Hampshire College--Farm

About this Location

The Farm Center at Hampshire College is a living laboratory for education and research on sustainable agriculture and food systems. Located on the western edge of the campus in Amherst, Massachusetts, the Farm Center encompasses 15 acres of fields, orchards, greenhouses, barns, and pastures. The Farm Center produces organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, eggs, and meat for the college community and local markets. It also hosts various workshops, events, and courses on topics such as permaculture, beekeeping, composting, and animal husbandry. The Farm Center aims to foster a culture of environmental stewardship, social justice, and experiential learning among students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Visitors and volunteers are welcome to tour the Hampshire Farm and are encouraged to get involved, Please be mindful that this is a working farm; visitors should exercise caution around vehicles, machinery, and electric fences. Certain production areas do have limited access. 

About Hampshire College

See all hotspots at Hampshire College

Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst. It was founded in 1970 as an experiment in alternative education, and it continues to emphasize interdisciplinary, individualized, and self-directed learning. Hampshire College is known for its innovative curriculum, student-designed majors, narrative evaluations, and portfolio-based assessment. Hampshire College is also part of the Five College Consortium, which allows its students to take courses at four other nearby institutions: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The idea for Hampshire College originated in 1958 when the presidents of Amherst, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, appointed a committee to examine the assumptions and practices of liberal arts education. Their report, "The New College Plan”, advocated many of the features that have since been realized in the Hampshire curriculum: inviting students to self-design their program of studies; training students to be able to educate themselves through their lifetimes; emphasis on each student's curiosity and motivation; learning among and across multiple disciplines; and close mentoring relationships with teachers.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Last updated November 28, 2023