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CONCORD HOLIDAY SEASON 2022!

COUNTDOWN TO THE HOLIDAYS!

FAMILY TREES EXHIBIT AT THE CONCORD MUSEUM

Visit the 27th Annual Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature at the Concord Museum through Monday, January 2, 2023. Admire 34 fancifully decorated holiday trees and wreaths inspired by acclaimed works of children’s literature.

CONCORD LIBRARY HOLIDAY BOOK SALE 

Friends of the Concord Free Public Library invite you to the Annual Holiday Book Sale! December 2nd, 3rd & 4th

UMBRELLA WINTER MARKET December 2-4

Unique, handmade gifts by dozens of Studio and Guest Artists and Artisans, Ceramics Studio Sale, Holiday Cafe, Maker Demos and Arts & Environment Family Drop-In Day on December 4th.

     

Concord Museum: The Fête – Friday, December 2nd

The Concord Museum transforms into a dazzling holiday wonderland. As one of the Museum’s most beloved holiday traditions, the Fête is a chance to celebrate the season with fellow friends and supporters.

CONCORD MUSEUM HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR – December 3rd

Concord’s holiday charm will be on full display in these festive, unique houses. Gather your friends and bundle up to enjoy this one-of-a-kind holiday tour! The theme for 2022’s Holiday House Tour is “Concord Through the Ages”.

CONCORD’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING AND HOLIDAY PARADE IS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, 3-6PM

 

 

CONCORD ART HOLIDAY ART SALE

Join us for our Holiday Art Sale! This is a perfect opportunity to shop for your loved ones for the holidays. The opening reception will held December 1st, at 5:30pm. Runs December 1st – December 18th!

SANTA VISITS VERRILL FARM December 3rd

16th ANNUAL BARN BOUTIQUE

OPEN TABLE FAMILY-TO-FAMILY HOLIDAY DRIVE 

This year we again invite you to create a holiday gift bag for either a local family or a senior who may be struggling this year. Many past donors have said, “Thank you! This is the most meaningful activity my family does during the holidays!” With demand for our services up significantly Open Table needs more participants to ensure that each of our clients receives a gift bag.

You will be provided with a list of suggested items to fill a gift bag. And we will send reminders and other information each of the first 12 days of December.

Gift bags will be collected in Maynard on Friday, December 16, 2-6pm and at Crosby’s Market in Concord on Saturday, December 17, 10am-1pm. Clients will receive gift bags with the final food distribution of 2022.

CCM COMMUNITY SING SERIES

One-Hour Singing Sessions and Performance Opportunity for All Ages! There’s no fee to participate, just a love of singing! The Concord Conservatory of Music presents the Community Sing Series.

MUSKETAQUID FULL MOON LANTERN CELEBRATION

Join The Umbrella Arts Center and The Old Manse under the light of the full moon on December 7.

Come by to partake in a lantern-making craft, enjoy hot chocolate by the bonfire while listening to moon-inspired stories, and then bring your newly crafted lanterns on a silent, meditative walk through the meadow as the moon rises over the trees, led by C.C. King.

Thoreau Elementary Toy Swap – Come & Shop!

On Saturday, December 10 from 3-6 pm, come shop in the Thoreau Elementary cafeteria for “new-to-you” toys, games and much more! All proceeds benefit class programming, events and more for students at Thoreau Elementary.

WEST CONCORD  VILLAGE HOLIDAY STROLL DECEMBER 10th

Join the West Concord businesses as they celebrate the Holiday Season – carolers, crafts, cocoas, special holiday fare from all of your favorite West Concord shops, and more!

CONCORD CHORUS – WINTER HOLIDAY CONCERTS

The Concord Chorus, conducted by Dr. Kevin Leong, is pleased to present its annual Winter Holiday Concerts on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 2:00 and 5:00 PM at the Middlesex School’s Memorial Chapel, 1400 Lowell Road

CONCORD BAND HOLIDAY POPS

Enjoy some musical holiday cheer with the Concord Band Holiday Pops, a Concord tradition since 1976. Under the direction of Music Director James O’Dell, the Concord Band will perform a mixture of traditional holiday favorites and some new songs for the season.

A Christmas Carol, featuring actors Stephen Collins and Poornima Kirby at the Concord Free Public Library

Join actors Stephen Collins and Poornima Kirby for a funny, heartfelt journey through Charles’ Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. The event will take place on Wednesday, December 14 at 6:30 PM at the Concord Free Public Library.

CONCORD FAMILY NETWORK HOLIDAY PARTY

Join Concord Family Network’s holiday party, Thursday, December 15th at the TriCon Church (though the celebration is non-denominational and all are welcome) in Concord Center, stop by anytime 430-630pm. The event will include festive activities such as a winter craft, a photo booth and holiday music, pizza will be provided. Children (and adults) should plan to wear holiday jammies (adults are welcome to as well :))

This event is free for members, $10 per family for non-members.

 

HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT – December 16th & 18th

The Umbrella Stage Company in partnership with Firebird Pops Orchestra is thrilled to announce our first ever holiday pops concert!

Together with the Firebird Vox choir, the orchestra will sweep you away with magical scores from favorite seasonal blockbusters Home Alone and The Polar Express, classic favorites including Sleigh RideThe NutcrackerCarol of the Bells, and more!

The Grinch

December 17 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Join us for a delightful interactive theater experience!

CYT actors will inspire you with new and improved versions of familiar children’s stories, complete with a sing-a-long! Outgoing audience members may even join the actors on stage to tell a joke or share a special talent. And everyone gets a prize at the end!!! So put on your performing hats and come play with us!!! Suggested audience ages 2 – 9.

Playtime Theater performs at 53 Church Street, West Concord. All shows begin at 10:30 am.

Tickets: $5.00 per person at the door, cash or check only – no advance sales

Costume Character Day with the Grinch at the Concord Museum December 17th, 1-3pm

Come by the Concord Museum to meet the Grinch! Your heart will grow three sizes when you meet Dr. Seuss’s famous holiday character! Visitors can meet the Grinch and hear the story How the Grinch Stole Christmas! While you’re there, visit Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature. Free with Museum admission. Members visit free.

 

The CCHS Football Team is participating in the Toy Drive with the Concord Fire-EMS Department. 

 

Visit the  Gingerbread House at the Main Library Lobby!

Dr. Andrea Resciniti’s giant gingerbread house is now on display in the Main Library Lobby throughout the month of December.  This is the 24th gingerbread house Dr. Resciniti, a surgeon at Emerson Hospital, has donated to the Concord Free Public Library since 1982.

Please contribute to the Holiday Gift Card Program!

Give to your Community – Donate to the Holiday Gift Card Program!

Each year, the Town of Concord’s Community Services Division, in collaboration with the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, organizes a town-wide Holiday Gift Card Program to provide low-income families financial support during the holiday season. Please consider donating a gift card, in any amount, to a family in need. Gift cards from local merchants are especially welcome, as are gift cards from supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, or big box stores.

Donations will be accepted through December 11th. Gift card donations can be mailed to Bonny Wilbur, Community Services Coordinator, 55 Church Street, Concord, or they may be placed in the donation drop boxes located at:

• Town House, 22 Monument Square, drop box in entry lobby to the left
• Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, 19 Main Street, Suite #2
• 55 Church Street in West Concord, drop box outside to the right of entry

Questions? Contact Bonny Wilbur, Community Services Coordinator at tel. 978-318-3034, or bwilbur@concordma.gov

SHOP LOCAL!

 

17th Annual Concord Ag Day!

17TH ANNUAL CONCORD AG DAY: September 10th, 2022

10am – 2pm right on Main Street in downtown Concord

Concord Ag Day is a once a year farmers’ market celebrating local agriculture organized by the Concord Agriculture Committee to showcase Concord farms and local produce. This unique market showcases the bounty of Concord’s many farm businesses at the height of the growing season.

Ag Day 2022 will feature your favorite Concord Farmers selling their bounty, as well as the return of the famous Veggie Race Track this year sponsored by Vanderhoof Hardware! In addition, several Concord nonprofits will be there with information on a variety of environmental and ‘ag’ related topics. Come experience what Concord’s land can produce!

2022 Ag Day farm participants include:

To Celebrate Ag Day the Concord Free Public Library in partnership with Concord Conservatory of Music is holding a free outdoor concert on the library lawn on also on September 10th from 11am-1pm: Tader Shipley & Maxfield Anderson ‘s sound is rooted in classic country and western, welcoming elements of bluegrass, traditional string band music, musical theater, and modern folk.

Additionally the Concord Library will have a table at the Ag Day market to donate books, and to purchase used books to support the Friends of the Library.

Please come enjoy Concord’s wonderful downtown!

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The Concord Ag Committee with Minuteman Media Network has been working on a series of videos highlighting Concord farmers’ work throughout the season – please enjoy the three already finished on youtube!

February 2022: Verrill Farm

March 2022: Hutchins Farm

May 2022: Barrett’s Mill Farm

Coming Soon!
April: Saltbox Farm
June: The Farm at Walden Woods
August: Marshall Farm

 

Check out Guide to Concord Farms

Read more about AG Day

Let’s Talk Turkey!

Thanksgiving is around the corner and you know what that means…

Lots of Turkey Talk!

Do you know about Concord Recreation’s Turkey Hunt?

Once a week, turkey photos will be hidden around town. Find one? Call the Rec Dept. 978-287-1050 and receive a free, fresh turkey! Look for hints on social media every Monday in November!

 

Time to plan your Thanksgiving Supper!

Concord Cheese Shop is offering a Thanksgiving Menu

See their selection of cheese boards, soups, sides & desserts!

Please place your orders by Friday, November 19, 2021.

Items may be picked up Tuesday the 23rd or Wednesday the 24th

Concord Market has you covered from Thanksgiving breakfast to the turkey, sides and  don’t forget, pies! Order by and pick up November 20th and pick up November 24rd and 24th.

Concord Teacakes has you covered whether it’s Thanksgiving morning scones or bundt cake to adorable turkey cookies for the table and Thanksgiving pies & cakes.

 

Farfalle Italian Market  has full menu – from chestnut soup to sage roasted turkey and traditional pies! to Pick up is Wednesday November 24th from 12pm – 3pm.

Debra’s Natural Gourmet has a holiday menu that covers appetizers, sides, sauces, quiche, desserts and more!

 

Saltbox Kitchen is offering hors d’oeuvres to sides to desserts… along with growlers & cocktails to go! Order by 11/18, 6pm; Pick-up is Wednesday, 11/24.

Verrill Farm  can take care of all your Thanksgiving needs from Fresh Stonewood Farm Turkeys to our famous Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Pie! Order by 11/18! This year all orders must be placed ONLINE and will be for CURBSIDE pickup only on 11/23 & 11/24.

Concord Colonial Inn is open for the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner!

Concord’s Colonial Inn will be serving up a three-course meal for the whole family featuring our Traditional Turkey Dinner, and other seasonal favorites like our Pumpkin Ravioli and Carrot & Butternut Squash Soup. Reservations are required, and demand is high, so we recommend booking your time slot with us today by calling Anthony Scott, our Director of Food and Beverage at (978)-341-8202.

 

Sign up with Concord-Carlisle Adult & Community Ed and Make your own from-scratch apple and blueberry pies (BONUS: make a third – pumpkin pie too!). Adrienne will teach you how to make a superb pie dough! You will also make the filling to your own individual taste, ready to pop in the oven for Thanksgiving or freeze to use at a later date! An ingredient and basic kitchen tool list will be provided.

Thanksgiving Day CCHS Home Football Game!

November 25 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

CCHS Patriots take on Lexington!

Bring the whole family and enjoy cheering on the Patriots before your Thanksgiving meal!

 

Support Concord Restaurants, Cafes & Specialty Food Markets

One of the things we love most about our town is the fabulous array of independent restaurants and specialty food shops. Concord offers such a unique offering and wide variety of places to eat or buy delicious food.

 

  

  

      

 

As we head into late fall / winter, we have to remember to find ways to support these businesses so they can survive the pandemic.

 

 

Stock your pantry, stock your freezer, purchase gift cards, treat yourself or a neighbor to a take out meal, gather items for an outdoor picnic by the firepit.

 

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Mass Restaurant Association and SEATED have just announced plans to roll out The “Eat Out to Help Out MA” program will provide Bay State restaurant patrons with a 50 percent rebate on any check from full-service restaurants, for both on and off-premise dining, from Monday to Wednesday each week in November. Customers can reap their rewards by downloading a SEATED app (https://seatedapp.io).

 

 

Eat Out to Help Out is an initiative to help the Massachusetts restaurant industry.

It’s a replication of the Eat Out to Help Out initiative in the UK that generated millions of dollars of off-peak guest spend.

50 % rebate on any off-peak check

For the month of November, Seated will provide a 50% rebate on any check from a full-service in Massachusetts for dining experiences
enjoyed from Monday–Wednesday.

How Does a Guest Get Their Rebate?

  • Guests download Seated to discover

    participating restaurants.

  • Guests dine out and pay full

    price in the restaurant.

  • Guests return to Seated to submit their

    receipt and receive their rebate in the form

    of cash or credit at their favorite brand

The restaurants below are members of Massachusetts Restaurant Association:

  • THE COLONIAL INN
  • FIORELLA’S
  • SORRENTO’S

Take a look at all Concord has to offer:

CAFES & BAKERIES

Caffe Nero, Concord Teacakes, Dunkin’ Donuts, Haute Coffee, Nashoba Brook Bakery, Sally Ann’s, Starbucks, Verrill Farm

 

ASIAN

Asian Gourmet, Chang An, Karma, Sushi house

 

 

ITALIAN  & PIZZA

Comella’s, Dinos Farfalle, Fiorellas, New London Pizza, Paparazzi, Rossini’s, Sorrento’s, Walden pizza

   

MEXICAN

Adelita

AMERICAN & FARM to TABLE

80 Thoreau, Club Car Cafe, Helen’s, Liberty at the Colonial Inn, Main Streets Market & Cafe, Merchant’s Row at the Colonial Inn, Rapscallions, Salt Box Kitchen, The 99, Trail’s End, Twin Seafood, Woods Hill Table

 

SPECIALTY FOOD & FOOD MARKETS

The Concord Cheese Shop, Concord Market, Concord Provisions & Country Store, Crosby’s Market, Debra’s Natural Gourmet, Farfalle, Graem, New England Olive Oil, Nine Acre Corner, Priscilla’s Candy, Salt Box Kitchen, Twin Seafood, Verrill Farm

 

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ICE CREAM

Bedford Farms, Helen’s, Reasons to be Cheerful

 

WINE & LIQUOR STORES:

Concord Cheese Shop, Concord Market, Concord Provisions & Country Store, Crosby’s Market, Nine Acre Wines, Vintages Adventures in Wine, Walden Liquors, West Concord Liquor Store

 

The New York Times “At Home” section offers these suggestions on How to Support Independent Restaurants:

1. Eat as much takeout as possible.

 

Set aside a specific day to give yourself a treat and keep a local restaurant alive. Some restaurants are making frozen-food dishes and other pantry items — frozen enchiladas, dumplings, family-style meals — that will keep longer than any given night’s dinner, so be sure to ask even if they don’t advertise them. Many restaurants are also offering takeout drinks and cocktails.

2. Order straight from the restaurant.

 

While convenient, delivery apps like DoorDash and UberEats take a significant percentage of sales — up to 30 percent — and it is impossible to maintain a successful business model while using them exclusively, said Mrs. White of Everett and Jones. Instead of firing up an app, call your favorite restaurant and put in your order over the phone, or order directly from the restaurant’s website, if possible.

3. Pick up yourself, and pay cash.

 

If you can walk to the restaurant and pick up the food yourself, do so, and pay with cash. Is there a friend or family member you can help who can’t go out? Pick up a hot meal for them, too. In addition to getting some extra exercise, you’ll save the business the fees — usually about 2 percent of a purchase — charged by credit card companies.

4. Tip well.

 

A large restaurant may be able to afford servers to cater to people seated outside, but a smaller restaurant might only be able to staff a cook and a front-of-house person to pack and take orders. Many customers are tipping less, or not at all, because they perceive this to be a lower level of service than they are accustomed to when going out, said Alice Liu, who grew up in Manhattan’s Chinatown and helps run Grand Tea Imports, her family’s multigenerational tea and import business. Remember that restaurant employees are working hard to provide you with a dining experience during an unprecedented time, and at a higher risk of exposure to themselves. A healthy tip is a way to show your appreciation.

5. Shop at markets and stores in your community, too.

 

So much of a neighborhood like Chinatown depends upon foot traffic. You can buy groceries and fresh produce, gifts and kitchenware as well as restaurant meals. Think about other items you might normally buy elsewhere or online, and consider purchasing from the individual small businesses around you.

6. Purchase gift cards.

 

Ask your restaurant if it offers gift cards or gift certificates. Many businesses now allow online or emailed gift certificates where they might have accepted only paper options in the past. It’s a good way to support a restaurant while giving a welcome pick-you-up to someone else.

7. Ask how you can help.

 

If you have time and skills to donate, offer them. Community organizations have been helping restaurants build their outdoor dining infrastructure with volunteer programs; consider joining a program like New York’s Assembly for Chinatown. Ask if you can help by setting up GoFundMe donation pages or building simple online presences for these businesses, for whom technology can be an obstacle. “As customers, you can encourage mom-and-pop owners and see if you can help them navigate things online or on social media, especially in Chinatown or older, non-English speaking communities,” Ms. Liu said.

“Technology is one thing that can really help you in this time,” added Mrs. White.

 

 

Concord & Carlisle is brimming with Fantastic Farms & Farmstands

Concord & Carlisle is full of farms, farm stands and  nurseries. We’re so lucky to have such an abundance of local growers and suppliers, all within our town borders. 

“Concord has been an agricultural community for centuries, and agriculture remains a
central piece of Concord’s identity and economy even today. With 1004 acres in active
agricultural production, some 16 farm businesses and 11 farm stands, Concord stands out
among the suburbs of Boston as a place that is friendly to agriculture. Many residents
enjoy the sight of open spaces in active agricultural production, and they enjoy eating the
bounty of the harvest from these working lands.” Agriculture Committee Long Range Plan Submission 

Be sure to visit these local gems and stock up on vegetables and items for your garden. Nothing tastes better than locally grown food and nothing feels better than supporting these local farmers.

Barrett’s Mill Farm, 449 Barretts Mill Road

Barrett’s Mill Farm is a Certified Organic vegetable farm located on the McGrath Farmstead in Concord, Massachusetts. They sell their vegetables through our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Barrett’s Bucks programs, as well as through their Farmstand.

 

  

Brigham Farm Stand & Greenhouses, Concord, MA, 82 Fitchburg Turnpike, Concord

Brigham Farm is a small family farm and greenhouse business located on one of the oldest farms in Concord Massachusetts. We hire for the summer and fall seasons. We hire 6 to 10 full or part-time workers each year.  Working at Brigham Farm for many young people is their first real job!

Starting in late June, come to Brigham Farm Stand for fresh vegetables, fruits, berries, and cold drinks.  Strawberries in June. Corn all summer. Pumpkins in fall. We also sell Christmas trees and wreaths starting on November 30th. 

Come and stop by! Our summer corn is well known for being the sweetest around. 

Clark Farm 201 Bedford Road, Carlisle

Clark Farm produces certified organic vegetables and berries for its CSA community, farm stand and local farm-to-table restaurant.

In addition to vegetables, Clark Farm raises lamb, goats, pastured pork and laying hens.

The farm’s name honors the family who served as its stewards before Marjie Findlay and Geoff Freeman bought the property in 2010 with the intention of restoring the farm as an agricultural institution in the community – a place where families can connect with their food and farmer.

Colonial Gardens, 442 Fitchburg Turnpike

Colonial Gardens has been florists in the Concord area for more than 40 years. Family owned and operated, we are also greenhouse growers and operate a garden center year round. We grow the majority of the plants we sell, and seasonally grow cut flowers in our greenhouses for our florist shop as well!

Colonial Gardens Florist And Greenhouses has been hand-delivering premium floral arrangements and gift baskets to help strengthen relationships, give love and support, and celebrate life’s special moments since 1962. From birthdays to anniversaries to commemorating a loved one, and every little “just because” moment in between.

 

The Farm At Walden Woods

The Farm at Walden Woods is a USDA certified organic vegetable farm. Through growing and selling a range of produce like squash, eggplant, pumpkins, tomatoes and corn, the Walden Woods Project is able to use all proceeds to directly support the Farm at Walden Woods and also fund the Project’s efforts to protect more land within historic Walden Woods.

Gaining Ground, 341 Virginia Road, Concord

Gaining Ground, a nonprofit organic farm in Concord, Massachusetts, grows vegetables and fruit with the help of several thousand community volunteers and donates all of this fresh food to area meal programs and food pantries.

Gaining Ground grows organic produce for hunger relief with help from volunteers of all ages and abilities, who work and learn in our fields. In short, we grow food and we give it away to people who need it. For free. This refreshingly simple approach lets us focus on meeting the needs of our volunteers and the people we help feed. These two aspects of our work are closely intertwined—one wouldn’t work without the other.

We work hard to grow high-quality produce, provide an exceptional experience to each volunteer, serve the needs of our recipients and maximize the generous support of our donors.

Hutchins Farm, 754 Monument Street, Concord

Hutchins Farm is one of the oldest and largest certified organic vegetable and fruit operations in Massachusetts. Organic since 1973, every season Hutchins actively cultivates over 35 acres of vegetables, about an acre of small fruit, and 8 acres of apples. We sell our produce directly to consumers at our farm stand in Concord, MA, and at three weekly farmers’ markets, with a small amount of sales to local restaurants. Our farmstand is located right on the main farm and is open seasonally June – October. 

The main farm is 63 acres, and about half of the fields can be viewed from our farmstand. Unless otherwise noted, all of the produce in the farm stand is Certified Organic and grown here at Hutchins farm. Owned and operated by the same family since 1895, Hutchins Farm has evolved over the years. 

Marhsall Farm, 171 Harrington Ave., Concord

Marshall Farm is a 3rd-generation family farm that sells firewood year round along with our own chicken eggs! Annuals and perennials in the spring! Farm fresh vegetables and cut flowers in the late spring to early fall, specializing in tomatoes. Pumpkins in the fall and Christmas trees and wreaths for the holidays.

Kids of all ages are welcome to stop by and meet and feed our goats, chickens and bunny!

Millbrook Farm, 215 Cambridge Turnpike

Family run nursery and farmstand

 

 

Rotundo Farm, 737 Bedford Street, Concord

Seasonal farmstand offering fruits & vegetable

Frank Rotundo runs this Family farm that has been in operation since the 1920s.

 

Saltbox Farm 40 Westford Rd., Concord

Saltbox Farm is a family farm, where our farmers are dedicated to continue pursuits of regenerative agricultural practices ensuring survival and sustainability of this land, while still remaining an intricate part of the surrounding community. 

We believe that the best quality produce comes from the best quality soil, and for that we spend all season building up the structure and nutrients using techniques like cover cropping, crop rotation, and compost and bio-nutrient density applications.

Our focus is on growing for our public Farm Stand out of our barn, our farm-to-table restaurant – Saltbox Kitchen, our Catering by Saltbox, Cooking School on the farm, Brewery, and all the Community Events on the farm throughout the season! 

Scimone Farm, 505 Old Bedford Road

Scimone’s Farm is run by Scimone Family.

The Frank Scimone Farm has been in business for 80 years. Father Frank Scimone began farming in Concord in 1923 and was married to Grace Josephine Scimone and had four children Domenica, Tony, Angelina, and Frank. Scimone’s Farm, established in 1923, is a family run farm that produces great corn and a variety of produce. They sell their products at their farm stand in Concord.

Silferleaf, 460 Strawberry Hill Road 

PYO certified organic raspberries, open daily from September 1 through October 21.

Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Road, Concord

To nourish the body and soul of our customers by providing healthful food of superb flavor in surroundings of beauty. Through the use of sound and efficient farming practices, we strive to maintain our land and animals in good health, and provide a good living for our employees and a reasonable return to the owners.

Explore the many wonderful farms and farm stands in Concord & Carlisle!

 

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