Ad copy

“Farming is all we do. We even drag our friends into it.” Hey, I’m Ryan (the awkward guy in the middle🤦‍♂️). I would like to share the proud history that got us to where we are today. I started Lilac Hedge Farm in 2011 as a 20 year old juggling school and a part-time job. I named it after my grandparent’s dairy business, Lilac Hedge Dairy (top picture), which was founded in Worcester, MA in 1898. It's my way to commemorate their legacy that inspired me to start my own journey. Many farms of today have been around for generations. So, without a legacy family farm to inherit, I faced many challenges by starting from scratch. It was a daunting task of figuring out how to make my dream a reality while living in a state with some of the highest land costs in the country (if you know, you know 😅). I started the journey anyways by renting land and raising animals on 200 acres across 5 different towns. With the support of incredible people and partnerships, my dream began to turn into reality. In 2016, I finally purchased my own 350-acre farm in Holden, MA and 50 more acres in 2020. Here we are today! We’ve gone from renting land and only selling at a couple weekly farmers markets to operating on our own 500+ acres in Central Mass., 5+ farmers markets a week, a year-round farm stand, and a booming home delivery business! How did we do it? Well, I couldn’t have done it without “a little help from my friends” 🎶 (a nod to the Beatles fans out there). As the farm grew, so did the team. I hired three of my friends who I met through farming that have lifelong experience in agriculture. I even hired someone who was my manager at a job I had in high school! These top level managers, Ashley, Jimmy, Heidi, and Erin have been instrumental in growing the farm. (in the bottom picture with me!). I’m proud of all the accomplishments and how far Lilac Hedge Farm has come in just over 10 years...and we couldn't have done it without our incredibly loyal customers. We look forward to having you alongside our journey as we continue to raise safe, healthy food to provide for thousands of families every year all while continuing to improve our land, the animals we care for, and our community. If you'd like to learn more about our history, shop our pasture-raised meats, or plan a visit to the farm, check us out here: lilachedgefarm.com Until next time, Ryan MacKay, Owner