Fridays on the Farm: Growing Sustainability and Fall Fun in Massachusetts

This Friday meet Elio Silva, a beginning farmer in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Originally from Minas Gerais, Brazil, Elio moved to Massachusetts in 1988. He always dreamed of owning a farm and found the perfect opportunity in February of 2023 when he purchased Vineyard Farm. This diversified vegetable and livestock operation is focused on sustainability and regenerative agriculture. It’s also home to the largest corn maze in the state.

The land where Vinyard Farm lies had been in conventional agricultural production for over two centuries. Now, Elio is in his first year of implementing regenerative production practices on the farm to create a more resilient ecosystem by improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and capturing carbon. 

According to the farm’s website, Elio’s methods include crop diversity, minimal soil disturbance, and integrating animals into the natural cycle. This system not only helps the farm thrive but also improves water retention, enhances nutrient-rich soil, and promotes long-term sustainability.

Working with NRCS 

Elio reached out to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for help in reaching his sustainability goals and improving the land. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), he was able to implement a lined waterway, protecting against erosion.  

“NRCS has come in handy in this transition, it has been challenging to make changes,” says Elio. “I can use all the help I can get to make this farm a sustainable endeavor.” 

Elio is only just getting started. Looking to expand his conservation efforts, he is working closely with NRCS and American Farmland Trust (AFT) on his 2025 conservation plan.

In the future, Elio plans to implement reduced tillage practices and manage farmland soil fertility. He’s currently using a cover crop mix and wants to improve his pollinator habitat. He outsources compost, but plans to produce it at Vineyard Farm, too. 

Fall at Vineyard Farm

Vineyard Farm is an agrotourism destination for locals every fall. Customers can purchase pumpkins and other crops throughout the season, and on the weekends, venture into the 10-acre corn maze. The maze is divided in three sections: a half-mile maze for children, a half-mile maze of medium difficulty, and a difficult maze that is just over two miles and takes about an hour to complete. 

The fruit and vegetables grown at Vineyard Farm are picked daily during the growing season, May through October, and are sold in the farm store, along with other locally grown and sourced products.

Vineyard Farms also offers seasonal U-pick experiences for blueberries, strawberries, and flowers. Elio also hopes to establish an apple orchard on the property.

While he takes pride in everything he produces on the farm, harvesting jiló (Solanum gilo) is sentimental, as it’s a popular fruit among Brazilians. He plans to double his jiló production next year and sell jiló transplants as well.

More Information

Visit local farms, ranches, forests, and resource areas through our Fridays on the Farm stories. Meet farmers, producers, and landowners who are working to improve their operations with USDA programs.

New to farming or want to learn how to start a farm? USDA offers dedicated help to beginning farmers and ranchers. 

USDA offers a variety of risk management, disaster assistance, loan, and conservation programs to help producers weather ups and downs in the market and recover from natural disasters as well as invest in improvements to their operations. Learn about additional programs.

For more information about USDA programs and services, contact your local USDA service center.

Zoraia de Jesus Barros is a public affairs specialist for NRCS in Massachusetts.