About Melita Farms
With the establishment of Melita Farms, we are preserving this expansive property as farmland, now and for the future.
Open green spaces, bountiful harvests and opportunities for growth and learning will become the hallmark of our non-profit community for years to come.
About Us
Spes Development Corp., a 501(c)3 non-profit, DBA Melita Farms was founded in 2016 to help diverse populations in Methuen, MA, and surrounding communities better their lives through sustainable farming, education, and entrepreneurship. Our goal is to empower socially and economically disadvantaged groups by providing the necessary tools to help them nourish both their bodies and souls.
The cornerstone of Melita Farms is its 55-acre property, formerly a dairy operation that was managed and farmed by the Nimmo family for over one hundred years. We have started our first growing season with a large variety of crops and cut flowers and in September, we will break ground on the Melita Farms Community Garden, dedicated to the memory of Michelle R. Harris, one of our earliest benefactors and volunteers.
As we continue our farming operations, we’re taking major steps toward modernizing our farming technology. We will focus on sustainable crop-farming techniques. Moving forward, we plan to construct a greenhouse for hydroponic growing, and efficient practice that produces crops with minimal use of irrigation and no pesticides.
Newly renovated geodesic dome farmhouse
Outdoor hand-crafted furniture built in our own woodshop from tree trunks, branches, and reclaimed wood.
[Melita Farms’] initiative recognizes the city’s goal to work with local non-profit organizations to ensure that underserved Methuen families have access to locally-produced food.
— Neil Perry, Mayor of Methuen, MA
Our Mission
Melita Farms is committed to the principles of social justice, in the belief that all individuals, regardless of economic, social or employment standing, deserve access to equal opportunities for education and advancement. Through our programs, including hands-on farming, farming education, leadership training, healthy food production, distribution and philanthropic donation, we aim to lead our communities to a better life.
Our History
Melita Farms (formerly Nimmo Farm) was started as a dairy farm by Charles Nimmo in 1901 and has been in continual operation ever since. The Nimmo family raised cows, chickens and other livestock until converting the property to a horticultural farm in the mid-1980s. Since then, the farm has grown and harvested corn, pumpkins, squash, and blueberries, as well as sunflowers and other decorative flowers. With its purchase in 2020, Melita Farms will diversify into hydroponic vegetable cultivation, including lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs and many other crops, with a focus on sustainable processes.
Why Melita Farms?
The idea for Melita Farms came from the age-old concept of giving back. “To whom much is given, much is expected.” This quote is at the backbone of everything we do. The founders, donors and board members of our organization were raised and live in a world of opportunity. In creating this non-profit, we want to create new possibilities for healthful living, farm education and small-business entrepreneurship for our community, especially the underserved.
Learn about our team of leaders
Explore our programs
Farming
Education
Entrepreneurship