OUR FARM & FRiends
OUR HISTORY
Dalby Farm has been in Bowen-DiTommaso’s family since 1861 when John Dalby came to Scituate from England and started a poultry farm. For many years it continued to function as a chicken farm selling eggs and meat to local merchants. However, after reading an article about protecting endangered and threatened farm animals, the DiTommasos decided to transform the property into a space to raise awareness about animals and nature. The family got their first rare animals through Plimoth Plantation’s rare breed animal program about 20 years ago. The farm is now home to farm animals ranging from rare poultry to rare livestock
Currently run by owners Cheryl Bowen-DiTommaso, her husband Joel DiTommaso, and daughter Kendall, the main goal of the farm is to educate people about the importance of conservation and preservation, including saving rare breed animals before it’s too late. As member of the Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Dalby Farm’s mission is to take care of rare breed animals with hardy and good attributes, as modern farmers have moved to hybrid farm animals to maximize profits but which can be vulnerable to things like diseases.
ABOUT
To educate today’s youth about farm life and these rare breed farm animals, Dalby Farm offers summer and school enrichment programs for children, birthday parties, tours and field trips, and other community events. Programs are run by the DiTommaso’s but also with the assistance of counselors who were former attendees of the farm’s programs, coming back every year to eventually become part of the Dalby Farm family. The farm also runs a country store, both on-site and online, that sells all-natural condiments, goat milk soaps and lotions, and other items to help support the care and breeding of the animals.
Dalby Farm and is open from May – October, though our animal family lives at the farm all year round. Our on-site and online Country Store is open year-round. Revenues from our programs and Country Store finance the care and upkeep of the animals and farm, as we do not receive any grants or financial assistance.
Our Credentials
Dalby Farm’s Program Director and owner, Cheryl Bowen-DiTommaso, has been teaching crafts to children, both privately and previously through Scituate Recreation Department, for over a decade. All program staff is carefully selected based on their experience and character. Most of the helpers have grown up coming to the farm programs themselves!
Additionally, Dalby Farm was one of 10 satellite farms for Plimoth Plantation’s Rare Breeds Department, a member of the Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC), and a member of the Arapawa Goat Breeders USA. Membership in this association is very limited as there are only a dozen registered breeders nationally.
Dalby Farm is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Game.
