Photo: Kim Tunnicliffe / WBZ NewsRadio
WESTWOOD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — More than ten years after it closed, The Bean Farm in Westwood has reopened to become the only operating farm in the town— just in time for the fall and pumpkin-picking season.
For decades the Bean Farm was run by Chris Bean's grandfather, but after his passing Chris recently took it over with the help of two friends. In the meantime, Bean tells WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe he's been getting a higher education, one that would prepare him for the local agriculture business.
"I went off to college and to Cornell University and studied agricultural sciences, specifically studied crop production and management. Once I was done with college and I came back home I started to really bring the farm back to life— I built the retail stand here to sell my produce: Christmas trees and pumpkins," Bean said.
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Along with the festive crops, the farm has a diverse livestock operation as well. Longtime Westwood residents are being drawn to the fields, like one mother who said she has fond memories of the Bean Farm.
"We were driving by just to see— and we saw this huge haystack and I was like 'oh my gosh, it's back!' and I could wait to bring [my kids] because this is where we came." one resident said.
"It's nice to see an old farm get resurrected," said another.
Bean does construction full time and runs the farm on the side, though he hopes someday he'll be able to turn the farm into a full-time business.
"Family pride is probably the biggest part of it. Just hearing all the stories from everybody bringing up their experience coming to this farm when they were kids— it gives me inspiration to keep this alive," Bean said.
WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
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