Bean Family Farm Shuts Down Vegetable Operations After Court Decision in Conservation-Land Farming Dispute

As June comes to an end, so do the vegetable farming operations of the Bean Family Farm. The shutdown comes following the Superior Court’s May 7 rejection of the Town of Westwood’s request that the court compel Westwood Land Trust to allow the town to lease out eight of 28 acres of town-owned conservation land for farming, with the Bean Family Farm in mind as the likely lessee.

As of Friday, June 19, Chris Bean, operator of the Bean Family Farm on Clapboardtree Street, said that he had sold all but two pieces of his farming equipment. One of the remaining machines was under an oral agreement of sale. The other is his grandfather’s 1988 tractor, which he intends to keep.

Mr. Bean learned of the court’s adverse ruling in a group chat with family members.

“I was disappointed but not completely surprised. I was disheartened, but was already a little checked out because of the rancor around town and the rancor online,” he said.

The litigation had drawn passionate advocates on both sides. Supporters of the land trust voiced conservation concerns such as reduced plant diversity and native animal habitat on farmed land. They also criticized the town for what they described as a lack of transparency in its decision to sue a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization for what they said was the benefit of a private entity, especially at a time when taxpayers’ budgets are strained. Supporters of the town’s litigation argued that the land trust was unreasonable to deny the town’s request to allow farming on town-owned land. They said the town was asserting its rights as property owner, and they rallied in support of Westwood’s last remaining farm.

According to Chris Bean, additional acreage was essential for Bean Family Farm to meet the threshold requirement under state law that provides zoning protection to farmstands. The farm needed to produce at least 25% of its retail produce itself, which it has been unable to do given its present scale.

“Emotions have been stirring around in my family,” said Chuck Bean, who described his own feelings as angry, sad, and upset as he discussed his son’s difficult decision to shut down vegetable farming in Westwood. He called it the “end of an era.” Chuck’s father, Charles Bean, was a farmer who inspired Chris to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps by reviving the Bean Family Farm. Of Charles’s 13 grandchildren, only Chris has a serious interest in farming in a family that claims 14 generations of farmers, going back to 1652.

Photo courtesy of Chris Bean. While Bean Family Farm's vegetable operations have closed, Chris Bean continues his passion and hobby of breeding and raising Angus cows for a small beef business.

“My poor grandfather will roll over in his grave. Farming was his passion. I gave it a go,” said Mr. Bean.

On May 7, the Superior Court resolved the legal dispute that had divided the town. It determined that while Westwood Land Trust cannot apply a blanket prohibition to farming on the land at issue, the land trust did not violate the conservation restriction by rejecting the Town of Westwood’s request “to essentially allow a third-party to commercially farm the land.”

“The unambiguous purpose of the Conservation Restriction was to preserve the Premises for the public not for the benefit of a third-party commercial agricultural operation,” stated the court. The court criticized the idea of a third-party commercial operation deriving a private benefit from a public resource.

Mr. Bean said he is aware of accusations of his family being “greedy.” However, he disputes that characterization, saying the opposite is true. He pointed out that the land on which Bean Family Farm sits is owned by his father and his father’s three brothers. Mr. Bean describes all four families as making a “massive sacrifice” by allowing him to put their property to use as farmland, rent-free, instead of selling the land to developers.

“It’s not about money or power,” said Chuck Bean. “If so, we would have developed the property years ago. We have been supportive of the only grandchild of 13 who is interested in farming,” said Chuck. “That means something,” he said. “I have no idea why the whole town did not support the farm. A small faction grew into a much larger debate than we would have thought.” 

Allowing farming on a small area of the conservation land would have been a positive result for the town and maintaining open space in Westwood, said Mr. Bean. He pointed to the benefits of having local produce and said that Xaverian Brothers students have been able to conduct soil sampling at the farm.

Mr. Bean recalled how, as a Xaverian high school student 10 years ago, he restarted the family farmstand using a 12-by-16-foot shed with one big window, bringing the Bean Family Farm back to life. He sold tomatoes and beans for $4.99 per pound and corn for $1 per ear. He noted that he was still charging the same price for those particular items two summers ago, while diesel fuel costs had doubled and other input costs had increased. Additional land could have brought more stability to the farm, he says, which has to compete with local supermarkets.

“I was very surprised not to see a massive uprising in the community to support the farm . . . and to keep the place in business,” says Mr. Bean. He views the debate in Westwood over farmland versus conservation land as an “outlier.”

“Many land trusts work with farmers and actively seek them out,” said Mr. Bean, describing how agriculture can be viewed as a means toward conservation. “It’s only eight acres. It is actively mowed every fall. The whole thing is kind of wild,” he said.

On behalf of the land trust, Vice President Abby Homilier provided a statement in response to the news of the shutdown of Bean Family Farm’s vegetable operations.

“The Westwood Land Trust's responsibility and focus has always been to uphold the conservation restriction placed on Clapboardtree Meadow more than 25 years ago, when the land was permanently protected and donated for the benefit of the community. We remain committed to honoring the intent of the conservation restriction and protecting the meadow,” she said. 

She noted that the land trust has no information about the Bean Family Farm’s operations and therefore is unable to provide further comment.

Photo courtesy of Andy Moore. The Bean Farm has closed its gates to the public until the time that it will sell seasonal wreaths and trees.

For now, Mr. Bean remains in Westwood to continue his part-time beef operation and passion project of breeding Angus cows and selling locally raised, premium beef. At the farm’s current size, it can support 10 cows. Given that scale, the farm need not be open to the public. Customers who want to purchase a quarter or half cow simply contact Mr. Bean personally.

“I’ve spent serious money investing in Angus genetics for the best marbling,” he says. “They’re all on fresh grass and in the pasture all summer long and on high-quality grain from a local provider,” he explains.

On whether he sees any path left open to farming in Westwood, Mr. Bean notes that “inevitably,” he will have to move to another town that he says is more friendly to farming. He is thankful for all the support he has received from customers during the decade he has pursued agriculture in Westwood, and is now looking for other opportunities to put his heritage and education to use. Properties in southern Massachusetts that are protected by an Agricultural Preservation Restriction look appealing. In the “distant future,” Bean Family Farm will likely be developed, says Mr. Bean.

In the meantime, the Bean Family Farm is temporarily closed to the public. “It’s too dangerous with livestock,” says Mr. Bean, while noting that he has erected a new gate to avoid children coming into contact with the animals. He will continue selling his beef by appointment and intends to open the farm to the public around Christmas, when he will sell trees and wreaths, as in years past.

Thanks to Chris Bean, Chuck Bean,  Westwood Land Trust and Andy Moore for sharing their news and perspectives with Westwood Minute.

Updated 7/1/2026 at 9:44 a.m.

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