New owners of Walt’s Farm Barry Cohen and Courtney Rocha with their daughter standing in front of the apple orchard at Walt’s Farm
The Westport Land Conservation Trust (WLCT) has announced the resale of Walt’s Farm on Briggs Road, which was protected in partnership with the Town of Westport in April 2021. This 12-acre local landmark includes an orchard, single family house, and open farm fields in the north end of Westport. It is the second farm purchased, protected, and resold by WLCT this year.
Walt, the former owner, produced a variety of vegetables and fruit for decades and the property is well-known and appreciated as a local resource. It contains roughly 5 acres of fields as well as a small house and outbuildings.
The new owners, Barry Cohen and Courtney Rocha, both grew up in the region and currently reside in Westport. They bring farming experience with a passion for connecting people to their food, as well as a track record of working in their communities on environmental conservation.
Cohen has worked as assistant farm manager at Rosasharn Farm in Rehoboth, MA, where he managed fruit trees, grew produce, and managed livestock. “Community has always been a huge part of my life,” says Cohen. “I love growing things, caring for the land, and getting to know it.”
Cohen and Rocha plan to reinvigorate the orchard and berry plants, cultivate vegetables, and raise small livestock in the fields at Walt’s. They are also interested in cultivating native coastal perennial plants, which pays homage to Rocha’s experience working as a coastal engineer. They anticipate involving the community in the farm once they are established and complete some initial projects at the farm.
“Community has always been a huge part of my life,” says Cohen. “I love growing things, caring for the land, and getting to know it.”
(Right) An aerial view of the 12-acre Walt’s Farm on Briggs Road.
The Town of Westport exercised its rights under the Chapter 61A Program on January 19, 2021 and chose to partner with WLCT to ensure the property’s protection and continued farming, as required by the 61A Program. WLCT took on the work to purchase the property, protect it with restrictions to keep it in farming, and sell it to a buyer who will continue its agricultural use and contribute to the local agricultural economy. The Town contributed funds to the conservation restriction from the Community Preservation Act Fund and the Agriculture/Open Space Trust Fund.
“This is the second time this year that WLCT and the Town have had the opportunity to protect a working landscape,” says Ross Moran, executive director of WLCT. “It marks the 6th working farm WLCT has purchased, protected, and resold. The interest we have received in these types of projects illustrates the community’s desire to preserve Westport’s agricultural heritage and connect with local food. Affordable farmland is a critical need, and WLCT is thrilled to provide these opportunities to the farming community.”
WLCT received 30 applications, and selected the new owners with input from community members. The price was predetermined so that the applicants could be evaluated on their farm and business plans, experience, and compatibility with the land and community.
“Walt’s Farm is an important neighborhood farm. While surrounded by dense development, many Westporters have fond memories of Walt and his produce,” says Brian Valcourt, WLCT Selectmen. “I am pleased to see WLCT stepping up and saving this land in the north end and I am pleased to see the farming tradition continue.”
(Above) The sale of Walt’s Farm came together because of the work of many people and organizations, including the Town of Westport. Left to Right: Diane Arsenault of Jack Conway, Richard De Almeida of BayCoast Mortgage Co., Barry Cohen and daughter, Courtney Rocha, Daniel Briand of BayCoast Mortgage Co., Steve McGuiness of Westport Land Conservation Trust, Nicole Plante of Even Keel Realty
“The interest we have received in these types of projects illustrates the community’s desire to preserve Westport’s agricultural heritage and connect with local food. Affordable farmland is a critical need, and WLCT is thrilled to provide these opportunities to the farming community.”
BayCoast Mortgage Company, a division of BayCoast Bank, provided the financing to help make the sale of this protected farm a reality. “BayCoast Mortgage Company is proud to work with WLCT and the borrowers to complete this community-based project, “states Daniel Briand, President and CEO of BayCoast Mortgage Company. “We are delighted to participate in a project that protects the rural character of Westport and continues the tradition of local agriculture.”
Cohen and Rocha will begin preparing the farm for next growing season and work on repairing the house right away. They will move to the property with their 1-year-old daughter once repairs are finished. They will keep the farm’s name and look forward to connecting to the community. They can be reached at waltsfarmstand@gmail.com.