by Sam Sherman
Programs Coordinator
Reswt-Stop-Ranch
TOPSFIELD − The Grassroots Fund recently awarded a Grow Grant in the amount of $2,800 to Rest-Stop-Ranch in Topsfield. Rest-Stop-Ranch is an inclusive nature sanctuary built for caregivers and the people they are caring for. The property offers a half mile of paved, ADA-compliant pathways that wind through the gardens and lead to a patio overlooking a lily pond.
This grant will be used to continue the construction of a boardwalk system from the patio to the edge of the pond. When completed, the boardwalk will expand the wheelchair-accessible area for visitors.
The Grassroots Fund is dedicated to co-creating healthy and sustainable communities throughout New England. They empower individuals, groups and organizations working across a broad range of environmental and social justice issues by helping them identify, select and access the specific tools, resources and connections they need to challenge existing systems and develop lasting solutions to the complex problems affecting their communities. To learn more, see www.grassrootsfund.org.
Rest-Stop-Ranch is located at 202 Haverhill Road (Rt. 97), Topsfield, MA. The wheelchair-accessible gardens feature a wide variety of roses, lilacs, fruit trees, and a kitchen garden with raised beds, all planted for close-up enjoyment from the paths. The property is also a Level I accredited arboretum. Rest-Stop-Ranch hosts a monthly memory café and support programs as well as seasonal events; all are free of charge. Programs resume after Labor Day. For more information on programs and visiting details, see https://rest-stop-ranch.org.
