Miller Farm and Garfield Road

Year Acquired / 1997 to 2015

Size / 52 acres

Trails / 2

Properties / 5

These two areas frame one of Concord’s principal agricultural lands, where farming has been a way of life for over 300 years. On the west side of the valley, the 52-acre Miller Farm consists of wooded upland and farm land along Sudbury Road. The Land Trust continues to lease the open land for agricultural purposes. Across Sudbury Road from Miller Farm, the eastern ridge of the valley is defined by the Land Trust’s Garfield Road properties, Ferguson Land, Thornton Woods, and Anderson Woods. Walks here afford views across the farm fields as well as interesting ledge formations and lime-tolerant plants. The protection of Land Trust lands along Garfield Road was achieved through the forethought and generosity of members and neighbors.

Features

Historic farm fields, old barn foundation, one of Concord’s largest hemlocks

Trail Conditions

Generally easy walk, some slight hills and wet areas

Entrances / parking

Sudbury Road:

Parking for 2-3 cars along Sudbury Road at Willow Guzzle sign

Willard School:

Park in the Willard School parking lot / Please do not park during school hours

Garfield Road:

Park in the parking area in front of Thornton Woods

dowload miller.pdf

Explore the land

Miller Farm

The 52-acre Miller Farm was donated to CLCT by the Poutasse family in 2001.The trails on this property are located primarily in the upland woods, looping from Powder Mill Road by Willard School through the open floor of a mature oak/pine woods and descending to a dirt farm road along the fields. Local farmers continue to farm these fields; please do not disturb the crops. The foundation of an old stone barn can be found a short walk down Powder Mill Road. Panorama image courtesy of John Wood.

Thornton Woods

This 4.2 acre parcel contains the trailhead on lower Garfield Road that links to Land Trust trails in Anderson Woods and, through the Town’s Willow Guzzle, with the Land Trust’s Ferguson Land and Miller Farm properties. The land was acquired in the spring of 2008 with strong support from the Thornton family, members and neighbors.

Anderson Woods

Purchased by COLF in 1998, the house on the property was sold and the remaining 10 acres were donated to CLCT in 1999. Panorama image courtesy of John Wood.

Ferguson Land

The 5-acre Ferguson property was acquired in 1997, along with donated conservation restrictions on 6.7 abutting acres. The property links Garfield Road with the Town's Willow Guzzle Land.

North Corner

A 5.6 acre woodland located at the intersection of Garfield and Sudbury Roads was purchased in 2015 thanks to the generous support of Land Trust members. It is directly adjacent to the trail on the Ferguson property.