Members of the Trustees' South Coast Youth Corps employed by the Trustees for Reservations are working over the summer of 2011 at the Westport Town Farm in Westport, MA, to help maintain a community garden at that location. The garden is maintained by South Coast Farm Manager Steve Connors of the Trustees who operates the farm. In the fall of 2008, The Trustees initiated a Community Gardens project that honors the Town Farm's tradition of helping to feed people in need in Westport and nearby towns. Steve oversees a cadre of volunteers to help grow and harvest the vegetables. The produce is donated to those in need through local food banks, and much of the labor is donated by volunteers and student interns who work at the farm throughout the summer. At Westport Town Farm, livestock again graze on open fields. An antique farmhouse, dairy barn, corn crib, and stone walls dating back to Colonial times complete the picture of this bucolic working farm that served as a “poor farm” and infirmary for more than 100 years. Click here for the video of the Youth Corps. For more more information about the farm, contact Steve Connors at 508-676-5780.

(Top row) South Coast Farm Manager Steve Connors of the Trustees of Reservations, who manages the garden at the Westport Town Farm works with Youth Corps members Olivea Marques, Kathryn Torres and Elizabeth Hubert of Fall River and Brendan Cormier and Sam Young. (Middle row, left) Steve explains how the vines on pea plants are able to grasp the twine that holds them up. (Bottom row, left) Steve points out some of the pests that have to be identified and controlled to maintain an organic garden to Brendan and Kathryn. (Bottom row, right) Sam pulls weeds around the onions.