September 2019 by Ashley P.
A piece of historic Rhode Island. As advertised, the Charles & Margery Borders Farm is an "authentic New England working farm and RI historic treasure". I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon here at their Annual Bargains and Bluegrass Festival. They offered tours of the on-site farmhouse (built in the 1840s) and guided guests on nature trail walks around the property. To top it off, they hosted a yard sale offering many antiques from the property while guests perused the tables to the sounds of a local bluegrass group. First off, the volunteers here with the non-profit organization that took over operation of the farm when Charles Borders passed are just so friendly and helpful. During the guided hike of the property, I learned so much about the history of the farm and my bucolic surroundings. We viewed barns, talked about the community garden, met the cattle, walked over a land bridge that traversed a below-the-road cattle crossing, smelled fresh red cedar wood, learned about mushrooms and farm equipment, rested by a spring-fed pond and played with the Jack Russell terrier puppy that came on the trip. The red and yellow trails were well-marked and a nice stroll on a late summer day. The tour of the farmhouse was a mix of history about Charles and Margery as well as the house itself and antiques that filled it. Charles was born on the property and lived there until his death. One of the people in our tour group was a member of the Borders family (who had not been to the house since they were a child) so I was fortunate enough to hear stories they recollected from that time. A great educational, community area to preserve and introduce others to the workings of a 20th century farm. Their Facebook page offers up-to-date information on events and opportunities to lend a hand.
