Lilac Hedge Farm
By Gordon Keegan
Off of Wachusett Street in Rutland, is one of the most picturesque and pastoral sights you may ever see. It’s Lilac Hedge Farm, part a 500-acre working grange. And just looking at it evokes memories of when life was simpler, and more serene. But get closer, and it’s an entirely different story. Lilac Hedge is a bustling with energy, and with a happy staff of dedicated employees it brings its customers the very finest in farm produce. This includes not only milk and eggs, but fresh beef, hand-made sausages, chicken, pork, lamb, cheese, butter, in-season fruits and veggies, and many other items. Equally important is Lilac Hedge Farm’s philosophy that healthy soils grow healthy crops and, in turn, nourish healthy animals. They minimize the environmental impact by implementing practices that conserve natural resources, reduce pollution, and protect biodiversity. And as Ryan Mackay, farm owner says, “It just makes everything taste better.”
Lilac Hedge Farm’s roots go all the way back to 1898 when it was founded by Ryan’s great-grandfather at the corner of Salisbury and Flagg Streets in Worcester. From there, it grew and moved several times until it landed at its present location. Today, Lilac Hedge Farm is comprised of two farms. One in Rutland and one in Holden. Its Holden farm is considered the “production farm” where livestock is raised on over 350 acres, and where the packinghouse is located. The Rutland farm is home to its farm stand, ice cream, kitchen, farm bar, and AirBnB’s.
So, how do you take advantage of buying some of the great array of products offered by Lilac Hedge Farm? Well, they couldn’t have made it simpler. If you’d like to take a pleasant ride, you can visit their Farm Stand in Rutland. There you can browse their total line of meats, dairy and produce. It’s a treat!
But for those who don’t have the time to shop, and are looking for great tasting meat, they’ll deliver it right to your door. This holds for households in Worcester, Essex, Barnstable, Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol Counties. Many of their customers take advantage of their Subscribe and Save program where they automatically get 5% savings, and a free item. Additionally they also offer pick-up locations, scattered throughout the area. And, of course, they appear at seasonal farmer’s markets.
But food is only part of Lilac Hedge Farm’s offering, the other part is fun! Starting in May, they open their bar, kitchen and have music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, into October. Grab some delicious tasting treats from the Farm Store, relax at a picnic table, and watch the kids interact and play with the live farm animals.
They also have the Easter Bunny coming to the farm (with photo opps for kids …March, Saturdays, 4/16 and 4/23), snuggles with goats (March Sundays, 4/17 and 4/24), Kiditioning Classes for kids (Saturdays 9-9:45 AM for ages 3-4 Saturdays 10:15-11 AM for grades K-2), and lots more. There’s always something fun going on at Lilac Hedge Farm, including old-fashioned hay rides.
To find out more about what Lilac Hedge Farm has to offer, visit their web site at lilachedgefarm.com or call 774-245-5367.