Barnstable Land Trust Celebrates New Barn with Ribbon Cutting at the Michael R. Kramer Center at Fuller Farm

Photo by Greta Georgieva

West Barnstable, MA - Barnstable Land Trust (BLT) partnered with the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce to hold an official ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, October 24, to open the new Michael R. Kramer Center at its 22-acre Fuller Farm property on Route 149 in Marstons Mills.  The 3-season post and beam barn will provide storage and maintenance space for BLT’s land management equipment, as well as workshop space to help educate the public not only about the past, but also about the future of environmental sustainability including renewable energy sources like solar power, alternative septic systems, permaculture gardening, and more.

“We are so excited to see our vision for Fuller Farm become a reality” says Janet Milkman, Barnstable Land Trust’s Executive Director.  “We acquired the property in 2012 from the owner, Barbara Fuller, who never wanted to see it developed.  She was very happy to sell it to Barnstable Land Trust saying 'people don't know where their food comes from anymore.’ The barn is symbolic of how we are honoring that past but also educating people about the future.”

“This project is the successful culmination of years of planning efforts from the board, staff, and an extensive team of volunteers including project leader Peter Pometti,” added Board President Leigh Townes. “Thanks to support from many generous donors as well as local groups like Tree Fellers Arbor Care, AmeriCorps Cape Cod, and the Marston Mills Historical Society, this truly is a community effort.”

The new barn is the result of donations from people who share BLT's vision of preserving land in Barnstable and elsewhere.  The barn itself is named after Michael R. Kramer (1936-2020), whose career was spent in public relations for AT&T and NYNEX, and who summered at Centerville’s Wequaquet Lake starting in 1944 until his passing.  “He loved the natural beauty of Cape Cod, finding inspiration and comfort in the special places that organizations like Barnstable Land Trust have successfully protected.  The family is so pleased that we can honor his memory by being part of the Fuller Farm legacy,” said Richard Kramer, Michael’s brother, who lives in Centerville.     

A 6.4 kW solar system was installed by Solar Rising of Mashpee thanks to a challenge grant by the Tern Foundation’s TernSOLAR program and matching funds from the Donald C. McGraw Foundation. It will supply electricity to the barn as well as to BLT’s offices on Route 6A, while also supporting a solar electric vehicle charging station.  “We are excited to support forward-thinking organizations like Barnstable Land Trust, who embraced renewable energy design as part of its vision for Fuller Farm but also as part of their organization’s vision for the future” said Marianne Lampke & Lisa Linnehan, the Tern Foundation’s co-founders.

An extensive rainwater harvesting system will supply water to native plantings surrounding the barn as well as to a nearby permaculture garden cultivated by Resilient Roots, a nonprofit partner that will host educational workshops in the barn.  “Partnering with Barnstable Land Trust on this project was a natural fit since our mission is to help educate people on how to grow food organically, using natural ecosystems as a model while creating landscapes that include native plants, regenerate the ecosystem’s health and ensures people and wildlife can thrive,” says Kristie Kapp, Resilient Roots’ president and founder.

The alternative septic system will remove almost all the nutrients from the one bathroom.  Installing an alternative system will protect the nearby ponds, and complements Barnstable Clean Water Coalition’s nearby Shubael Pond project which is converting 20 traditional septic systems with this innovative nitrogen-reducing technology.

The BLT also has a partnership with a goat company and a pollinator field on the farm as well as meadow and woodland hiking trails, where visitors can be inspired by local poet Kim Baker’s Words in the Wild poem “Let Red Live In Your Heart.”   The Fuller Farm was a dairy farm for a hundred years, and then a farm with a kitchen garden which bordered cranberry bogs and a holly nursery.

Barnstable Land Trust (BLT) is a community-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving open space and natural resources in the Town of Barnstable and nearby areas. BLT has protected 1,100 acres in the Town of Barnstable and supported the Town in conserving over 11,000 more.  As a regional leader in collaborative land preservation and stewardship, community engagement, training, and advocacy, BLT also leverages its conservation expertise to inform local public decisions as they impact our ecosystems, community health, well-being, and quality of life. To learn more about BLT, visit the website at http://www.BLT.org  or call 508-771-2585. To view one of their free trail guides (Barnstable Trail Guide, Cape Cod Pathways/Barnstable Trail Guide, and Eagle Pond & Little River Sanctuary Trail Guide), click here; to learn more about their Words in the Wild poetry initiative on the trails click here.

Additional information about some of our Key Partners:

Resilient Roots:  Resilient Roots' mission is to provide hands-on, practical education that teaches people to grow food organically, using natural ecosystems as a model, while creating landscapes that include native plants, regenerate the ecosystem’s health and ensures people and wildlife can thrive. Click here for more information.

Solar Rising:  Solar Rising is a worker-owned full service solar installation company that provides service for PV, SDHW, Solar Thermal, electrical, and complete maintenance working on small and large scale residential and commercial projects throughout Cape Cod and all of Massachusetts. Learn more here.

Tern Foundation/TernSOLAR Program:  The Tern Foundation’s TernSOLAR challenge grant program is designed to expand renewable energy use in Massachusetts communities, making solar technology more accessible to nonprofit organizations. Grants are offered to dynamic nonprofits that engage creatively with their communities, and that also consider future generations and the natural environment in their strategic priorities and sustainability planning. Since 2010 Tern Foundation has funded 18 solar projects and associated environmental education initiatives. Learn more here.

Tree Fellers Arbor Care: Tree Fellers is a family-owned, full-service arbor care company covering all of Cape Cod. Fully licensed and insured, we specialize in safe and affordable removal, pruning, and planting of trees and shrubs. Our Certified Arborists are trained year-round to bring a fresh and modern perspective using arboricultural science to quickly, safely and accurately find solutions to the most complex situations. Find out more here.