Many farms with acres enrolled in the Farm Service Agency's Conservation Reserve Program are operated by second and third generation farmers. Their families have toiled the land for many generations. That is not the case with a farm located in Westmoreland, New Hampshire. County jail inmates provide the labor to operate this farm.

The Cheshire County Farm complex was established in 1866 on the banks of the Connecticut River in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, with the purchase of a farm. The farm included three facilities: the Farm, the Almshouse (or "poor house"), and the House of Corrections. All three facilities were designed to be self-sustaining entities in order to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.

The farm includes crops, vegetable fields, a dairy, beef cattle and a piggery. They were established to provide the Almshouse and the House of Corrections with most, if not all, of their food requirements.

Over the years there have been changes in what was produced at the farm, but even today, the farm has wonderful vegetable gardens and a top-notch dairy operation (still providing food for the nursing home and the House of Corrections) as well as many acres of managed forests, which include publicly accessible nature trails.

The Almshouse, or "poor house," concept was developed out of a social movement popular in the Northeast in the early to mid 1800's and was based on the ideal of taking care of those in their community who were either physically or financially incapable of taking care of themselves. These people could also work on the farm, if they were able.

The function of the Almshouse has remained to this day, although the practice has changed at bit. Over time, the Almshouse was phased out and morphed into a county hospital. It presently serves as a nursing home and assisted living facility.

Before CRP. The red arrows mark an example of the bank erosion experienced in this pasture. The blue arrows show the drainage that runs through the site and how it has become churned up by the cows.

After CRP. By fencing off this Riparian Buffer area and keeping cattle from grazing, the local flora returns and blankets the former pasture.

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