Crows’ Feat Farm comprises 100 acres of pastureland and forest in the rural idyll of Kensington NH. We work with and within a tight-knit local community to cultivate a wide variety of fruits and vegetables using permaculture techniques. We do not till the soil and use no chemicals whatsoever.
Crows’ Feat Farm, formerly known as Rolling Ridge, was established in 1744 by Capt. Jonathan Prescott, one of the founders of Kensington. Karen Parker Feld purchased the property in 2010 from Paul and Mary Avery, who placed most of its 68 Acres into a conservation easement. In 2017 Karen and her husband Peter acquired the adjoining 32-acres at 180 Drinkwater Rd, with the goal of combining and conserving these lands against future commercial development. So beloved is this spot that only eight families have lived here over the 275 years since the farm was established. The homestead was described thus by Rev. Elvin Prescott in 1948:
“In the town of Kensington on a hill from which there is one of the most beautiful views in southern New Hampshire, there is an old house of the square, solid type, built sometime in the middle of the 18th century. It is a house built on honor, every timber in it was hewn by hand, and every nail in the original structure was beaten out by hand in a blacksmith shop.”
Since its initial settlement in the 1630s, Kensington has been a farming community, one which had, by the time of the Revolution, become a “populous and prosperous town of 800 people” (the town hasn’t grown much since; the population was recorded as 2,124 souls in the 2010 census). Crops were grown primarily for subsistence, and included wheat, buckwheat, beans, corn, potatoes, pumpkins and turnips, as well as other vegetables and fruits. Hay, rye and clover were grown to feed livestock, which typically included oxen, cows, sheep and sometimes a horse or two. The animals provided food for families, fertilizer for the crops, labor for the farm and material for clothing. The proximity of the town to the salt marshes of Hampton and Hampton Falls made it more economical to support livestock, which were fed through the winter with salt hay. Other local industries included tannery, shoemaking, blacksmithing, soap-making, boat-building and basket-weaving. Phillips Exeter Academy (established in 1781) was originally to be situated in Kensington, but local farmers objected, saying they didn’t want the schoolboys running through their fields.
Like so many others in New England, Kensington was also a mill town, which produced flour, lumber and cider. 24 different cider mills were operating in town at the time of the Civil War, supporting numerous taverns in the area. Nevertheless, Drinkwater Road, upon which Crows’ Feat Farm is situated, was so named because a man once visited several places for a glass of cider, and being refused at every place went away saying, “They drink nothing but water on that road.” (Brown’s History, p. 387).
Karen Parker Feld and Peter Freeman created Crows’ Feat Farm as a gift to the community and to the next generation. We have relied upon an army of volunteers, part-time staff, friends and neighbors to help us return this land to its roots as a working farm.
It all started in 2020 when we launched a summer concert series with the goal of getting people back together, enjoying the sounds of nature and beautiful music. We had already been growing a lot of food – donating most of it to the local food pantry – but realized that a widespread longing for community demanded more of us. We began recruiting farmers and thinking about how to scale the regenerative practices we learned from the talented individuals at Seacoast Permaculture. Year by year we have expanded our growing beds, developed expertise in a wider array of perennial and annual crops, and broadened our outreach to the community.
2024 was our fifth season of outdoor music, which has brought hundreds of people to the farm; we also host community picnics ahead of the concerts to introduce people to the pleasures of farm-to-table cooking. These low-key, family-friendly events are a chance to make new friends and renew old acquaintances, while sharing the beauty of the farm. Other community events include working parties on the first Saturday of each month, when we undertake projects that none of us can do alone. Our activities have included building garden beds, propagating and transplanting seedlings, gathering seaweed, building bird boxes, cleaning out the corn crib in the barn, harvesting, and erecting hoop houses. Many friendships have emerged from these gatherings, which are the social highlight of the farm.
In 2025 we plan to expand our community outreach with a series of hands-on workshops to teach permaculture methods, farm-to-table cooking skills, food preservation, and poultry processing. We will be offering community garden space so that experienced growers can share their skills with those who want to learn. And now that our infrastructure is mostly complete, we plan to extend our monthly working parties to assist other community members who need help with their farm and garden projects. We will be offering seed saving & sharing, pick-your-own herbs and flowers, composting facilities, and other benefits for our community.
Our Farmers
A recent graduate of UNH in the department of Agricultural Sciences, Ella has been working on area farms since she was fourteen years old. She possesses deep knowledge of horticultural techniques, animal husbandry, myriad growing techniques, harvesting and farm organizational management. In her spare time Ella enjoys taking care of baby lambs, and is beloved by all who know her.
A longtime educator, musician and translator of books pertaining to organic farming and permaculture systems, John is a friend and neighbor of the farm, right around the corner. He is assisting Crows' Feat with planning and operations of our regenerative farming techniques, while developing teaching tools and methods. through our workshops and community gardening program, to make these methods available to any small scale gardener
Scott is the proprietor of Newfound Hill Farm in neighboring Hampton Falls. He is the “bees knees” of Crows’ Feat Farm and has been expanding his flock since 2021. Scott is as sweet as honey and supports our mission of cultivating community. When he’s not tiptoeing through the tulips with us, Scott brings his simple, unadulterated, and locally grown produce to the Seacoast.
Ken is a neighbor and friend of Crows’ Feat, who has been a regular participant in our work parties over the years. He has now embarked on a second career as a farmer. A former software engineer, Ken brings meticulous analytical and organizational skills to Frog Star Farm, where he cultivates the world's best lettuces, cucumbers, and radishes. Just as we have been learning from him, Ken has learned about no-till growing techniques and the art of groundhog re-location (hoping to avoid a Caddyshack moment!)
Nell and Andy manage historic K-Farm in nearby Kingston. They raise cows, goats, pigs, chickens (horses and dogs!) and two delightful children. We are have been partnering with them over the past two season in a rotational grazing program that brings nutrients to our soils and feed for their cows. Nell and Andy have generously shared their goats’ milk, expertise in turkey-plucking, and everything that’s good about community and cooperation
Alicia has been preserving food since she was 10 years old, as a way to feed family and friends from her own garden. She began by making jams and jellies from fruit picked fresh when in season, then expanded her culinary talents to pickles, preserves, other canned, cooked and baked goods. Alicia enjoys experimenting, making new things for people to try and evaluate. She is committed to bringing good food to people at a reasonable price. We agree and are delighted to provide Crabby Crow’s Country Kitchen the produce and kitchen space that Alicia needs to work her magic!
Alison became a friend of the farm in 2021, when she first stopped by to gather fresh produce. Since then, she has been a participant in our farm share, and a regular volunteer at our working parties. Alison is an experienced environmental consultant and process manager who loves challenging projects that improve operational efficiency while making our world a better place. We are grateful for her leadership of the farm's Stewardship Committee
Karen Parker Feld and Pete Freeman are taking Crows’ Feat back to its roots as a working farm. The challenge of providing sufficient and nourishing food for our society has assumed new urgency as a result of the loss of topsoil and community that are ravaging the heartlands of America. We believe that regenerative cultivation of food and forests is vitally important to the survival of our natural communities. It is upon that belief that we are restoring these lands to peak fertility, while preserving habitats for native flora and fauna.
