicken

-- (later donated land for -- (later donated land for Parmenter School in Parmenter School in honor of son killed in honor of son killed in WW2WW2

Garelick FarmGarelick Farm

Garelick family took over small farm and Garelick family took over small farm and built large piggery and prosperous dairybuilt large piggery and prosperous dairy

SuburbanizationSuburbanization

Pop. GrowthPop. Growth Land Price SpiralLand Price Spiral Rising TaxesRising Taxes Growing Competition Growing Competition

from US and from US and overseasoverseas

Farmers “selling out”Farmers “selling out”

Goldberg farm/Franklin Fence on Goldberg farm/Franklin Fence on Rte 140 where Daddario Rte 140 where Daddario Hardware is, late 1970sHardware is, late 1970s

1980-1990s. Is there a 1980-1990s. Is there a future for Farms in future for Farms in Franklin?Franklin?

Town Population Town Population triplestriples

Only a handful of Only a handful of small farms remainsmall farms remain

HOWEVER – some HOWEVER – some state programsstate programs

AND renewed AND renewed interest in “buying interest in “buying local” and CSAslocal” and CSAs

““Big Apple” farm in nearby Big Apple” farm in nearby Wrentham sells development Wrentham sells development rights to state as a way to stay rights to state as a way to stay viable.viable.

2000s… a rebirth2000s… a rebirth

Town sponsors Farmer’s Market on Town sponsors Farmer’s Market on CommonCommon

Locals such as Fairmont and AkinBak hang Locals such as Fairmont and AkinBak hang on and reinventon and reinvent

New farmers such as Nick Hoffman see New farmers such as Nick Hoffman see opportunityopportunity

AkinBak – Multi AkinBak – Multi Generational LegacyGenerational Legacy

Nick Hoffman – from New Nick Hoffman – from New Braintree to FranklinBraintree to Franklin

Thank YouThank You

Credit: Much information Credit: Much information on early agriculture on early agriculture comes from Howard S. comes from Howard S. Russel’s excellent Russel’s excellent books….books….

Photos from Franklin Photos from Franklin Museum, Library, private Museum, Library, private collections and Crawford collections and Crawford family and Web sourcesfamily and Web sources

Other information and Other information and images from images from Franklin: Franklin: From Puritan Precinct to From Puritan Precinct to 2121stst Century Edge City Century Edge City by Eamon McCarthy by Eamon McCarthy EarlsEarls