Family Fun at Taylor-Bray Farm
Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) is grateful to partner with Taylor-Bray Farm (taylorbrayfarm.org) in Yarmouth Port this year for a series of outdoor family adventures.
The Taylor-Bray Farm is a unique conservation destination that also has historical significance stretching back over the last 10,000 years. From the first Native peoples to call this land home, the establishment of a homestead in the 1640s in one of the first towns of the Plymouth Colony, to present day, there is much to learn and remember about this land. Today, the farm is owned by the Town of Yarmouth and through a partnership with the non-profit Taylor-Bray Farm Conservation Association, the farm has been kept running and is open daily from dawn to dusk. There is no entry fee, but donations are greatly appreciated.
To learn more about Taylor-Bray Farm, visit their website at taylorbrayfarm.org, or pay them a visit at 108 Bray Farm Road North, Yarmouth Port. Plus, check out their Fall Festival on Saturday, October 12th (rain date: Sunday, October 13th) for hayrides, games, facepainting, a pumpkin patch, and more! Click here for the Fall Festival flyer.
Upcoming HCT family programs at the farm include Newbies in Nature on October 29th and Preschool Explorers on October 29th and 30th. Read reflections and see photos from the Family Fun at Taylor-Bray Farm program below to hear about unique experiences and awesome adventures had at the farm.
April 17th Family Fun at Taylor-Bray Farm
Reflections by Naturalist & Walk Leader Andrea Higgins
Photos by Andrea Higgins, Jill Petell, and Sarah Spiezio
April 17th was a spectacular spring day for HCT’s Family Fun at Taylor-Bray Farm adventure. Families were greeted with brilliant blue skies, abundant sunshine, gentle breezes, and temperatures in the low 50s.
Taylor-Bray Farm volunteers – 11-year-old Gabby and 10-year-old Teagan – started off our morning adventure by teaching us about the farm’s donkeys. These knowledgeable peer mentors explained fun facts about the animals and their lives on the farm. It was evident how passionate these young farm hands were about their job. After learning about the breeds, diets, and donkey care, all participants were invited to give the donkeys gentle pets.
Next, Elisa, age 10, shared lots of wonderful information about chickens, including their care and diet. Elisa held the chicken in her lap so tenderly and invited all young participants to take turns feeding the fluffy feathered fowl a variety of treats including oyster shells, mealworms, and chicken feed mix.
We next met board member and volunteer Lisa, who shared information about the sheep and held an adorable lamb for us to pet and enjoy the soft and warm wool. Then, she led us to the highland cattle, shaking a bag of produce to entice the mother and daughter cattle pair to greet us. They sauntered over to the fence showing off their long and shaggy rust-colored coats and welcomed us with some wonderful “moos.” Each HCT Family Fun participant had an opportunity to feed the cattle a treat of fresh fruits and veggies including peppers, zucchini, apples, and carrots.
Families gathered together as I handed out directions for a Finds on the Farm Scavenger Hunt. Caregivers and their children went scampering around the property in search of wheelbarrows, tractors, birdhouses, shovels, water troughs, and more.
After our families and friends found all the items on the list, we set off down the boardwalk to admire the saltmarsh and discuss the importance of this unique habitat along with all of its inhabitants. I took out a measuring tape to display the wingspan of the osprey, measuring 63 inches – that’s almost 5 1/2 feet! Next, each child (plus one grandpa) stretched their arms wide so I could measure their wingspan. From our gathering spot on the boardwalk, we were able to observe an osprey on its nest and watched as it flew above us, navigating across the expansive and stunning salt marsh.
Another saltmarsh inhabitant is the diamondback terrapin turtle, whose range stretches from Texas to Cape Cod (the northernmost part of their range). We admired photos of the eggs and hatchlings, which are about the size of a quarter.
Before we concluded our adventures for the day, one more amazing activity awaited us. We again met up with Lisa and she invited us to board the wagon for a hayride! A tractor pulled the wood wagon along the beautiful property and down a trail through the woods, past brilliant green skunk cabbage and moss lined ditches, a blueberry patch, and more views of the marsh. We sat on bales of hay and pointed out birds as they flitted past. A great time was had by all!
Grandparents and children shared warm good-byes with each other, the farm, the marsh, and the many furry and feathered friends we met today.
Thank you, Taylor-Bray farm for inviting HCT to participate in all the fun. And thank you to the kind and generous anonymous donor who has gifted these wonderful family programs to our community. Sincere appreciation to Lisa, Gabby, Teagan, and Elisa for sharing their knowledge, love of the farm, and the wonderful animals they take such good care of. And finally, thank you to all the amazing families who joined today’s program for your kindness and curiosity.
Happy Exploring.
Smiles,
Ms. Andrea
