April 2022
Starting our Far Away Farm tour at Ferry Hill, looking over the Potomac River at Shepherdstown.
Battle of Shepherdstown overview at the Cement Mill Kilns.
Our tour guide and board member Kevin Pawlak led the discussion and hike.
A view of the Osbourn House and Barn at Far Away Farms.
We are thrilled to be able to legally enter this property after so many years of fighting to protect this land from development.
March 19, 2022: Dr. Mike Nickerson, SBPA President, hosts a farm tour in the battlefield for a Beginner Farming class from the Jefferson Country Agriculture Extension Service.
Emily Morrow (right side of photo), Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Jefferson County WVU Extension Service, listens as Dr. Nickerson (yellow hat) shows hothouse gardening of spring salad greens and a beef cattle operation. The tour of the Nickerson’s Blue Mountain Meadow Farm was one of 3 farms visited that day by the class. Photo: Rosemary Nickerson
Dr. Nickerson discussed the role of agriculture and conservation easements in preserving historic sites such as the Battle of Shepherdstown, where the farm is located.
On Friday, March 18, 2022, SBPA President Dr. Mike Nickerson toured the Faraway Farm property in the historic core of the Battle of Shepherdstown. After a meeting at the town’s Sweet Shop bakery, current farm owner Mike Boltz welcomed the group that included Kathy Robertson and Tom Moore of the American Battlefield Trust; Elizabeth Wheeler, Director of the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board and SBPA Vice-President Steve Alemar. Not shown is Martin Burke of the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission who attended the meeting but not the farm tour.
The ABT recently signed a contract with Mr. Boltz to purchase the farm and a fund-raising campaign is planned by the SBPA this summer.
Thank you to the Trough Road Clean Up Crew comprised of SBPA members, for the Adopt-A-Highway Program in honor of the many years of road clean up by Sharon and Gary Capriotti. February 27, 2022. Photo: ML Nickerson, SBPA President.
December 2021.
Installation of a Barred Owl nesting box in the woods above the cement mill and River Road by Dr. Mike Nickerson.
Thanks to Bob Nickerson for the box construction and donation.
December 2021.
Less than a week after putting up the owl boxes, a Barred Owl sits on the sign for Blue Mountain Meadow Farm, Drs. Mike and Rosemary Nickerson, owners. Located in the core area of the battlefield on Stonehouse Lane off Trough Road.
Download the Brochure of this newly formed organization providing information on an important event in American history. Read the Introductory Letter to learn more.
January 2021.
Wildlife Habitat Certification was obtained from the Audubon Society for the riverside park and cement mill property along the Potomac River.
Dr. Mike Nickerson, SBPA member, worked with Wil Hershberger, Naturalist, and Katelyn Walters, Land Manager of the Potomac Valley Audubon Society to document the site’s habitat characteristics, birds and native plants.
January 2021.
Dr. Mike Nickerson installed 3 nesting boxes for Eastern Bluebirds in the battlefield property.
Thanks to volunteers for contributing the nesting boxes.
April 2020.
Dr. Mike Nickerson installed 2 Wood Duck nesting boxes on trees along the Potomac River.
Thanks to Bob Nickerson for building and donating the nesting boxes.