Letter in support of the Bean Farm.

I am writing in support of the Bean Farm. I grew up in Westwood, moving here in 1972 with my family and left in the 1980s to attend West Point. After serving in the Army for 21 years- as an Army officer and an additional 10 years as an Army spouse, I moved back in 2018 to raise my daughter, upon the death of my husband. I chose to come back to Westwood because I still have family here and because Westwood is a special community and a great place to raise a family. I tell you this not to garner sympathy but to let you know that I chose Westwood after living in many communities world-wide, and I felt that this was the best place to raise my young daughter.

The recent dispute between the Westwood Land Trust (WLT) and the Town of Westwood is very concerning to me. I have read about the WLT and the dispute about the meadow at 665 Clapboardtree St. I have also read many comments on line directed toward the Bean family and I am very disappointed in what I have been reading and how some of our neighbors are characterizing this dispute. People are openly attacking the Beans and for what- wanting to have a working farm in our community? I have been back in Westwood long enough to see how  Chris Bean has worked tirelessly to bring the Farm back. He is not only trying to farm the land but the Farm has been a place for the community to gather. For the past few years, they have partnered with Westwood Living and allowed the community to gather on the Farm, bringing together families and local businesses.

My understanding is that in order for the Farm to be sustainable, they need an additional 8 acres of land that they can lease from the Town of Westwood. The Town of Westwood, through the Select Board and Conservation Commission have already voted unanimously to permit agriculture on the 8 acre field in question. The comments that people have made that converting this land to agricultural use would irreversibly damage this public asset is both disingenuous and false. The land in question was already a farm- many years ago.

The most recent article from the WLT- “Setting the Record Straight” seems to skirt the truth. As stated on their website, “the WLT is responsible for monitoring the property and enforcing the terms of the conservation restriction both now and in the future...” “All conservation restrictions are formally approved by Westwood’s Select Board and Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs.” What the “Setting the Record Straight” article fails to point out is that there are exceptions, with agricultural activities being one of them. WLT is responsible for “monitoring” the property, not deciding what articles to enforce and what exceptions to approve. If there is an exception, and our Select Board approves it, then the WLT can then monitor the land.

The article goes on to say that the Bean Farm wants to lease the land from the Town and any lease must go through a competitive, transparent bidding process. They state that has not occurred... First of all, it is not up to the WLT to monitor the bidding process. They are commenting on things that are outside their charter. It seems to me that they are making this personal against the Beans and I do believe that it is important for the Town to pursue legal means because if they don’t, it will set the precedence of other entities of unelected officials to gain control of issues within this town.  

The Beans have lived in Westwood for many years and continue to give back to the community in so many ways. The Farm is not only a place to buy local produce and Christmas trees, but it is a place for the students from local High Schools to learn and work. Please stop attacking your neighbors and support them. If someone else wants to farm, let them bid. Let’s abide by what the actual document states and leave the emotion out of it. There are a lot of hills to die on and this issue is not one of them. We should want to support a local farm within our community that will benefit all of us- especially, our children.

“When consumers purchase food from local farmers they are directly contributing to the economic stability and growth of their community” (Massachusetts Department of Agriculture).

LTC Trése A. Bannister, US Army (Retired)