Calista Farm

10 Elder Ave, Kingston, MA 02364, USA

Kingston Conservation: 781-585-0537

Owned By: Town of Kingston

• Directions

Calista Farm in Kingston is a 10-acre property that abuts the Jones River. A 0.36-mile trail leads downhill, along the edge of a 4-acre meadow, and in a loop through a small woodland, with views of salt marsh and wetlands.

Please note that visitors are not allowed to cross the train tracks by the salt marsh.

Hunting is not allowed on this property.

Features

This property was purchased in 2010 with Community Preservation funds along with a generous gift from L. Knife & Sons/Sheehan Family Foundation. In the recent past, it was used for agriculture, and was purchased by the town in order to present overdevelopment of the area. According to the Town of Kingston, the property “has been a hub of human habitation since the ice age receded, between access to the coastal resources (fish, shellfish, salt hay and much more) and Elder’s Spring, a crystal-clear flow of fresh water that bubbled up through white sand at the edge of the salt marsh just northeast of this property.” Please note that the original spring location is on private property, and not accessible to visitors.

This land is within the region of the Wampanoag. To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Herring Pond Wampanoag and the Mashpee Wampanoag share information on their websites.

Trail Description

The Town of Kingston maintains a grassy trail along the edge of the field. This connects to a small woodland, where there is a loop of about 0.18 miles. The total distance from the parking area to the end of the loop is about 0.36 miles. The trail along the edge of the field is mowed monthly, in season, as funding allows. Please note: Crossing the railroad tracks is not permitted and may result in fines or legal action.

Habitats and Wildlife

There are several habitats present at Calista Farm, including meadow, coastal woodland, freshwater wetland, and salt marsh.

In the meadow, look for native plants such as butterfly milkweed, little bluestem, goldenrod, and common milkweed. You might see butterflies (including monarchs, cabbage whites, and various species of skippers), along with white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrels, and coyotes. Trees along the perimeter include maple, cherry and cedar. Additional species in the woodland and wetland include pine, oak, sweet pepperbush, buckthorn, and skunk cabbage.

Calista Farm directly abuts the Jones River. The Jones River finds its source at Silver Lake, and extends for 7.5 miles through the town of Kingston. We encourage you to follow and support the Jones River Watershed Association.