Recreation
The Dartmouth Organic Farm wouldn’t be possible without the work which interested students are willing to put into it — crop planning, planting, weeding, and harvesting, and all the other necessary activities which go into keeping a working farm running smoothly. Although a core of dedicated students are involved with the Farm on a continual basis, the Farm relies on volunteer efforts from students and groups who visit less frequently.The Farm is designed for people of all levels of skill and interest to participate, from the total novice to the experienced farm worker. We have staff and tasks available throughout the growing season (April to November). The Farm is also a very popular site for group activities, from sorority and fraternity work days, to youth projects, such as North Country Weekend and the Templeton Project.
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The organic vegetable operation is located on a 200 acre ex-dairy farm, just three miles from campus. This Fullington Farm site provides access to some of more special aspects of the northern New England landscape. To the west, the Fullington Farm site is bordered by the region’s largest river, the Connecticut. Serving as a major flyway for bird migration and supporting natural riverine communities, the river provides viewing of many kinds of wildlife, including osprey, ducks and geese, and beaver, otter, and muskrat.
The largest portion of the Fullington Farm is in the process of returning to the dominant northern New England natural community, the mixed hardwood forest. With over 150 acres of released pasture and forest cover, the wooded portion of the farm site supports a wide variety of flora and fauna, including bear, moose, deer, fisher, fox, and porcupine. An informal series of trails and woods roads provide easy walking access to a number of areas in the forest, including an excellent "forest succession" walk to the top of Oak Hill. There are a number of limited field guides and references available at the farm to inform the observant and curious visitor.
Throughout the four seasons, the Farm provides a wide range of sites and recreational activities, from the water front to the ridge. Picnicking, tracking, swimming, cross country skiing, and hiking are just some of the experiences at the Dartmouth Organic Farm.
