A collaborative presentation at the Franklin Historical Museum by Alan Earls, Historical Museum; Seth Rousseau, AkinBak Farm and Nick Hoffman, Hoffman Farm - May 19, 2013

1. Farming inFarming 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

2. Pre ColumbianPre Columbian
 Climate and soilClimate and soil
good for agriculturegood for agriculture
in many areas ofin many areas of
New EnglandNew England
 Slash & BurnSlash & Burn
 Three Sisters (corn),Three Sisters (corn),
beans, and squash)beans, and squash)

3. European SettlementEuropean Settlement
 Puritan and PilgrimPuritan and Pilgrim
groups practiced bothgroups practiced both
subsistence agriculturesubsistence agriculture
(feeding immediate(feeding immediate
group) and agriculturegroup) and agriculture
for tradingfor trading
 Most “moveable”Most “moveable”
agricultural product wasagricultural product was
livestocklivestock
 Settlement of interiorSettlement of interior
often centered on naturaloften centered on natural
meadows near riversmeadows near rivers
which provided pastureswhich provided pastures

5. Early Farming inEarly Farming in
FranklinFranklin
 Most people farmed at least part of theMost 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 fewMostly subsistence farming with a few
people “doing well”people “doing well”
 Livestock for export and mix of cropsLivestock for export and mix of crops

6. 1919thth
Century FranklinCentury Franklin
 Better roads andBetter roads and
railroads opened newrailroads opened new
marketsmarkets
 Development ofDevelopment of
industry gaveindustry gave
families newfamilies new
economic opportunityeconomic opportunity
 ……and new localand new local
market for farmersmarket for farmers
 Crops varied widelyCrops varied widely
--Some new specialties--Some new specialties
such as cranberriessuch as cranberries
(in 1860s Franklin(in 1860s Franklin
was one of the topwas one of the top
growers)growers)

7. Late 19Late 19thth
-early 20-early 20thth
centurycentury
 Dairy FarmingDairy Farming
Many dairies in regionMany dairies in region
supplied Boston marketsupplied Boston market
with daily milk trainswith daily milk trains
More business but largeMore business but large
Boston dairies couldBoston dairies could
dictate pricesdictate prices
 Poultry: Across NewPoultry: Across New
England, many localEngland, many local
producersproducers
 ““Famous” locals includeFamous” locals include
Palmer family – thePalmer family – the
Palmer Red ChickenPalmer Red Chicken
 -- (later donated land for-- (later donated land for
Parmenter School inParmenter School in
honor of son killed inhonor of son killed in
WW2WW2

8. Garelick FarmGarelick Farm
 Garelick family took over small farm andGarelick family took over small farm and
built large piggery and prosperous dairybuilt large piggery and prosperous dairy

9. SuburbanizationSuburbanization
 Pop. GrowthPop. Growth
 Land Price SpiralLand Price Spiral
 Rising TaxesRising Taxes
 Growing CompetitionGrowing Competition
from US andfrom US and
overseasoverseas
 Farmers “selling out”Farmers “selling out”
 Goldberg farm/Franklin Fence onGoldberg farm/Franklin Fence on
Rte 140 where DaddarioRte 140 where Daddario
Hardware is, late 1970sHardware is, late 1970s

10. 1980-1990s. Is there a1980-1990s. Is there a
future for Farms infuture for Farms in
Franklin?Franklin?
 Town PopulationTown Population
triplestriples
 Only a handful ofOnly a handful of
small farms remainsmall farms remain
 HOWEVER – someHOWEVER – some
state programsstate programs
 AND renewedAND renewed
interest in “buyinginterest in “buying
local” and CSAslocal” and CSAs
 ““Big Apple” farm in nearbyBig Apple” farm in nearby
Wrentham sells developmentWrentham sells development
rights to state as a way to stayrights to state as a way to stay
viable.viable.

11. 2000s… a rebirth2000s… a rebirth
 Town sponsors Farmer’s Market onTown sponsors Farmer’s Market on
CommonCommon
 Locals such as Fairmont and AkinBak hangLocals such as Fairmont and AkinBak hang
on and reinventon and reinvent
 New farmers such as Nick Hoffman seeNew farmers such as Nick Hoffman see
opportunityopportunity

14. AkinBak – MultiAkinBak – Multi
Generational LegacyGenerational Legacy

15. Nick Hoffman – fromNick Hoffman – from
New Braintree toNew Braintree to
FranklinFranklin

16. Thank YouThank You
 Credit: Much informationCredit: Much information
on early agricultureon early agriculture
comes from Howard S.comes from Howard S.
Russel’s excellentRussel’s excellent
books….books….
 Photos from FranklinPhotos from Franklin
Museum, Library, privateMuseum, Library, private
collections and Crawfordcollections and Crawford
family and Web sourcesfamily and Web sources
 Other information andOther information and
images fromimages from Franklin:Franklin:
From Puritan Precinct toFrom Puritan Precinct to
2121stst
Century Edge CityCentury Edge City byby
Eamon McCarthy EarlsEamon McCarthy Earls