Taylor-Bray Farm

Taylor-Bray Farm Preservation Association
P.O. Box 66
108 Bray Farm Road North
Yarmouth Port, MA

Please support the efforts of the Taylor Bray Farm Preservation Association

The farm is open daily, dawn to dusk

There are no fees at the farm but your donations would be greatly appreciated.

Please exercise Social Distancing and wear a mask in accordance with local and state guidelines.

2021 Events

Spring Sheep Festival – June

Fall Festival – October

Annual Meeting – November

Holiday Festival – December

THE FARM HISTORY IN PHOTOS

Oldest known photograph of the Taylor-Bray Farmhouse, c1863

Enhanced image of the oldest known photograph of the Taylor-Bray Farmhouse, c1863

George and William Bray with Mrs. Leslie (Ruth) Pfeiffer, about 1937. We do not know which brother is George and which is William. which is William.

Farmhouse Williams ownership — Farmhouse when Williams family owned the farm

Farmhouse, Williams family ownership — Farmhouse when Williams family owned the farm

Sheep, Robert Williams, Sr. — Robert Williams, Sr. raised prizewinning sheep at the farm

Farmhouse after a storm — Farmhouse after a snowstorm when Williams family owned the farm

Plan a Farm Event

For a birthday or other occasion at the farm, email us or call the farm at 774-251-1869 to get details and make arrangements.

Student Opportunities at the Farm

Here is your chance to earn Community Credit at Taylor-Bray Farm. There are opportunities to work with the animals and help with maintenance. You can also help at farm festivals and assist with school and camp visits. For more information email Maureen Clark, the Farm Coordinator.

Taylor-Bray Farm Newsletter

Read the latest edition of the farm newsletter.
Autumn at the Farm. (PDF document)

Tour the Farm

Samuel Taylor Farmhouse c1782

The house was built by Samuel Taylor after he returned from service in the Revolutionary War. The house has recently been renovated and furnished with period pieces. There is a rotating display of farm related artifacts in the summer kitchen.

There are picnic tables near the farmhouse should you like to use them.

The farmhouse is closed until further notice.
Watch the website for reopening information.

Visit the Animals

We have animals. It is a farm, after all. The friendliest animals have to be Henry, George and Dusty, our goats. Chloe is our Scottish Highland cow, reclining in the pasture. Despite her size, she is quite gentle but with those long horns, you don’t want to get too close. Maybe some day, you’ll get a ride in the donkey cart we’re training Sam and Nestor to pull. We have a flock of chickens too. And of course, there are the sheep. Come visit all of them.

Any time is a good time to come but an especially good time is spring when the new lambs arrive.

The Boardwalk and Black Flats Marsh

After you have seen the animals, walk out the boardwalk into Black Flats Marsh. The view into the marsh is largely what Richard and Ruth Taylor saw when they first came to this isolated farm in 1639. The Chapin Beach dunes are to the west or left and beyond them, Cape Cod Bay. The Town of Dennis, once part of Yarmouth, is on the far side of Chase Garden Creek and the marsh. In the spring or summer, you may see osprey nesting on a platform in the marsh about 100 yards to the north of the boardwalk.

Come to a Festival

The best times to visit the farm are during one of our annual festivals.

The Sheep Festival is in June. Watch our sheep being sheared and Border Collies herd the sheep.

In October, enjoy the Fall Festival for hayrides, cider and pumpkins.

In December, come to the farm for your Christmas tree and other holiday goodies.

History

While this area has been a farm for almost four centuries, it has been inhabited far longer than that. Recent archaeological work revealed that the site has been seasonally inhabited for as much as 10,000 years. That work greatly enhanced our knowledge of the early farm, its residents and the native people who have inhabited the area for so long. No further fieldwork is planned for the near future.

Taylor-Bray Bees

Did you know we are keeping bees here at Taylor-Bray Farm? One of our dedicated volunteers has reestablished a colony in the fields. Our bees help to pollinate the blueberry patch, pumpkin patch and the community garden plants. Farm neighbors also benefit as all the trees and plants in an radius of about three miles are pollinated by the bees.

If you come to observe the hives, be very careful. Visitors should stay well clear of the hive walking along the edge of the blueberry patch Don’t stand close in front of the hive opening or disturb the hives.