The Chicoine Family Farm in Easthampton is at risk! We rely on the hay fields at the Town Farm for hay to maintain our 100% grass-fed beef farm. We practice regenerative agriculture at the Town Farm that are beneficial not only to our farm but to the local ecosystem as a whole. However, the very heart of this operation is now threatened due to a lack of transparency and public involvement.

For over two years, the Easthampton City Council, Property Committee, and City Treasurer/City Procurement Officer have been in discussions with a developer without the public's knowledge. This backdoor deal was conducted without involving the community that this land was deeded to support. A fair and transparent Request for Proposal (RFP) process is not only required by regulations but is imperative for maintaining trust with Easthampton’s residents.

This decision will impact the Chicoine Family Farm and the wider Easthampton community that relies on this precious green space. The loss of these fields to development would represent not only a loss for local farmers but a loss of Easthampton’s agricultural heritage.

We demand that Easthampton City Council, the Property Committee, and the City Treasurer/City Procurement Officer pause any ongoing decisions about this property and initiate an open and fair RFP process that involves public consultation. This land was deeded to the inhabitants of Easthampton, and its future should be decided with their full knowledge and input.

Your signature on this petition is vital in showing our collective strength and demanding transparency. Help us protect the acres at the Town Farm for the families that depend on it and the future of sustainable agriculture in our community. Sign this petition now to ensure that Easthampton values its residents and their right to have a say in the land that was meant for them.