The town “common” is often thought of as a small green space in the town center. It originally was a concept brought from Britain where a large tract of generally less arable land was put aside for the grazing of livestock (generally livestock of the rich). In Marlborough, a large tract which included much of present day Southborough was established in 1664. The following is from a transcript of the Marlborough Town Records. It describes a number of landmarks which can still be located. The Alcocke Farm was in the SE corner of present day Marlborough, given to the original surveyor of Marlborough. The Stony Brook is now the reservoir system up to Crane meadow where the new exit is off Rt. 495. Stirrup Meadow Brooke is by the high school and then up to the Assibath (Assibet) River probably near the Solomon Pond Mall and to Hudson. It was basically a ring around the nucleated town center.

CowCom1664

I thought this was a great resource for anyone who eats meat and/or uses antibiotics. Currently, antibiotics are used at sub-therapeutic levels in livestock to assist in weight gain. This creates the perfect situation for evolution. Bacteria can easily develop resistance to these antibiotics which are also used to treat infections in humans. The waste from the livestock is spread on fields used to grow vegetables and if not properly washed the bacteria end up in a human unable to treat the infection with that/ or those antibiotics. These problems are becoming more and more common and the federal government is finally starting to pay attention but the big agri-industry is not going to change without a fight so its important to pressure your congressmen to eliminate the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics. This website is a good place to start.

http://www.saveantibiotics.org/moms/

http://www.saveantibiotics.org/resources/HHIFBibliographyFinal%20with%20TOC%20012011.pdf

Clovelly, our Milking Devon heifer (reddish brown cow) is expecting in August. We went up to northern Vermont to find a bull from Devons Gate Farm. Hemlock is also a registered Milking Devon. The relationship was short-lived and Hemlock is off to Oxbow farm in Holliston to help this critically rare breed continue. The cows definitely do not seem to mind the snow as much as their owners.