MARY L. O’CONNELL
Westfield is blessed with a large land area that can sustain concentrations of population, industry, retail, and, open space. One of the greatest assets of our size is the opportunity for local farms to thrive. We have several farms in our city that provide benefits to the folks who live here. I’d like to highlight several of them.
The Palmer Farm is a third generation dairy farm located on Pochassic Street. The Palmer brothers Lorenzo and Charles originally had farms in the Russell Road and Putnam Drive area. Charles moved to Pochassic Street in 1919, and began his dairy farm on the historic Moose Meadow Brook. This farm went to son Earl and finally grandson Terry Palmer, who operates the farm today. Palmer Farm specializing in Holsteins, milking 135 cows twice a day. The total herd is made up of 200 head on approximately 350 acres. Palmer Farm has been recognized by AgriMark (deemed Excellent Quality Performance) for producing high quality milk.
West Parish Farms is a third generation family farm/orchard located on the Westfield/Granville town line offering their own ready-picked apples, peaches, honey, cider, aprons, jams, fresh-baked pies, assorted farm stand products and novelties. See them at the Westfield Farmers Market beginning mid-August with peaches and early apples. They open for the season on Granville Road starting Labor Day Weekend. Jan & Paul and family look forward to having you stop by to share the harvest season, where “good taste is a tradition!”
1780 Granville Road, Westfield (413) 562-4906
Kosinski Farms is a family farm that began in the 1930’s. Three generations and 80 years later they are still operating. The farm now consists of several properties, the primary one being the original Feeding Hills farm as well as two Westfield farms where not only the crops are grown but are the residence of the Kosinski family. Additionally, several years ago a seasonal retail stand, bakery and green house opened to further service customers. The Kosinski’s believe that they produce the highest quality of giant cultivated blueberries sold in New England. In addition to blueberries Kosinski Farm sells sweet corn, apples, pumpkins, and tomatoes. The agricultural industry is constantly evolving and the Kosinskis try to maintain an operation that addresses changes in the industry as they arise. The two most recent additions to the operation are a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) offering which includes fruit, vegetable, and bakery shares and the latest addition, a winery which will open this spring. When in full operation the winery will offer wine tasting and winery tours. Wines will be made from their own fruits and sold both through the store and or website. website: Kosinskifarms.com – email: [email protected].
336 / 420 Russellville Road (413) 562-4643
Pomeroy Farms has been producing pure maple syrup on their Westfield Dairy Farm for four generations, starting with L. Ralph Pomeroy. The Pomeroy Sugar House restaurant was built in 1998 by Harlow and Debbie Pomeroy to promote agriculture in the local community. It is now run by Harlow and Debbie’s kids: Rachel and Randy Pomeroy. All staff at the sugarhouse are Pomeroy’s friends and family, volunteering their time and efforts to help promote agriculture in the community. Visit the farm and restaurant weekends, now through March 30, 2014. [email protected]| 491 Russellville Rd, Westfield, 413 568 3484.
Yellow Stonehouse Farm was founded in 1941 and is a 55 acre CSA farm run by Connie and John Adams &and is located on Root Road. The farm is situated in a Natural Heritage and Endangered Special Landscape. This farm is focused on growing delicious produce and beautiful flowers using sustainable (no pesticides or herbicides) organic practices and is now selling a limited number of CSA shares ($425 – $595) for a 23 week growing season running from June into November. All full shares include pick your own garden access which includes tasty vegetables and colorful flowers, plus the use of walking trails and picnic areas located alongside the Manhan River. The wide variety of crops includes arugula, asparagus, beans, beets, bok-choy, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, corn, cucumbers, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce (many types), onions, peas, peppers (many kinds – sweet to hot), potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, squash – both summer and winter, swiss chard, tomatoes (heirloom, cherry, slicing and canning), turnips and culinary herbs such as basil, chives, cilantro, dill, parsley and sage are part of the generous share designed to feed a family of four. Yellow Stonehouse Farm is a member of CISA (Community Involvement in Sustaining Agriculture) and NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association). 354 Root Road, Westfield, 413 562-2164 preferred Fax 413 562-2164 [email protected]
The Wielgus Farm The Wielgus Farm on Main Street is perhaps one of the oldest farms in our city and has been in operation for over 350 years. The original owner was Reverend Edward Taylor, a Harvard graduate who, following graduation accepted an invitation to become a minister on the “frontier” in Westfield, which was then considered a wilderness town. Taylor left Cambridge on November 27, 1671 with Thomas Dewey, the Westfield First Church’s representative, on foot for the “frontier” of Westfield. The Stanisewski Family eventually came to own this property in 1945. They raised crops such as corn, potatoes and other vegetables, which they sold on a vegetable stand known as Stan Farms, located on Main Street, next to their home. Another crop raised was tobacco. The farm has been in continuous operation, and a few years back, another farming family began to lease the land for their own operations, raising such crops as corn and soybeans.
The Prospect Valley Farm is a fourth generation farm operated by the Phelon Family. The farm’s local beef product is 100 percent raised in Westfield by this family each and every day. The Prospect Valley herd consists of Milking Shorthorn cattle, a number of which are elite show animals who are exhibited throughout the country in local, regional, and national level shows. While the focus of the females in our herd is geared towards developing quality show animals, the males are raised for high quality beef products. The Phelon Family who operate the farm are working towards re-opening their farm stand in the summer of 2015. They will be offering meat products, bedding plants, hangers, fruits, vegetables and ice cream. 201 Pochassic Road (413) 519-0466 [email protected]
The Westfield Business Improvement District has been a connecting point between our community and local farmers. The BID (otherwise known as “The District”) hosts a weekly farmers market in the summer months at the Church of the Atonement on Court Street. The Farmers Market provides the opportunity to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables, plants and flowers, as well as home baked goods , honey, maple syrup and other fresh. Some of the participating Westfield farms are Pignatare’s Farm located at 380 East Mountain Road, Rudy’s Greenhouses at 14 St Paul Street, and as mentioned above, West Parish Orchards and Prospect Valley Farm. We are indeed fortunate to have this group providing this service to our Community. For further information please contact the BID at (413) 572-1260 or [email protected]
Mary O’Connell
Ward Four City Councilor
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield News.
