P.O. Box 66, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
Read all about the work by Americorps at Americorps at Taylor Bray Farm
DATE: Sunday, May 31, 2009 TIME: 9 am 4 pm rain or shine
LOCATION: Taylor-Bray Farm, 108 Bray Farm Rd. No., Yarmouth Port, MA
CONTACT: Lynn McIntyre phone - 508-385-9407 or 508-737-0768
or email
ON-GOING HIGHLIGHTS:
Sheepherding David Kennard Wellscroft Farm, Chesham, NH
Sheepshearing Andy Rice Hogget Hill Farm, Brattleboro, VT
Exhibition of wooly animals Toni Malouf Knot-A-Thot Farm, Barnstable, MA
Wool Spinning demos and sales Cape Cod Spinners Guild
Rug Hooking demos and sales Cranberry Rug Hookers
Hearth Cooking The Heaney Family, So. Yarmouth, MA
Artwork show and sales Yarmouth Art Guild
Blacksmith demos and sales Peter Hirst Keziahs Forge, Orleans, MA
Haywagon rides with Farmer Don
Sales signed books by author Jon Katz, photos by Bradford, arts and crafts, T-Shirts & hats, silent auction, Bray Farm honey, Bray Farm Activity books, refreshments (the best hotdogs in town). Darlyne Murawaski, photographer and writer, will be signing her new children's book and selling photo note cars.
Come join us for a fun filled day at this beautiful historic farm.
SUGGESTED PARKING DONATION: $5 Donations and memberships in the Association help to restore and maintain the buildings and grounds, care for and feed the animals at this unique, marshside, 369 year old farm, preserving the legacy for present and future generations to enjoy.
Please ..NO DOGS on the day of the festival, thank you
You can get a glimpse of the sheep festival at The Festival!
You can also check out the farm on Youtube at Cape Cast
TAYLOR-BRAY FARM PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 66, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
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Donations and memberships in the Taylor-Bray Farm Preservation Association help to restore and maintain the buildings and grounds, and care for the animals at this unique historic site, preserving the legacy for present and future generations to enjoy.
A new article was recently published in Register
Come see how our cattle, Fiona and Scotty have grown!
To find out more about Scottish Highland Cattle, go to Scottish Highland Cattle
The Register also recently published an informative article about the Taylor Bray Farm.
About the farm
The Taylor-Bray Farm is situated on land in Yarmouth Port and was originally owned and settled by Richard Taylor in 1639. Through many generations, it remained in the Taylor family, until 1896 when George and William Bray, two brothers who had worked for the Taylors, acquired the land. It was sustained as a prosperous working farm by the Bray family until 1941. Between then and the late 1980's ownership changed hands a number of times.
Saved from Development
In 1987, the prospect of losing the farm to development prompted the Town of Yarmouth to purchase the property. The specific intent --"to maintain the farm for historic preservation and conservation". Tenant/managers have lived in the farmhouse, welcoming the public and educating many schoolgroups about the farm's history and ecologically rich natural beauty.
Critical Needs Today
Little preservation work has been done since 1987, and in the Fall of 2000 the late-eighteenth-century half cape farmhouse was declared uninhabitable. The Town of Yarmouth funded a new roof in May 2001, but extensive electrical, plumbing and heating, and foundation work is needed to further restore the house. Significant work is also necessary on the barn, and repair and upkeep required on the property.
About the association
In the Spring of 2001, a small group of farm neighbors formed the Taylor-Bray Farm Preservation Association. From this core group, we have grown to over 275 members from all sections of Yarmouth as well as other towns in Massachusetts and nine other states. We have established a strong partnership with the Yarmouth Historical Commission, the town's oversight body for the farm. The sheep pasture and pens have been re-fenced, all the aging barn doors have been replaced, landscape projects completed, and other improvement tasks implemented. In the summer of 2002, we began major repairs on the barn in partnership with the Yarmouth Historical Commission and Cape Cod Regional Technical High School that will include the replacement of the floors on the first and second levels, a complete electrical rewiring of the structure, and construction of an interior stairway, and installing new gutters.
School tours are always welcome at the farm..no appointment is necessary.
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The mission of the TBFPA is compelling....join us, learn more and participate in the partnership to preserve this valuable historic site as a living legacy for the town of Yarmouth and all of Cape Cod.
Membership and volunteer support in the Association offers the opportunity to make a vital difference in preserving this farm's unique heritage. A printable membership form is available here .
