Seasons greetings to our concerned community,
On December 19th, the Mayor of Waltham and City Council declared intent to limit access to 240 Beaver Street. A map was distributed duting the meeting which shows the intent of the City to subdivide and eviscerate WFCF's farm land and operational areas that WFCF has stewarded for nearly three decades.
The map provided by Mayor McCarthy to Waltham’s City Councilors, during a meeting of the Committee Of The Whole, highlights how the plan will split the property down the middle of the farm fields to facilitate environmental remediation at the furthest southern point of the site.
This action will eliminate access to many acres of nutrient rich soil, WFCF’s greenhouses, equipment storage sheds, chicken coop, Learning Garden and program spaces for children’s programs. In addition, 2 of the 3 entrances to the site will be closed.
An overwhelming quantity of over 1100 documents and an additional 1400+ page environmental assessment report was provided to the COW the week before the meeting for review. The timing of this process placed considerable pressure on the City Council. The map showing the line of subdivision was not provided until one hour + 44 minutes into the meeting.
- The Committee Of The Whole voted unanimously in favor of this plan.
- The City Council will ratify this vote on Tuesday, December 27.
- Call TO ACTION for Waltham voters!
- Call and email your City Councilor and all Councillor-At-Large before 12/27!
- Share this information with your neighbors and friends in Waltham.
- Ask Council to make a motion and vote NO or to table the matter for at least a month, allowing vital time to mitigate circumstances that will end WFCF’s programs, community resources and vital nourishment that serves Waltham residents.
The false urgency presented to Council is not acceptable. There are other options.
If this plan is implemented as currently proposed, it will jeopardize the very existence of Waltham Fields Community Farm!
- Suggestions for content in your commuications here. Please share you own words and utilize any segment of this text forreference.
- Obtain contact information for Waltham City Council here.
- If you are not certain of your ward in Waltham, refer here.
- If you are not a Waltham resident, call and email your MA state legislator. Information here.
WFCF needs the voice of our community heard NOW! Our suggested language is below. We thank you for taking time during the holiday season to align with WFCF at this most urgent moment
In peace and with deep gratitude, we are thankful for everyone who has created community on this land and with hope for all those we intend to serve, with our land intact.
Addional awareness for our community, 12/24/22:
**WFCF' Call To Action is for the purpose of urging Waltham City Council to make time to gain more awareness and consider all means of accessing the contaminated land south of the farm's fields. There are currently three routes to be considered for access to the area: (1) As proposed by the City and through the farm's growing fields, (2) An existing gate off of Waverley Oaks Road, and (3) Marian Road. Option 2 will have the least impact on WFCF and residents.
WFCF supports the environmental remediation and has been negatively impacted by this activity which took place over the course of many years and under the management of UMass Amherst.
The land to the south of WFCF's growing fields (the most southerly point of the site) was violated by years of illegal dumping of excavation debris brought onto the site. This area was out of site for many visitors. WFCF employees witnessed this illegal dumping an notified UMass in writing and in-person on NUMEROUS occasions. The City of Waltham was notified once their intention to purchase the site was known. The illegal dumping which occurred was documented over many years and is NOT in direct contact with the farm's growing area.
City Councillors did not have an opportunity to hear about the imminent threat to the existence of the Waltham Fields Community Farm that the proposal will bring. The proposal cuts off WFCF's access to our current operational areas including several acres of farmland, greenhouses, chicken coops, equipment storage shelters and children’s Learning Garden. The proposal was voted with the understanding that the Mayor will then seek to make only 12.7 acres of the site available for rent, and not exclusively for WFCF is a successful RFP proposal from WFCF is scored well by the City. All of the buildings and equipment of WFCF, with the exception of a hoop house and farm stand, are on the land that will not be rentable, nor accessible. Access to parking areas adjacent to the farm stand appear to be inaccessible as well.
The 12.7 acres the City has identified as potentially available for surplus and for an RFP includes a portion of WFCF's growing area as well as Green Rows of Waltham (GROW) Community Gardens (over 140 households growing food) and the Boston Area Climate Experiment. The identified area is NOT anywhere near our current operational area and excludes essential farm infrastructure that can’t be relocated to any other areas. We have attached WFCF Exhibit A from our most recent UMass License Agreement which highlights our operational footprint.
Delaying changes to the access for at least a month will allow abatement alternatives to be considered that would not put WFCF in existential jeopardy. The known contamination is in discrete areas on the property, access to which may not require making nearly half the property inaccessible. Previously identified fly ash and sludge contamination was safely abated years ago by UMass without displacing the farmers.
A site visit is all that is needed by City Council to visually comprehend the significant loss of operational area will be inaccessible and that was previously authorized as WFCF in our license agreements. WFCF welcomes all to visit and see firsthand the dividing line drawn by the City.
Maps are currently posted in Facebook Post and Instagram.
January 2023
On December 27, 2022, Waltham Cirty Council ratified a vote to restrict access to 240 Beaver Street and WFCF farm land and infrastructure.
Following the December 2022 City Council decision, Waltham Fields Community Farm (WFCF) remains committed to our mission of cultivating sustainable and equitable relationships between people, their food supply, and the land from which it grows. We thank the community for its tremendous outreach,
advocacy, and support, and look forward to further clarity from the City of Waltham so that WFCF can continue to achieve this mission, provide vital resources for our community, and steward the land that we have cared for the last three decades.
https://www.wcac.org/government/meetings/city-council/city-council-12-27-22
Channel 781 Debrief January 2023
https://www.wcac.org/government/meetings/city-council-committees/committee-of-the-whole-12-19-22
