Preservation Orchard
Mt. Warner - Hadley, MA
Preservation Collaborative
Preservation Collaborative has grown in place organically, starting with founders Nicole Blum and Jonathan Carr’s goal of integrating synergistic agricultural practices into the varied orchard landscape of their farm. First joined by Rachel Haas and Matt Kaminsky of Meadowfed Lamb in 2018, rotationally grazed sheep and poultry were welcomed to add mowing and fertility with meat, egg, and fiber production. In 2021, Ava Blum-Carr and Joe Manning started Preservation Farm, a diverse no-till market garden producing organic vegetables and flowers on a rich bench of lowlands at the bottom of the hillside orchard.
Carr’s Ciderhouse
After buying the 40 acre orchard on Mt.Warner in 2003, we - Nicole and Jonathan - began the process of planting new apple orchard blocks with the intention of making hard cider. In 2012, Carr’s Ciderhouse Hard Cider was launched! Since those early days, our vision has grown to include a wide diversity of fruit and nut plantings to accompany our commitment to building a resilient farm with deep community in our valley.
Preservation Farm
Preservation Farm is run by Ava Blum-Carr (our daughter) & Joe Manning. They grow beautiful no-till organic vegetables and flowers for the farmstand, local farmer’s markets and small restaurants and grocers. Expect interesting varieties chosen for their flavor and beauty, with the highest standards in freshness and quality. Follow them on instagram @preservationorchard for captivating bug reports.
Meadowfed Lamb
Meadowfed Lamb is run by Rachel Haas and Matt Kaminsky beautifully manage silvopastures on Preservation Orchard where their sheep strip graze fresh pasture in the tree rows (that’s what silvopasture is) and then the chickens follow in their path. In the farmstand, you will find cuts of frozen lamb, pasture-raised chicken & eggs, and wool sponges. Check out @meadowfedlamb on Instagram for a beautiful look into the lives of these deeply cared for animals. They also have the most incredible Finn sheep yarn, both natural colors and naturally plant dyed, upon request.
What’s growing
Chestnuts
Two acres of thriving Chinese chestnuts for selling in fresh in the farmstand and for roasting at the cider Garden - the perfect cider snack.
Perry pears
TKieffer, Moonglow, and Ayers Sugar Pear are among the pears we grow for our traditional perry.
Hay
Inter-row haying is a valuable technique for orchard management and keeps our goat herd full all winter.
Cider Apples
We grow Golden Russet, Goldrush, Franklin, Virginia Crabapple, and a host of unusual cider apples for pressing into traditional natural hard ciders.
American Persimmons
Two acres of native persimmons will be yielding fruit for baking & vinegar making.
Berries
Canefruit, currants, aronia, and honeyberry are among the small fruit we grow to sell in the farmstand, and to add to shrubs, vinegars, & hard cider.
Heartnuts & hazelnuts
Resilient nut crops that thrive in our region include hazels and heartnuts (a Japanese Walnut variety). As our new plantings mature, we will be selling them in the farmstand for fresh eating
Cider Press
We still use the traditional elm press racks on our 125 year old Mt.Gilead oak frame cider press. This beautifully built machine can press up to 800 gallons in a day's work.