April 2024

We have much activity at WFCF right now, Wo! Andy and I are working with great urgency to get our first greenhouse complete and fully inspected.  There are many professionals to appreciate for this accomplishment: Atlantic High Tunnel for greenhouse construction, Espada Corp for clearing a new path for this work, G.D. McCarthy Inc. for excavation and installation of new underground utilities, Wheaton Electric for so much new and energizing, Eastern Propane for heating a new home for our seedlings, farmers and volunteers. We thank many who work and support the City of Waltham as they have provided guidance on the permitting process. I can't talk about all this growth with out recognizing Lexington Farm and the Boston Area Gleaners. These two organizations have provided heated greenhouse space for us to raise seedlings, in the absence of our greenhouses. They have helped water our trays of seedings on top of their own needs. We would not be where we are this season without their support.

It’s really has been a full steam ahead project since receiving our permits. WFCF’s second new greenhouse will be raised in June… keep an eye out for an invitation to join us on the farm to cut a ribbon and appreciate many.

Last Wednesday Trish, Stacey and Marina (welcome our new Community Outreach Farmer!) visited the State House and represented WFCF and community farming at MA Agriculture Day. We visited with MDAR Commissioner, Ashley Randle, producers, policy makers, resource agencies and elected representatives. These events provide engagement space to raise public awareness of commuity farrming, which often is less represented and needs a brighter spotlight at the state level to attract support for this model of farming in the Commonwealth.

As of Friday, we received a permit from the City of Waltam to install an office trailer adjacent to our new greenhouses. This 12’x64’ office trailer will shelter many team members and provide a workspace that is connected to the land and our operations. We have coordinated with Triumph Trailer and plan to have in place by the seedling sales. It will be another challenge to transition from Common Good Co. and establish our team in a new and temporary workspace, but we are ready to advance and connect. We look forward to welcoming you into that new space soon.

We are now addressing an unexpected utility project. We have been notified that we must remove our infrastructure from the City's electric service that powers the administration and boiler buidlings. To do that we must hire a contractor to trench from our walkin cooler area, around the farmstand and through the length of the parking lot, to connect with the newly installed service to the greenhouses. This is going to cost more money and will need to be scheduled so that it does not impact our seedling sale dates in May, current educaiton programs and the start of the CSA the first week of June. 

It is important to share that our team and visitors will be interacting with the site in new and different ways this year and in alignment with the terms of our one-year license with the City of Waltham. One driveway is available for entering and exiting the farm. Traffic patterns and parking options will be shared as we approach the seedling sale. On-site parking for WFCF and GROW community gardeners are reduced due to a lease term restricting parking on grass areas. We will be leaning into the support of our local community for new parking options nearby the farm. WFCF will rent portable restrooms and hand washing stations so that our staff and community have that essential need met. We do not have access to the brick administration building. Our team is creative to be sure, and we are navigating the changes and will continue to secure the resources to adapt. Please do have patience with us and help us align with the terms of site use.

Please pause with me for a moment to appreciate our colleague, Myriam Michel, the Executive Director of Healthy Waltham for the past 5 years. A week ago, many gathered to recognize her leadership, especially during the pandemic when tremendous need directed HW to transition and serve with compassion and nourishment. Myriam, it has been a privilege and joy to have worked with you here at Waltham Fields and as a nonprofit community partner. We thank you, abundantly, for your initiatives to alleviate health disparities and improve health outcomes for Waltham’s most vulnerable. You will be missed but we know still very much engaged in our community!

See you at Sprout, the upcoming Seedling Sales and the start of a new season on the farm!

Stacey, Executive Director

Thank you all for rising alonside this farm, through all the challenges, and supporting opportunties for our future!