CFNCM President Steve Adams and Director of Grants and Impact Meghan Maceiko recently spent a day at The Farm School in Athol—a visit that was as inspiring as it was educational. From learning about the school’s partnership with the Nipmuc community and efforts to return ancestral land, to sharing a homemade lunch with students from a visiting school, the farm’s energy and sense of purpose brightened an otherwise cool, rainy day.

The day began with a tour of the farm, where staff shared how CFNCM’s support has helped advance the Nipmuc Land Project. Through years of patient relationship-building, 181 acres of land were officially transferred to Nipmuc ownership in 2025. Now known as Pequoig Farm, this land is being cultivated to advance Nipmuc food sovereignty—building a strong, healthy farm ecosystem that provides fresh food, traditional medicine, land-based education, and deep cultural connection for the tribal community.

Steve and Meghan also spent time with students participating in the Visiting Schools Program, one of The Farm School’s hallmark educational experiences. Each week, students from across Massachusetts spend several days living and learning on the farm. They care for animals, harvest vegetables, cook together, and experience firsthand what it means to be part of a working farm community. Lunch that day—made almost entirely from the farm’s own produce and meat—was a perfect reflection of the farm’s values of sustainability and stewardship.

Throughout the visit, it was clear that The Farm School is much more than a place that grows food—it grows connection, understanding, and respect for the land and for each other.

A heartfelt thank-you to Cristina Garcia, The Farm School’s Development and Storytelling Director, for sharing her passion and perspective, and to the entire Farm School team for their hospitality and dedication to this important work.

At CFNCM, we are proud to support projects that strengthen community, preserve culture, and cultivate a more sustainable future for all.