MassWoods

1920s

The Dziekanowski family purchased the land in North Amherst from the Emily Dickenson estate.

1920s until 2004

For several decades the farm was used to grow crops and raise dairy cattle.

Originally the farm was used for dairy cows. In recent years, the farmer raised Scottish Highland cattle, and 14 ½ acres were leased to a neighboring farmer for growing squash and corn.

Spring of 2004

Edwin Dziekanowski, the last residing member of the Dziekanowski family fell ill and was no longer able to live on the farm. To pay for medical costs, Dziekanowski was forced to sell the farm, but refused to let the land be sold for development.

To protect the farm from residential development Andrew Jekanowski, Dziekanowski’s power of attorney, applied for an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) from the State of Massachusetts. 

December of 2004

With only six weeks to commit to purchasing the land, a group of community members formed the North Amherst Community Farm (NACF) to raise funds to protect the land. Kestrel Trust, a local community land trust, served as a fiscal agent and advisor to the newly formed NACF.

August 2005

The State of Massachusetts agreed to purchase the APR on the land for $355,000. 

The Town of Amherst also contributed $100,000 toward the purchase of the land, from the Amherst Community Preservation Act Fund. 

To raise supplemental funds for the land purchase, NACF established itself as a local CSA, and took over agricultural production on the farm. Working in conjunction with Simple Gifts Farm, the farm shifted to organic crop production. 

2006

NACF becomes a registered non-profit organization. Kestrel Trust is no longer needed as a fiscal agent. Funds still remain to be raised for the down payment on the property.