A Little Piece of Georgetown History
Tucked away near Pat Lufkin Brook on Andover Street, Georgetown’s Town Gardens occupy approximately 5 acres and have long provided residents with a place to grow vegetables, flowers, and other plants.
While some of the details of the gardens’ early history are still being pieced together, local accounts tell us that the property was once owned by a farmer who used the land to grow cattle corn for his pigs. Rather than see the property developed, he reportedly offered the land to the Town of Georgetown for community use.
State and local funds were apparently involved in acquiring or establishing the gardens, which eventually became a place where Georgetown residents could rent individual plots through the Conservation Commission.
From Thriving Gardens to Overgrown Plots
The gardens were once a busy and active part of the community. Residents who remember them from 15 or more years ago recall at least 34 families tending their plots, with the gardens generally well maintained and full of activity.
Today, there are believed to be approximately 75 plots, although many have become overgrown or unused over the years.
That’s where a community effort is now underway to give this special piece of Georgetown a fresh start.
🌱 Why Alan Wanted to Get Involved
For Alan Aulson, this project is about a love of land—and especially land that is used for farming, gardening, and growing.
He wanted to help spearhead the effort and kick off the revitalization of the Town Gardens, bringing attention back to a community resource with the potential to once again serve Georgetown residents.
It’s also part of something Goats To Go has been doing in Georgetown for years.
The goats have stepped up to help in several areas of town on a pro bono basis, including helping with vegetation and poison ivy removal at places such as the dog park and tennis courts.
The philosophy is simple: use what you have to help where you can.
And when you have goats, why not let the goats do the job they do best?
🐐 First, the Goats Go In!
Goats To Go has brought as many as 60 goats to the Town Gardens, where they are currently working on approximately 10 plots to tackle the first phase of the revitalization: clearing dense vegetation from abandoned and overgrown areas.
The goats are doing what they do best—browsing their way through unwanted vegetation and opening up areas that have become difficult to access.
Using goats for land management provides a natural alternative to heavy equipment. They can reach areas that machinery may have difficulty navigating while helping reduce overgrowth and prepare the land for restoration.
Of course, getting goats onto a site is not as simple as just opening a gate. Fencing, transportation, setup, monitoring, and labor all come with significant costs.
Goats To Go is once again donating its time and expertise to help get this community project started, just as it has done for other Georgetown projects over the years.
🐐 What’s In It for the Goats?
Well… they get a pretty nice snack!
Goats are natural browsers, and an overgrown area full of vegetation is essentially an all-you-can-eat buffet for them.
They get to explore a new area, munch on vegetation they naturally enjoy, and do what goats are happiest doing—eating!
So while there are very real costs involved in fencing, transporting, setting up, and managing goats on a project like this, the goats themselves are pretty happy with the arrangement.
The community gets help clearing the land, and the goats get a tasty treat. It’s a pretty good deal.
🔎 What Will We Find Underneath?
As the goats clear the vegetation, they may uncover pieces of the gardens’ past—old fencing, plastics, garden supplies, tools, metal, forgotten planting materials, and who knows what else.
There may even be some literal “buried treasure” hiding beneath years of growth.
That’s why metal detector volunteers will be especially important during the next phase of the project. Before plots can be restored and put back into productive use, volunteers will need to locate and remove buried metal and other debris.
The goats are clearing the way. Now the community needs to finish the job.
🙌 Now We Need Georgetown!
Beginning Saturday, September 26, and throughout the following week, volunteers will be needed to help transform the newly cleared areas.
There are plenty of ways to lend a hand:
Clear unused garden plots
Remove old fencing, plastics and debris
Help transport debris and materials
Bring a metal detector to search for buried metal
Small 4-wheelers or ATVs to help move materials would be a HUGE help
Bring some muscle and help wherever needed
You don’t need to be a gardener to participate. Whether you have an hour, a piece of equipment, a metal detector, or simply some energy to lend, every bit of help moves this project forward.
❤️ Georgetown Is Already Showing Up
Idea was presented to the Town Selectboard and Conservation Commission and they are moving forward with rejuvenation of the gardens.
And this revitalization effort is already receiving support from local organizations, including the American Legion, Kiwanis, and Knights of Columbus and the Goats from Georgetown's Goats To Go.
Now we’re hoping more Georgetown residents will get involved and help bring the gardens back to life.
Community gardens are about more than growing food. They create green space, bring neighbors together, encourage healthy outdoor activity, and provide an opportunity for people to grow something of their own.
Revitalizing Georgetown’s Town Gardens gives the community a chance to reclaim an important local resource—and create something future generations can enjoy.
💚 Want to Support the Project?
If you’d like to contribute financially to the revitalization effort, donations can be made through Venmo: @michelleaulson
(Code: 8353) Please note: “Town Gardens”
While Goats To Go is donating its time and expertise to help launch the project, there are still significant expenses associated with fencing, transportation, equipment, setup, and labor. Community donations can help make the revitalization possible.
📍 Where Are the Gardens?
Town Gardens
Andover Street, Georgetown, Massachusetts
Just past the golf course and West Street on the right heading out of town.
Google Maps Image: Click Image for Directions
📞 Ready to Get Involved?
To volunteer or learn more about upcoming workdays after September 26th?
Contact or text Alan Aulson at: 508-451-1987
Have a metal detector?
A small 4-wheeler?
A trailer?
A few hours to spare?
We’d love to hear from you.
🌱 The Goats Are Just the Beginning
For Goats To Go, this project is about more than clearing vegetation. It’s about caring for land, supporting the community, and demonstrating how goats can be natural partners in responsible land management.
For Alan, it’s about giving the gardens a kick-start, putting land back to work, and using what the community already has to help make it happen.
The goats are clearing the way. Volunteers will help uncover what’s underneath. And together, Georgetown can begin rebuilding the Town Gardens into a place where residents can once again gather, grow, share, and connect.
The goats are ready. Georgetown, let’s do this together!