Medway Community Farm, a grassroots effort, continues to move forward from concept to reality.

The "initiative" to bring a community farm to Medway started in December 2007. In March 2008, the initiative gained 60 supporters and by November 2008 gained support at Town Meeting, where the Town voted to change the "use" at 50 Winthrop Street (a parcel of land bought with Community Preservation Funds) from "open space" to "open space with an agriculture and educational use"; folllowed by an RFP process.

Today Medway Community Farm has 620 supporters and will enter its second year as a community farm.  We are ready to grow food, full-time on two acres.  The Farm has recently purchased a greenhouse and tractor (due to donations from farm supporters). The Farm will also continue to provide educational opportunities to Medway and the surrounding communities.

For a behind the scenes look, please scroll down to see how the farm has grown from concept to part-time community farm to first year as a full-time working community farm.

2007  Pre-Town Approval

December 2007
Community Farm Initiative shares the community farm concept with the Community Preservation Committee                       

2008 Pre- Town Approval

January 2008
Town of Medway votes to purchase 50 Winthrop Street for the protection of Open Space with Community Preservation Funds

February 2008
Community Farm Initiative discusses the community farm concept with Town Committees               

March 2008
Press Release is submitted in response to Boston Globe (Metro West) inquiry                                                 

April 2008
Community Farm Initiative performs site walk at 50 Winthrop Street

June 2008
Community Farm Initiative holds public meeting at Senior Center                                                                    

June 2008
Community Farm Initiative meets with Board of Selectmen and listens to concerns  

July 2008
Community Farm Initiatve gives tour of local CSA farms to Board of Selectmen

July 2008
Community Farm Initiative submits answers to Board of Selectmen questions

July 2008
Board of Selectmen approve community farm concept as a "proposed use for 50 Winthrop Street"

September 2008
Board of Selectmen host Public Hearing for discussion of proposed uses at 50 Winthrop Street

November 2008
Special Town Meeting Article: 26 (to change land use to agriculture and education) is passed

November 2008
Community Farm Initiative established 501(c)(3) non-profit, Medway Community Farm, Inc.

2009 Post Town Approval 

January 2009
Town of Medway posts RFP for 50 Winthrop Street

February 2009
Medway Community Farm, Inc. submits proposal

April 2009
Town accepts MCFI's proposal contingent on Conservation Commission approval

May 2009
MCFI sumbits NOI Application to the Conservation Commission

June 2009
MCFI submits RDA Applicaton to the Conservation Commission

October  2009
MCFI receives Town of Medway Conservaton Commission approval.

October 2009
MCFI receives IRS 501 (c)(3) Tax Exempt Status

November 2009
Mr. Briggs of Shady Oaks Farms turns the land.

November 2009
MCFI hosts "Toast to the Farm!"

November 2009
MCFI hosts First Annual Public Meeting.

November 2009
Wellesley College Students visit the Farm and "learn from the land".

November 2009
MCFI winterizes the Farmhouse.

December 2009
MCFI's "Gingerbread Farm" is on display at the Medway Public Library.

December 2009
MCFI submits (2) Grant Proposals 

December 2009
MCFI establishes "Donate Online" Pay Pal Feature on Website


2010 Milestones as a Part-time Community Farm

January - May 2010
Submitted (7) grant applications

January 2010
MCFI begins Farm Manager Networking/Interview Process

January 2010
MCFI evaluates Fundraising Status to determine Farm Mangement Plan for 2010

February 2010
MCFI meets with Farming Advisory Board and Non-Profit Consultant to identify Farm Management Plan options for 2010

February 2010
Hired part-time Farm Manager, Brittany Sidway to grow food on 1/4 acre

March 2010
Held community outreach meeting gained (24) MCF Volunteers

March 2010
Took down and disposed of dilapidated barn so public has access to open space
purchased with Community Preservation Comittee funds

March-May 2010
Held three Farm Workshops:
Composting Workshop; How to Make Garden Beds; How to Build Potato Beds

April 2010
Medway Community Farm first Annual 5K Run/Walk hosts 200 participants!

April-May 2010
Planted Seeds and Seedlings // 50 Volunteers logged in 150 hours!

April 2010
Dug and replaced water line so 50 Winthrop Street has access to water

May 2010
Collaborated with Medway Continuing Education to provide (2) Spring Classes:
Food for Thought; Let's Clean Naturally

May 2010
Established 4th Grade "School to Farm" project

May 2010
Established Middle School Green Team "School to Farm" project

June 2010
Built Farm Stand

June- Oct 2010
Harvested and sold food for farm stand, farmers market

July 2010
Received funding from the Nickelodeon- Big Help Grant for the Green Team "School to Farm" project

July - August 2010
Donated food to Medway Food Pantry

August 2010
Collaborated with Medway Library // 4-H Summer Science Program

September 2010
Hired Brittany Sidway as full-time Farm Manager for 2011

September 2010
Established "After School Program for Middle Schoolers" at the Farm

September 2010
Farm Fall Potluck!

October 2010
Now On Sale! 2011 CSA Food Shares, 2011 Flower Shares, 2011 Garden Plots

October 2010
MCF purchases greenhouse and will collaborate with the Medway Middle School Green Team
to plant the Farm's starts.

October 2010
Collaborated with Medway Continuing Education to provide (2) Fall Classes:
Beatrix Potter Nature/Art; Build Your Own Terrarium

October 2010
Offered (2) Fall Workshops at the Farm: How to Grow Garlic, Put your Garden to Rest

October 17, 2010
Fall Festival Fundraiser at the Farm

October 30, 2010
Whole Foods Fundraiser. Shop at Whole Foods/Support the Farm!

November 2010
MCF Farm Manager, Brittany Sidway, puts 2010 Gardens to bed and prepares for the 2011 Season!

November 2010
The Town of Medway voted in favor to allocate $50,000 of Community Preservation Funds to fund house repairs for the Town owned structure at 50 Winthrop Street. The Town of Medway and Medway Community Farm have collaborated with Tri-County Regional Technical School to perform the house repairs which include new roof, windows, siding, updating electric and plumbing. Goals for the house include providing a caretaker unit for MCF Farm Manager, Brittany Sidway and making the house handicap accessible to the public.

November 2010
MCF receives grant funding from New England Grassroots Environment Fund

December 2010
MCF has purchased a tractor to turn the land this Spring. A farm supporter has provided the Farm with a no interest loan and instead of repayment has asked Medway Community Farm to forward annual payments in lieu of a donation to the Carrot Project, an organization that creates financing solutions for small and mid-sized farms.


December 7, 2010
Medway Community Farm / Annual Public Meeting/ 7:00pm / Medway Public Library


2011 Milestones as a Full-time Community Farm

January 2011
MCF submits (2) grant applications for the 2011 grant cycle.

March 2011
Medway Community Farm hosts, Film Festival Fundraiser, screening of King Corn.

April 2011
Medway Community Farm is on display at the Medway Public Library, in the Children's Library, the entire month of April.

April 2011
On behalf of Medway Community Farm, Medway resident and Health Coach, Kelly O'Rourke, submits a grant application through her gradutate school, SUNY-Purchase. The seed grant would support the launch of MCF's food education program: "Garden to Table" as well as help repair the Medway Community Kitchen where food classes could be held on site.

May 2011
2nd Annual Medway Community Farm 5K Run/Walk fundraiser hosts 190 participants.

May 2011
MCF sells all CSA shares and garden plots. 150 familes and farm supporters have come together to support the Farm in its first year as a full time farm. (100) Vegetable Shares, (10) Flower Shares and (12) Garden Plots are sold. 

May 2011
MCF launches  pilot program: Summer Mornings on the Farm from June-August for children ages 3 1/2-12.

June 2011                                                                                                                                         Medway 4th Graders via the Community Service Learning Program harvest food from their garden plot, sell their harvest at the farm stand and donate proceeds to the Farm.

June 2011
Summer Interns arrive at the Farm.

August 2011                                                                                                                                            MCF submits (2) grant applications for the 2011/2012 grant cycle.

August 2011                                                                                                                                  
Late Fall CSA Shares on SALE -  vegetables, eggs, coffee beans.

September 2011
Tri-County students return to the farm to complete house repair projects.

October 2011
Luminary Bags on SALE, October 1st - October 29th.

October 2011
Shady Oaks Farm/Coots Tractor Pull- Sunday, 10/16 10am
Medway Community Farm/Fall Festival - Sunday, 10/16 1-4pm 

October 2011
Fall Potluck and Luminary Lighting in the Gardens - Saturday 10/29 4-6pm