A weekend welcoming friends from Yale to the farm

Memorial Day Weekend
Friday, May 24 - Monday, May 27, 2024
at Red Gate Farm, Ashfield, MA

Party at the farm!  Its happening. I hope you will join me and Amy (and Charlie and Ainsley) for a very casual and fun weekend on the farm with fellow classmates, friends and family.  Come for the company of good friends and new acquaintances, participate in any or all of the activities… or don't and simply enjoy a slow, restful, bucolic (look, a Yale word!)  weekend on the farm.  We'll have plenty of delicious home-cooked meals, great spaces for hanging out and lots of time to catch up.

Who's invited?
Well, you are...  and your partner/spouse/special-friend and any children that are associated with you (legally or otherwise - think of the farm as a refuge).  I’m inviting friends I made at Yale, so… you’re invited!.  If I ever sold a donut to you... you're invited!  Are you a friend of a friend who really wants to come… you're invited!  Yes! Josh is invited!  

Where can we spend the night?
I'm glad you asked.  There are several options, depending on your taste and budget. The farm has simple, comfortable housing in our student dorm called “The Roost”.  There are 11 bedrooms with 1 - 3 bunkbeds per room, nearby bathrooms, showers etc....  all first-come, first served reservations.  Feeling a little more rustic? You are welcome to reserve one of our cabin tents that each have 4 beds with mattresses. 

There are also several nearby Airbnb's, and hotels ranging from 15-45 minutes away - I can help point you in the right direction.  We also have space on site for intrepid campers who want to either use our cabin tents or do their own tenting.

I hear you yammering on about the farm, remind me...
This is natural, and my kids would agree - I yammer a lot. Red Gate Farm is not only where I work, but also where I live… which means we have the run of the farm and all its great facilities during the weekend. I promise I won’t make you do work… mostly.

You want me to come for the whole weekend?
Well - ideally, yes... I miss you and would like to spend as much time with you as possible (especially you, Josh).  BUT I appreciate that people's lives are busy (perhaps this is a good time to slow down?) and everyone has a lot of different commitments (really, its been a LONG time since we've seen each other!).  I will be delighted to see you for whatever time you can give... so come for just Saturday and Sunday, Friday/Saturday or maybe even just a day (but remember you'll be sad when you leave so early)...  The goal is to get you to the farm and visit with each other!

You live in the middle of nowhere, how the hell do I get there?
Fair question.  But having recently driven across the midwest, I object.  Here are best options for getting here:

I know of at least two people who are flying to Bradley, and so I suspect carpooling options abound.  I am also happy to make a trip to the airport or train station to pick people up if we can coordinate somehow.  

What is the plan for the weekend?
Gosh, you ask great questions.  Here's a suggested itinerary - where everything is optional.  I'm ready to go rogue on this at anytime if people would prefer to do some other things, or more of one thing, but it gives you an idea of what's on offer for our weekend.

Friday, May 24, 2024

2pm - Farm open for arrivals

4pm - Farm Chores - barn tour, feed the animals, check on lambs and chicks

5pm - Drinks, appetizers and ready for dinner

6pm - Dinner - from the grill in the dining hall, drop-ins and late arrivals welcome

7:30pm - Evening campfire - s'mores, stories and saying good night to the animals

Saturday, May 25, 2024

8am - Farm Chores

8am - 9:30am - Pancake breakfast - late arrivals welcome

10am - Farm Adventures

  • Grand Tour (farm and Amy's Hillside Nursery just down the hill)

  • Ox training

  • Forest hike

12pm - Lunch - served in the dining hall - sandwiches, soup, salads and light fare

1pm - Farm Play

  • Frisbee golf (farm style)

  • Archery or riflery

  • Trip to Shelburne Falls

  • Pond and stream exploration

4pm - Farm Chores

5pm - Drinks, appetizers and ready for dinner

6pm - Farm Dinner - served in the dining hall

8pm - Games and campfire - stump (family version), horseshoes, celebrity, s'mores, and more...



Sunday, May 26, 2024

8am - Farm Chores

8am - 11am - Brunch - served in the dining hall

11am - Hike to the lookout - includes a light trail lunch

12pm - Lunch - served in the dining hall - sandwiches, soup, salads and light fare

1:30pm - Farm Relaxasaurus

  • Workshop robots

  • Beekeeping

  • Pigcasso watercolors

  • Country road walk

4pm - Farm Chores

5pm - Drinks, appetizers and ready for dinner

6pm - Farm Dinner - served in the dining hall

8pm - Board Games - we are obsessed, so you have some choices:
Splendor, Cosmic Encounter, Cranium, Pictionary, Dixit, Fury of Dracula, Heat, Arnkak, Noctiluca, Pandemic, Wild Space, Tara, Wingspan, Apples to Apples, Tokaido, Tsuro, Settlers of Catan, Forbidden Island, Scattergories, Azul, Celtic Realm, Sushi Go, Trash Panda, Coup, 6 Nimmt, Horrified, The Wolves, Munchkin, The King of New York, Anomia, Race to Adventure, The Mind, or Phase 10, or something someone else brings...

Monday, May 27, 2024

8am - Farm Chores

8am - 11am - Brunch - served in the dining hall

12pm - Farm waves good-bye to our guests