Peabody Set To Take Over Tillie's Farm

PEABODY, MA – Ten years ago, the City of Peabody bought Tillie's Farm on Lynn Street with $2.6 million community preservation funds. On Feb. 1, the city will officially assume management and operations of the farm.

Tillie's customers won't see much of a difference at first. Mayor Ted Bettencourt said he was looking to focus on farm stand operations this year. Longtime Tillie's farmhand Billy Murphy has been hired to manage the farm stand, and is expected to work with the farm's existing vendors.

"I am very excited to take on the role of farm stand manager and I look forward to maintaining Tillie's core business and neighborhood feel," said Murphy. "Tillie's is one of those places where customers become friends and you look forward to seeing them come in each season."

Tillie's currently sells locally grown produce, flowers, pumpkins, eggs, Christmas trees, wreaths, apple cider, baked goods, and local corn on the cob. The longterm city plan is to expand farm offerings and partner with Brooksby Farm – Peabody's other city-owned farm.

"The City of Peabody now boasts two municipally owned and operated farms unlike any other city or town in Massachusetts," said Bettencourt. "Like Brooksby Farm, Tillie's is a treasured part of Peabody's history and will continue to be a wonderful park of Peabody's future."

Tillie's will be managed by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry. The city hired Good Egg Marketing of Jamaica Plain to develop a passive recreation element, which is required when working with community preservation funding.

The city is hiring a seasonal cashier position at Tillie's to help its reopening in the first week of April.

Image via Shutterstock