The Darnell Homestead Farm in Mount Laurel is nearly 300 years old. Standing since before the American Revolution, the farm served many different purposes. It has also been a part of the property of PAWS Farm of Mount Laurel for the last 40 years.
Now, local non-profit organization Volunteers for PAWS Farm, Inc. has restored the buildings & property of PAWS Farm of Mount Laurel. Their hope is to open the farm to the public on a regular basis once again. In particular, they want to offer interactive programs that teach guests about animals and nature.
“We are strictly volunteers with a mission to save this township gem and continue the legacy of PAWS Farm of Mount Laurel for the enrichment, benefit, enjoyment, and betterment of our community today and for future generations,” says Jennifer Brennan Baxter, Vice President & Events Co-chair, Volunteers for PAWS Farm, Inc.
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The History of PAWS Farm
PAWS Farm of Mount Laurel was founded by Dr. Charles and Mrs. Katharine Tweedy in 1979 in order to teach children about animals, horticulture, and science. The farm not only housed animals, but rehabilitated injured wildlife as well. Eventually the farm expanded to include an educational center, providing educational resources for local school children. The Tweedys stepped away from operating the farm in the early 2000s, leaving the township to manage the property. However, a leasing entity broke their agreement with the town in 2020 and abandoned the property, leaving the animals behind. Mount Laurel successfully rehomed the animals, but the property was left in disarray.
To save the farm, the original operators (Charles and Katharine Tweedy) established Volunteers for PAWS Farm, Inc. in 2021. It took hundreds of volunteers working over the next 12 months to renovate and clean the buildings and barn; not to mention the overgrown grounds. Thanks to their hard work and the community’s show of support, the farm reopened on a limited basis. Click here to learn more about the history of The Darnell Homestead Farm.
Opportunities to Support the Farm
PAWS Farm now opens to the public for special events. For instance, they held their “A Peek at PAWS Farm” fundraiser in June. Over 1,000 people came over the course of two days, raising over $12,000. This allowed the farm to stay open on weekends until September 4, 2022.
The group is holding another fundraiser to benefit the farm on October 15, 2022. This farm festival and cornhole tournament includes autumn-themed activities with farm animals, pumpkin decorating, live music, and more. Guests can also expect a craft fair and food trucks.
The PAWS Farm volunteers currently hold a lease agreement that is good through December 31, 2023. They are actively looking for a third-party partner to manage the farm. As an all-volunteer, nonprofit group, they are unable to keep PAWS Farm open regularly.
Visit PAWS Farm during their fundraising events at 1105 Hainesport-Mt. Laurel Rd in Mount Laurel. (Click here to find them on Google Maps.) To learn more: Click here to visit their website | Follow them on Instagram | Click to send them an email.
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