A 14th-generation family farm in Massachusetts, operated by a descendant of the L.L. Bean outdoor wear dynasty, is fighting for its survival in a bitter legal dispute with a local conservation trust.
A Decade-Long Battle for Expansion
Christopher Bean, 29, whose great-grandfather was a cousin of company founder Leon Leonwood Bean, runs the Bean Family Farm in Westwood. He fears the business will collapse unless he can expand onto eight acres of adjacent town-owned land, currently under a conservation restriction overseen by the Westwood Land Trust (WLT).
Bean has sought to lease the land for a decade, aiming to grow more produce. He argues this expansion is essential to build a larger farm store to serve the public with fresh, local food. "The idea behind expanding and leasing this land from the town of Westwood is that this would allow us to produce enough on-site to build a larger farm store that will service the public with fresh local produce," he explained to the Daily Mail.
Legal Standoff Over Conservation Terms
The town's Select Board has approved Bean's proposal for the 8-acre plot, part of a 23-acre area known locally as Prout Farm and Clapboardtree Meadow. However, the WLT has refused to permit any farming, leading the board to file a lawsuit.
"The Westwood Land Trust has adamantly refused any type of agriculture on this land whatsoever," said Bean. The trust contends the land is an ecological resource that would be lost to farming. In a counterclaim, WLT's lawyer admitted the conservation restriction includes an exception for agriculture but argued Bean's proposed commercial operation would not be sustainable and goes against responsible stewardship.
The town has fired back, accusing the WLT of intentionally obstructing efforts to create an acceptable agricultural plan. It claims the trust's "categorical denial" is "patently unreasonable" and violates the clear terms of the conservation agreement.
Community Impact and an Uncertain Future
Christopher Bean insists his methods are sustainable and that farming the land is far better than leaving it idle. He warns that losing the farm would not only end a local food source but could also open the area to property developers.
"I'm just trying to do my best to keep my small farm going, and I think it's such an important resource for the community, because we're in such a food desert," Bean stated. "This land is blocked by my farm, so if my farm were to disappear, no one would be able to enjoy this at all, and it would just sit there and be idle behind some sort of development."
The outcome of the legal battle will determine the fate of a historic farm and shape the future of local food production and land use in Westwood.
