13 acres hosted by Trisha T.
1 RV/tent site
Best in Massachusetts: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.
All to yourself
96% of recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp felt private.
Trisha is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Welcome to Rosy Goat Farm!!
We are the quintessential family farm/homestead, our farmhouse was built in the 1840’s
Bill and I bought this 13-acre property in 2012, It was overgrown with wild roses. We have worked with a limited budget, and used animals to clear the land. The goats love the wild roses. The pigs dig the roses up. Chickens rake it clean. Win win!
Very interesting place here- lots to tell you, there’s quite a list of things to do and see around here! Did you know that Gilbertville has a covered bridge? It is one of the last covered bridges still in use in Massachusetts!
First- a touch of Hardwick History:
Rev. Timothy Ruggles bought this land from the Native Americans for his family to live on, and to work the land.
His son, Brigadeer General Timothy Ruggles became unpopular after he introduced the Stamp Act, and was banished to Nova Scotia.
His daughter Bathsheba became the last woman executed in the United States for the murder of her husband Joshua Spooner. (There’s a book about it called Murdered by his wife, by Deborah Navas.)
Want to know local eateries?
- For breakfasts and lunch there is The Whistle Stop diner, it was a former Boston & Albany Railroad station. Speaking of railroads, did you know that The Mass Central Rail Trail runs through Gilbertville!
Rose 32, is a well known bakery that serves tea, coffee and sandwiches.
- There’s Hardwick house of Pizza- for tasty pizza and subs, which also serves beer.
- Feeling fancy? Try Hardwick Crossing Country Club (features a 9 hole golf course), it has a restaurant with a full-service bar, gorgeous scenery! Its a 3 minute drive from here
- Mimi’s for your morning coffee and lunch, yum! And it overlooks our beautiful Common!
- Also check out Stone Cow Brewery in Barre -has a kids play area while you wait for your meal!
- Ware has Mexicali Grill, Theresa’s Restaurant for Italian foods, Bellies Barnyard for traditional American cuisine, and, Pig Park BBQ for comfort food!
- Farmer Mat in North Brookfield has take out meals- there are picnic tables available, beautiful views.
Things to do:
- You can kayak, and fish, at Swift River in Belchertown.
- Hardwick is the home of the oldest agricultural fair in the US, held every year in August, and, every Sunday there’s a small farmers market on the common.
- Hardwick also has a winery- Hardwick Vineyard and Winery, they have all kinds of events, (find them on facebook) and, check out Lost Towns brewery- the name is a throwback to the 4 towns that were submerged to create the Quabbin Reservoir!
- Medicine River Pow Wow is in August here in Gilbertville, on River Run Rd.
- The East Quabbin Land Trust has birdwatching and fabulous views, and the Mass Central Rail Trail entrance is located here. Bike it or hike it!
Quabbin Reservoir is close by for boating and fishing.
- There are free concerts in Grenville Park in Ware, (check for dates).
- Ware also has Janine’s Frostee ice cream and fast foods- and live music on weekend nights!
- Also check out these on line: Ragged Hill orchard and Rock House Reservation in West Brookfield, and Carter and Stevens farm in Barre. The Leicester, and Mendon movie drive-in’s.
- Old Sturbridge village is 30 minutes away.
- Lake Lashaway has a swimming area in East Brookfield, right off of Rte 9. It’s about 20 minutes from here.
Lake Siog in Holland has a lovely picnic area and beach for swimming. (30 mins South from here)
Is this area great or what?!Restore energy to a stressed soul. Get out of the city. Just get away.
“We need the tonic of the wilderness” Henry D. Thoreau.
Pitch a tent, or park a small camper and enjoy peaceful privacy, relaxing in the remote countryside by a campfire, sipping a cold beer, or a camp coffee, while you watch the stars or a sunrise, or maybe sketch the view, photograph it, write a poem about it, or hike around in it!
Let your soul relax and feel refreshed when you head back to civilization!
Welcome to our farm! Tents, small campers, car tents or truck camping is best. The old stone walls gives limited clearance to get into the camp area from the narrow street for anything larger than the small campers/ pop-ups.
Be prepared for mosquitoes and ticks and poison ivy depending on what season you're camping in. We spray Mosquito Barrier around our farm, it is a concentrated garlic solution that they just don't like. I havent seen poison ivy lately though. I think the goats have eaten it to death...! Ticks- the poutry keeps them in check. Even still, come prepared!
You might hear a train whistle if one is passing through Hardwick, i like that its such an iconic sound, and it toots at all the road crossings in the area.
The site is secluded. It is very dark at night. (Unless there’s a full moon!) A powerful flashlight would be great, maybe a couple of extra lanterns. I highly recommend arriving before sunset as there is no lighting in the camp.
You will hear wildlife -at night, like owls, and coyotes, (which are afraid of us out here.) We also have porcupines, and we have even seen an eagle! (They live over at the Quabbin)There is a mocking bird that can be heard singing at night in June (when he is announcing the hatching of his brood) and he mimics a Robin, a Cardinal, a Blackbird and a Hawk.Heads up: Sometimes he starts at midnight and sings till 3am. Its totally awesome!
Farm animals really do free range, you will hear and see goats (and they wear a bell), pigs and chickens, ducks, and friendly ornamental breed geese. Be sure not to feed them, it's better that they don't associate campers with food, or, you may have goats and chickens hounding you for food! Goats can develop bloat from eating food they aren't used to. ( they could die from that)And now we have added a fence- the goats still free range, but not in the camp area.
We have large firewood bundles available at the farm. We would prefer you buy our firewood as not only does it keep our elm trees safe from Dutch Elm disease, it also helps support our farm! If you would like, there are fresh eggs available to buy at the farm.
We are a small farm, and what we have available is what is in season, (and even then for a short time) for example rhubarb, asparagus, blackberries, raspberries, tomatoes...and theres even fresh flowers!
Here are the local offerings:
- The diner in Gilbertville called The Whistle Stop. (for breakfasts) Mimi’s has the best sandwiches and coffee, they’re right there on the Hardwick common where you could just picnic out on the grass!
- Rose 32 Bakery has delicious fresh made breads and pastries, and also serves sandwiches and coffee.
- Janine’s has fast food and ice cream, and they have live music on Fridays during the Summer.
- Also there is Ragged Hill Orchard (and they make hard cider). Hardwick Winery, Lost Towns Brewery, Stone cow brewery is in Barre. Stone Cow has a farm store, has a restaurant, and theres a play area for the kids.
- Gilbertville has one of the few remaining covered bridges in the state that is still in use! There is a walking trail (Fitness trail) along the Ware River here in the village.
- Medicine River Pow-wow is held in August here in Gilbertville.
- Rock House Reservation is a 10 minute drive from here, created by glaciers, a camp and hunting ground used by indigenous tribes, its a blend of geologic and human history.
- You can go fishing or kayaking (if the water is high enough) on the Ware River, and the Quabbin Reservoir. Swift River in Belchertown is wonderful for kayaking, it’s only a 20 minute ride from here.
- You can cycle into scenic Hardwick Village by just riding up our street to the far end, you can visit Mimi’s for a sandwich and a coffee. Also, during the Summer, there is a small farmers’ market on Sundays, 11am to 1pm.
- The East Quabbin Land Trust here in Hardwick has beautiful views and birdwatching, (especially Bobolinks)
- You can access the Mass Central Rail Trail -where you can cross a historic pony truss bridge. You can bike ride east to Newton from here and west to Northampton.
- Ware has free Summer concerts at Grenville park, check online for dates and times.
- We are 50 minutes away from Worcester, 45 minutes away from Springfield.
So much to do here!! Or, do nothing!
This is rural camping. Quite an experience! There is no lighting. We do have an outhouse.Whether you just stay at the camp or check out the lovely area, you will have given yourself a needed break from the noisy, busy world.
We are considering a work/camp trade if you are interested, let me know. There are times we need extra help at the farm and you would camp for free, firewood included, ask for more details at the farm.
