Forage Grass~Barn Quilt Trail, New Milford, CT

HUNT HILL FARM PRESERVE

The Northwest Connecticut Land Trust chose a barn quilt pattern that symbolizes the forage grass grown in the surrounding pastures and hayfields of the farm, which thrived as a dairy operation from 1850 to 1964. Thanks to the New Milford community’s support for conservation and agriculture, Hunt Hill remains a working farm that provides pasture for livestock, hay and Christmas trees. The extended English-style field barn was built circa 1900 and likely housed hay for cows during the winter. Owing to former owners Ruth and Skitch Henderson, the land trust permanently protects 77 acres of Hunt Hill Farm. Of that, it owns 43 acres and has a perpetual conservation easement on 34 acres owned by the town of New Milford.

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‍The New Milford Barn Quilt Trail consists of 19 colorful quilt patterns hand-painted on large weather-resistant blocks and hung on antique and vintage barns and historical buildings around our town. It honors our rich agricultural history, the exciting resurgence of family farms in New Milford today and the American tradition of quilt-making. It is the first barn quilt trail established in Connecticut. Already, over 40 U.S. states, including New Hampshire and New York, boast quilt trails in a rapidly expanding movement that began in Ohio in 2001. Get in your car or jump on your bike and use any mobile device to access this site as you visit these barn quilt block sites. Please use caution as you drive, bike or walk along the country roads of the barn quilt trail. Remember that the quilt blocks are displayed on what is often private property and can be viewed only from public roadsides. Responsibility for any accidents while observing the quilt blocks rests entirely with the viewer.

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