Orchard Women of Harvard

In late summer and early fall, city-dwellers and locals are drawn to the beautiful orchards of Harvard to pick fruit straight from the trees. Over several years, photographer Ellen Harasimowicz has visited four of these orchards in Harvard, MA in all seasons, searching for the extraordinary within the ordinary.

In this International Year of the Woman Farmer *, she presents an exhibition of four women who own and manage these local orchards. Two grew up in the business, one married into it, and one revived an abandoned orchard and made it organic. The women, whose ages span decades, are strong and productive like their fruit trees. Both the women and their trees embody beauty, resilience, and hope, while providing rootedness and nourishment for their community. The orchardists face similar climate and economic challenges, but each finds her own way to meet them.

This exhibition is a collaboration with Pam Lawson (Doe Orchards) and Linda Hoffman (Old Frog Pond Farm), who are showing their artwork alongside Ellen’s photography, and with Stephanie Green O’Keefe (Westward Orchards) and Katie Carlson (Carlson Orchards), who are contributing family photos.

On view February 28, 2026 – April 11, 2026.

Meet the artists and orchardists at the Opening Reception, free and open to all, Sunday, March 8, 2026 3:00-5:00pm.

*The United Nations declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Harvard Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.