Cooper’s Hilltop Dairy Farm

In the last week of October with the last of the feed corn still standing tall, W.A. students visited Cooper’s Hilltop Dairy Farm located in Rochdale, MA just a few miles west of New Balance Fields. Pictured is Marjorie Cooper discussing glass bottled milk. The farm was acquired by the Cooper Family in 1918 and today is comprised of 40 acres of corn and 105 acres of pasture. Crops are grown in rotation to maintain soil fertity and manage soil erosion. Cooper’s produces 100’s of gallons of “hormone free” milk each day for local sale from their cows that they raise on pasture and Cooper’s corn, using supplemental feed for nutrient balancing. The farm also sells honey and maple syrup from Massachusetts, local cheese, and other various foods. http://www.coopershilltopfarm.com/

Clockwise from upper right. 1) Cooper’s cows grazing on pasture when the season allows (photo was taken earlier in the season) 2) Harvested Corn Field: this season the corn grew 10 feet high.Notice that pasture to the right is planted downhill from the corn plot to prevent erosion of the fertile soil. 3) Cow being milked: the cows begin milking at 2 years of age (14 human years) and produce about 5 gallons/day. 4)Students with owner Marjorie Cooper

Worcester Academy Fall Harvest

Worcester Farmers Market

W.A. students Luke Ryder and Trevor Stevens Q&A with a farmer during a recent field trip to the Worcester Farmers Market. 98% of all food grown in Massachusetts is consumed in state. MA also leads the country with direct sales to customer revenue per farm. Photo on the left is of the SignalRock Farm where local pasture raised sheep meet and milk as well as wool can be purchased.

Click on the links for Worcester Farmers Market and SignalRock Farm.