Our Model Forest

Gould Farm presently consists of about 630 acres, more than 500 of which are forested. The Forest Guild has designated ours a Model Forest, a recognition that has been given to only 20 forests across the entire country. We harvest our wood with care and concern for this valuable resource and the community it serves. We have protected our trails and have saved specimen trees and majestic pines with a sensitivity that has fostered a respect for the forest.

Our forestry manager, Bob Rausch, has been at Gould Farm for more than 30 years, and he knows every inch of our square mile of land. He shares his wisdom and love of the land, and inspires all who come here to cultivate a relationship with nature. Today, Gould Farm’s woodlands are crisscrossed by a network of trails and old logging roads that are also used for hiking, skiing, collecting maple sap and gathering firewood. Diane’s Trail, named in memory of Bob’s wife, who died of cancer in 1992, is open to the public. Largely a wetland trail, it has allowed many individuals and groups to learn about this unique habitat. In fact, our Model Forest woodlands have nurtured the lives of many in need.

To learn more about Gould Farm’s Model Forest please visit The Forest Guild and Walking the Berkshires.