This year, Citizens for Easton once again hosted its beloved farm tour, inviting residents to explore the town’s many well-known—and hidden gem—family farms. The weather could not have been better: a warm, sunny Saturday, perfect for a day outside.
After picking up our map at Samuel Staples, we headed first to the apiary, where two friendly golden retrievers bounded up to greet us. At On Golden Pond Apiary, the classic hive boxes were alive with activity, and a nearby pollinator garden gave the bees a quick protein boost just a short flight away. Beekeeper Howland Blackiston, author of Beekeeping for Dummies, gave a lively talk before suiting up to open the hives. My kids weren’t quite brave enough to sample honey straight from the comb, but they did come away with an important lesson: pollen is how bees get their protein. “So flowers are like steak!” my daughter concluded.
From there, we traveled to Blue Button Farm off Everett Road, arriving just in time for the goat feeding. The kids squealed as eager goats nibbled from their hands, with one pushy blue-eyed fellow repeatedly cutting the line. Afterward, we visited the farm’s mini horse before browsing the shop, which offers eggs, honey, animal fibers, and even hand-knit animals—perfect gifts for any nature lover. Blue Button also runs educational programs throughout the year, focusing on recycling and environmental stewardship.
Our next stop was one of Easton’s newer growers, Fishbowl Farm, tucked at the end of Wood End Drive. The 24/7 honor-system stand there is stocked with local pork chops, bacon, ribs, chicken, and seasonal produce—everything you need for a sustainable meal. We wandered past sunflower fields and pig pens, fed the hens, and refreshed ourselves with beet juice. The owners had left several tall trees standing in the cleared fields, their canopies forming symmetrical green umbrellas of shade.
By midday, appetites were growing, so we returned to town for a history break at the circa 1850 Adams Schoolhouse. The kids marveled at the simplicity of the one-room building and giggled at the outhouse—perhaps they’ll appreciate Samuel Staples’ smartboards and plumbing a little more this fall. We followed the schoolhouse with grilled cheese sandwiches at Grieser’s, paired with a cold brew and complimentary organic butterfly pea flower iced tea for the adults.
Finally, dessert. At Shaggy Coos, gelato tasted all the sweeter knowing it came directly from the farm’s dairy cows, twin calves included. While the horses relaxed in the barn and the pigs stayed cool in the shade, the cows munched hay contentedly in the back pasture.
All told, it was a fantastic day of food, history, and farmyard fun. Now in its sixteenth year, Citizens for Easton’s self-guided tour featured twelve stops, and our only complaint was not having enough hours to see them all. The tour is a reminder of the richness of our local food web, and the importance of keeping it strong. So, the next time you’re planning dinner, consider stopping at a local farm stand. Buying meat and produce from our neighbors isn’t just delicious; it’s one of the best ways to support Easton’s community and is more sustainable than a trip to the grocery store.
The Cultural Easton 