Page 171 - Middleborough 2024 Town Report

SOULE HOMESTEAD
EDUCATION CENTER
Smaller improvements included the continued cleaning
of spaces around the farm and the development of a
dedicated Volunteer Check-In Space in the East
Classroom where volunteers can relax, store their
belongings, check in for a program, and learn more
about where they will be lending a hand that day.
local BAMSI branch to have wonderful diferently abled
adults come out to the farm to lend a hand. Without the
tremendous help of these groups many programs at
SHEC would not be able to exist.
Soule was similarly lucky to be on the receiving end of
two diferent scout projects at the Education Center this
year. One Eagle Scout project helped us to repair and
replace fencing surrounding our Small Animal Barn and
a Gold Start Project brought a tranquil and informative
pollinator garden to the Community Garden area.
Neighbor Douglas Soule, in working with the American
Chestnut Foundation, donated and planted two
American Chestnut Trees at SHEC with the help of his
granddaughter Riley, ater discovering this endangered
tree lourishing on his property which abuts Soule.
We are so thankful to everyone who visited Soule
Homestead in 2024, and we encourage everyone in
Middleborough to visit us at SHEC, a uniquely
biodiverse and special place in your town. Soule
Homestead Education Center is open to the public to
visit almost every day from sunup to sundown. We have
bathrooms, picnic tables, and we welcome visitors to
meet our animals, check out our historic big barn, or
watch the farmers at work.
We also worked in 2024 to improve our Community
Garden Program, where community members have
been growing their own food at SHEC for over 20 years.
With the help of our weekly mighty volunteers
from New England Village, the Leaders in Training
teenager program, and individual volunteers, we were
able to revitalize the Community Gardens and expand
our oferings.
For more info about the Education Center please visit:
Our website:
SouleHomestead.org
Find us on social media sites
Facebook:
facebook.com/soulehomestead/
Instagram:
Instagram.com/soulehomestead/
We look forward to being an educational space that
draws people of all ages to Middleborough in 2025.
We have continued our partnerships with two local area
schools: Bridgewater Raynham Regional High School’s
Therapeutic Day Program and the Middleborough High
School’s Pathways Program, to foster on-the-job
working and learning opportunities for the students
who participate in these programs. Similarly, we
reignited a weekly partnership with New England
Village Inc and continued with our volunteers from the
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly MacDonald Weeks
Kelly MacDonald Weeks, PhD,
Executive Director
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