State Legislature Approves Waltham Field Station Purchase

WALTHAM, MA —The Massachusetts Senate and House approved legislation authorizing Waltham to purchase the current UMass Field Station, a working farm that serves as a home to an array of local non-profits in agriculture, farming and sustainability.

"This legislation ensures that the fertile land at the field station will be limited to certain uses in perpetuity," said Waltham Fields Community Farm’s Executive Director Stacey Daley. "We will protect the site’s rich agricultural history and its vital open space for generations to come.”

The bill now moves onto the governor’s desk for his consideration and signature, the final step in the process of enacting a new law.

If the governor approves the bill, and legislators say there's no reason to believe he won't, the land will be preserved for agricultural, open space and recreational purposes.

This has been years in the making.

Two years ago, non-profit groups at the station faced the prospect of eviction. They rallied at City Hall, petitioned lawmakers and spent months advocating for the land.

After countless discussion and meetings, the city stepped up to purchase the site from UMass Amherst. Because UMass is a state agency, Waltham’s legislative delegation needed to pass a special law authorizing the sale, which they did this week.

In April, the Waltham City Council approved a $17.4 million purchase and sale agreement proposed by the mayor. After that, attention turned to Beacon Hill and the passage of legislation authorizing the sale. The legislation contains protections to ensure that the land can be used for open space, recreation or agriculture.

“This is a win-win for the city and the tenants,” said Waltham State Sen. Mike Barrett.

Barrett gave credit to Mayor Jeannette McCarthy, the Waltham Land Trust, and Waltham Fields Community Farm for giving the last of Waltham's working farms a new lease on life.

"Waltham, its residents, and the dozen nonprofits, educational programs, and community groups that use the space may continue to reap the benefits of the farsighted gift Cornelia Warren made 100 years ago," said Rep. John Lawn, who represents Waltham alongside Rep. Tom Stanley in the Massachusetts House and Barrett in the State Senate.

The Field Station at 240 Beaver St has a rich history.

In her will local philanthropist Cornelia Warren, who died in 1921, preserved a large portion of her estate for the Massachusetts Agricultural College, later UMass Amherst, so that the institution could offer advisory services to residents in the eastern part of the state interested in effective farming.

Throughout the past century of ups and downs for farming and gardening in Greater Boston, Warren's vision has largely held.

The property consists of a farm, greenhouses, a community garden, and an administrative building, presently used by the Waltham Land Trust, Waltham Fields Community Farm, Boston Area Gleaners, Green Rows of Waltham Community Gardens, Grow Native Massachusetts, Mass Federation of Farmers Markets, and Boston Area Climate Experiment.

Waltham Fields Community Farm has been working the land for the past 25 years, with a mission to promote local agriculture and food access through its farming operations and educational programs.

"It’s heartening to know that Cornelia Warren's legacy of philanthropy and conservation will continue with the protection of this historic property for all to enjoy," said Executive Director of The Waltham Land Trust Sonja Wadman.

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how .