Newton Community Farm (NCF) is the city’s only remaining working farm, dedicated to sustainability, education, and community. Founded in 2006 to preserve the historic Angino Farm, NCF now produces over 50,000 pounds of food annually on just one acre of land, using both innovative and traditional farming methods. More than a place to grow food, NCF welcomes the community through volunteer opportunities, educational programs, and fresh produce sales. I recently spoke with Greg Maslowe, the farm’s manager, to learn about the challenges and rewards of small-scale sustainable farming, and how the farm continues to strengthen its bond with the community.
Can you tell me about the mission of Newton Community Farm and how it has developed over the years?
The mission for the farm is to teach the community about sustainable farming. Twenty years ago, we made the decision to be an intensive farm that could teach people about what we do, as opposed to being an educational organization that dabbled in growing food. Our mission has not changed throughout this entire time, and we continue to focus on growing food sustainably, while educating and engaging the community.
With climate change affecting growing conditions, have you had to adapt any of your traditional farming practices to maintain soil health – as that is something that is heavily emphasized? If so, what changes have been most effective?
We haven’t had a change in growing practices specific to maintaining soil health. Climate change isn’t really impacting soil health, it more impacts plant health and farmer health; we have to take more water breaks for the health of the farm workers than we used to because the summers are too hot. When I started here 20 years ago, the conventional wisdom was that June 1st was the safe, frost-free date. You wouldn’t plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants—anything like that—until after June 1st. But now, a lot of farmers are planting tomatoes in the first or second week of May, two to three weeks earlier. That’s because it’s gotten so much warmer. But then, two years ago, people were planting early, and we had a late May frost. Everyone called it a ‘freak frost,’ but it wasn’t. It was actually within the normal range—we’ve just gotten used to different patterns. Climate change doesn’t just mean a steady increase in temperature. Eventually, it will shift our climate zones, but for now, it mostly means more variability. It feels like we can plant earlier or later, but then suddenly, we realize we might not be able to. The biggest impact we’ve seen from climate change isn’t just temperature—it’s precipitation. The total amount of rain in a year hasn’t changed much, but how it falls has. We’re seeing heavier, shorter bursts instead of steady rainfall, which makes farming even more unpredictable.
How does the farm engage with the Newton community, especially students and families, to promote environmental awareness?
We’ve worked with both high schools, at least one middle school—Oak Hill—and also Brown, as well as almost all of the elementary schools at some point over the last 20 years. We’ve helped install gardens, develop curriculum, and host student visits here at the farm. We’ve also sent farm staff to schools to talk about sustainability, food production, and where our food comes from. However, we’ve never quite managed to integrate this work into the formal curriculum. That’s been a challenge because it always depends on individual teachers—those who see the value in farming and gardening as a teaching tool. Without systemic support, it’s difficult to make these programs a lasting part of students’ education.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face in running a community farm, particularly in a suburban/urban setting like Newton?
One of the biggest challenges we face is awareness—people simply not knowing we’re here. Even after 20 years, I still meet people who have no idea this is a community farm. It’s funny because we’re in a high-profile location, and you’d think everyone would know about us. But a lot of people just drive by without realizing what this space is. Since we’re in a suburban area, it doesn’t immediately register as a farm to them. Another challenge is wildlife, particularly deer. Interestingly, friends with farms in more rural areas deal with less deer pressure because there’s more open space and natural food sources. Here, in a suburban setting, our farm becomes a major food magnet for them. We’ve also had issues with theft, which is more common on urban and suburban farms. In the past, our farm stand operated on the honor system, but we had to change that due to frequent theft. People have even stolen plants from our greenhouses and fields. On top of that, we deal with urban pressures like traffic, noise, and pollution, all of which impact our growing conditions. It’s something we discuss with our high school students when we talk about the challenges of farming in a suburban environment.
Can you share a success story or project that you’re particularly proud of from the past year?
One of the things I’m most excited about and proud of is our high school intern program. It’s incredible to have students come back five, ten, even fifteen years later and tell us how meaningful this experience was for them. Not everyone who goes through the program is deeply impacted by it, but we’ve had former interns go on to study agriculture, environmental law, and other related fields. That’s what makes this program so special. High school is such an important time—students are thinking about their future, their choices, and how they want to engage with the world. It’s the perfect moment for us to connect with them, to start conversations about sustainability, and to show them ways they can make a difference. That’s why we do this, and it’s one of my favorite parts of the farm.
How can community members get more involved with the farm, whether through volunteering, education programs, or other initiatives?
We offer a range of volunteer opportunities, from casual Saturday programs where people can get to know the farm, to more dedicated roles for those who want to commit to a regular schedule and dive deeper into how and why we farm the way we do. Our board is entirely made up of volunteers—people with financial, legal, and other professional backgrounds who lend their expertise to help us operate as a nonprofit. Their support is invaluable in keeping the farm running. Beyond volunteering, we encourage people to visit our farm stand and participate in our programs.
Devan Kathiresan is a Junior at Milton Academy and a Green Newton Intern.
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