The Front Lawn

The front lawn is an all-purpose outdoor meeting space decorated with perennial gardens and ornamental trees. It’s the place to be for a ton of children’s education programs, our seasonal farmers market, workshops and classes, or farm-fancy events.

The education programs at Historic New England’s Casey Farm are deeply embedded in natural history and agriculture within a historical setting. Since inception, education programs have grown to serve over 20,000 children per year.

Through Project CHICK: Chickens Hatching in Classrooms and school field trips, children from across Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts visit Casey Farm to learn about poultry farm management from egg collection and incubation to the preservation of rare historical breeds.  They also learn about the importance and care of other heritage breeds of turkeys, pigs, ducks, rabbits and cattle.  No visit to the farm is complete without a stop by the gardens and fields where children discover how fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs are cultivated.

There are many program offerings parents and educators may choose for their students. Simple Machines teaches the science behind and benefits of doing farm work with the six basic types of simple machines. At the Bay is a hands-on exploration of Narraganset Bay and salt pond at Casey Point with seine nets. Summer Camps combine interactive ways to learn about the farm, bay, forest, pond, games, crafts, history, swimming, and adventure for ages 3-13.

The design of the education programs at Casey Farm benefitted from the extensive backgrounds of the first CSA farmers in the 1990s, Mike and Polly Hutchison, and the subsequent coordinators’ expertise in environmental science, agriculture and experiential education. With my team of talented and caring farm teachers, I have guided the development of the educational programming to mesh with curriculum standards using new, fun topics. Historic New England has encouraged the development of programming at Casey Farm to weave together human history, nature and agriculture to show the diversity of this unique, historical property.

–Adam Lowe, Education Coordinator

Special Events

Casey Farm has special events and activities for people of all ages year-round. The holiday and winter ecology programs bring in people to look for wildlife tracks or make evergreen wreaths. We know spring is here with the arrival of the annual Egg Hunt. The raising of our tent on the front lawn later in the spring means that the Spring Seedling Sale, farmers markets, and field trips are just around the corner. In the summer, the tent shelters Casey Farm campers during and sometimes group tours or farm-fancy reception guests. On the last Saturday of October, we celebrate the last market of the season with a Halloween Harvest Market.

Farmers Market

A farmers market was started on Casey Farm’s front lawn in 2002, the brainchild of resident farm managers Mike and Polly Hutchison along with local vendors. The market was managed by our partners, the Coastal Growers Market, who made it a fun and welcoming event with lawn games and live music while maintaining the highest standards. The Casey Farm Market, managed by Historic New England since 2022, keeps up this tradition. This is a Class A Market, meaning all items are grown or made locally. There is always a great mixture of hand-crafted products, prepared foods and baked goods, and plenty of fresh fruits and veggies including Casey Farm’s own organic offerings. Markets run each Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from mid-May through the end of October (plus some surprise pop-ups now and then!).

Private Functions

Casey Farm is a lovely and historic setting for meaningful events. The open farm landscape and gardens, rustic buildings and stone walls, and stunning views of Narragansett Bay set the stage for festivities. The 300 acres of Casey Farm have been cultivated for centuries and still produce a variety of organic produce, which may even be incorporated into events menus.

Casey Farm can accommodate up to 150 people using our freestanding tent and picnic tables, or additional rented tents, tables, and chairs. A select number of special events are held between late May and the first week of September, when our lawn, gardens, and fields are looking their best. For more information, please contact the site manager at JHennedy@HistoricNewEngland.org.

Annual Spring Egg Hunt

Each year, families flock to Casey Farm for some springtime family fun, complete with a candy-filled egg hunt. They can explore the farm, visit the chickens, play farm games, have some light refreshments, and make some crafts. Did you think we would have a big bunny on this chicken farm? No, the age-appropriate egg hunts for children up to twelve years old are presided over by our own MC, Mr. Chicken.

Workshops and Classes

Casey Farm’s adult and family programs are rooted in history, growing things, and the beauty of this place. We have used our spaces for crafting evergreen wreaths, teaching organic gardening, going on nature walks, and for fantastic performances. And, we have virtual programs to enjoy from anywhere. Take a look at our upcoming events to see if there is something you’ve always wanted to do. https://www.historicnewengland.org/property/casey-farm/