The Farm
Our Story
Elizabeth and Al’s love story began with farming: They met as farm apprentices in 1995. In 1996 Elizabeth was working for Robyn Van En, one of the founders of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) movement, at Indian Line Farm. After Robyn’s untimely death in 1997 Al and Elizabeth entered into a partnership with The Nature Conservancy and The Community Land Trust in the Southern Berkshires to preserve Indian Line Farm as a working farm. Its cornerstones are farmland affordability, watershed and wildlife habitat conservation and community involvement in sustainable food production.
Our Land
The Indian Line is the approximately mile wide strip of fertile land the Housetunnock people chose to keep as their reservation in a deed of 1724. It extended from the Housatonic River in Massachusetts into New York. It contained hills and valleys, swamps, streams, springs, a veritable wild game preserve, berry patches and nut trees with one main brook, now known as Karner Brook. Our 17 acre farm occupies a portion of this tract and we are proud of this heritage. We embrace the legacy of stewarding this land. In 1985 Indian Line Farm became the first Community Supported Agriculture Farm and we have been proudly continuing this model.
Learn more about Indian Line Farm History.
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Our Family
Indian Line Farm is a true family farm. Not only have our beautiful children grown up here, so have many of the Indian Line Farm shareholders’ families. Many a young farmer has also blossomed out of Indian Line’s apprenticeship program, spreading our community of farmers far and wide.
Our Crew
Indian Line Farm is an exciting place to work. Every season we have several apprentices, full time employees, working members and volunteers that help us make the farm a productive place. If you would like to join our team as an employee or as an apprentice, please contact Elizabeth ekeenfarms@gmail.com for an application. Also, check out our Policies and Expectations so you know what you are getting into.
We are proud to participate in the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) program and depending on the year can provide housing to apprentices.
Get Involved
Indian Line Farm is proud to work with others to meet the needs of our community.
Toward this goal, we encourage your participation in the following ways.
Two Hours of Volunteer Time
We encourage members to work two hours at the farm a season. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the farm and farmers.
We provide multiple times throughout the season to do this. For example, every Wednesday from 8-12 we have Working Wednesdays and it is a great opportunity to make the farm weed free and meet other members. We also have our Annual Garlic Harvest in late July and in the Fall we work together to plant the garlic. As they say, many hands make light work.
Donate to the Indian Line Farm Fund
These funds go directly to Indian Line Farm and are not tax-deductible. The fund provides both financial assistance to members who request it and extra produce to the People’s Pantry in Great Barrington. See Sign-Up Form for making a donation or if you would like to purchase a whole share we will make sure it goes to the right person.
Donate Directly to Share the Bounty
Share the Bounty is a program of Berkshire Grown. Your tax-deductible donation to Berkshire Grown buys shares at Indian Line Farm which then are given to needy families. The pantry regularly serves 40-60 families per week. The needs are great! Include Indian Line Farm/Share the Bounty in the memo line of check and send to: Berkshire Grown, P.O. Box 983, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Or make a donation online at www.berkshiregrown.org
Thank you for your extra help!
