SOUTHBOROUGH — Set to be developed in the 1960s, Chestnut Hill Farm now has more room to grow vegetables and graze cattle.
The Trustees of Reservations bought 39 acres, which includes the remaining one-third of the original property owned by the Beals family, who donated 131 acres to the organization in 2010. This makes for a total of 170 acres. The land is across the street from the organization's farm operation and contains nearly six acres of U.S. Department of Agriculture-defined prime agricultural soil, along with hayfields and woodland habitat.
The farm features a 200-person Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) program, farm-to-table dinners, year-round events and livestock.
"It is going to help us expand our CSA and food production," said D.A. Hayden, general manager for The Trustees’ Charles River Valley properties. The land will also allow the organization additional visitor and site improvements, including plans for an outdoor structure featuring restrooms and a covered community gathering space for educational programs.
"There is a tremendous interest in Chestnut Hill Farm," Hayden said. "It is a stunning piece of property. It is a real oasis in Southborough."
The organization brought farming back to the property in 2015 with the CSA and a small farmstand. The organization is now farming about 11 acres of vegetables and the CSA serves almost 200 families. The programs also include farm-to-tables dinners, community events and children’s programs.
Philip and Elaine Beals bought the farm in 1966 when they saw it advertised as a potential subdivision and worked with the town to permanently preserve it.
Since 2015, the organization was able to raise more than $1 million in donations for the land. The Beals family reduced the sale price as a donation, making the purchase possible, according to the organization.
"This new agricultural acreage, planned visitor structure, and expanded public access to recreational trails will enable us to enhance and continue to share the beauty and bounty of this special farm with more community members and for all future generations," said Joanna Ballantine, vice president of The Trustees west region, in a statement.
Last year, cattle returned to the farm to help manage the fields, and eventually provide grass-fed beef for a meat CSA.
"The newly acquired land is ideal for growing crops and will also offer important, expanded grassland for our grazing livestock," said Desiree Robertson-DuBois, farm manager, in a statement. "We are equally thrilled about building a new public structure on the property with much needed amenities like restrooms and an interpretive, educational area where our visitors can learn more about the history of the farm and gather for our increasingly popular events and programs."
In 2006, residents overwhelmingly voted to purchase a conservation restriction on the unprotected portions of the farm. The property also features 2.5 miles of walking trails, open to the public daily, sunrise to sunset, according to the organization's website.
Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 508-626-4338 or jphelps@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JPhelps_MW.