NEW MARLBOROUGH — Baby chicks brood in the dormitories at the former Kolburne School and the cafeteria is now called the tractor lounge. This innovative use of these architecturally insignificant structures comes after Tom Brazie bought 140 acres in 2017 and reclaimed the former boarding school as The Farm New Marlborough . At 45, Brazie, who grew up in New Marlborough with roots dating to 1745 has now realized his childhood dream of being a farmer.
Now he has another dream: to turn his property into a Berkshire County food hub in concert with other farmers. On Tuesday, he and vegetable farmer Jamie Nadler spoke during a southern Berkshire County farm tour. Hosted by Berkshire Grown as a requirement of its grant funding, the four-stop tour was designed for Ashley Randle, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, as well as her staff.
The tour also included stops at Off the Shelf, at River Run Farm in Great Barrington; April Hill Farm in South Egremont; and Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market in Monterey. About 30 people joined the Berkshire Grown farm tour Tuesday. The four-stop tour is hosted by Berkshire Grown as a requirement of its grant funding.
Margaret Moulton, executive director at Berkshire Grown, said each year she plans a different theme. This year's was community. “In the Berkshires, in particular in the southern Berkshires, the level of community partnership and collaboration is inspiring,” she said.
“It sometimes is what keeps m.
