SCITUATE – Beverly Westerveld was 13 years old when she planted her first Christmas tree after her father started Tree-Berry Farm in Scituate in 1974. They added blueberry bushes shortly thereafter.
After decades at the helm, Westerveld will sell the farm on Route 123 to R and C Farms across the street. Tree-Berry Farm offers blueberry picking and Christmas trees. The land is owned by the town of Scituate, but Westerveld owns the agricultural rights to farm it.
“It was very expensive to keep the farm running and I basically did it for the customers and the satisfaction of the customers who enjoy the farm so much,” Westerveld said. “Every year I have a lot of work that I physically can’t do and when you can’t sharpen the blades on the mower and have to pay someone to do it, it gets expensive. I have to pay people to do what I used to be able to do.”
Westerveld said she is in talks with the Simons family, which owns R and C Farms, to take over the blueberry operation starting next year. She will continue with the Christmas trees until 2025, when that part of the farm will close. A woman who answered the phone at R and C Farms declined to comment.
“I’m glad they’re taking over because I know they love the country as much as I do,” Westerveld said.
The History of Tree-Berry Farm
Westerveld said her father started Tree-Berry Farm in 1974 on property owned by his father and grandfather. Her family sold the land to the town of Scituate in the 1920s but retained agricultural rights to farm it.
She said her father planted Christmas trees in 1974 and blueberry bushes in 1976. The farm opened to customers in 1980.
“I took a few years off for college and a few years for chemotherapy, but other than that I was there,” she said.
Westerveld said she has seen generations of children come to the farm, both as employees and as customers who stopped by to pick blueberries or buy a Christmas tree.
“It’s fun to realize how many generations I’ve made happy and how much joy the work has brought me,” she said. “I love teaching the younger kids how to work and take responsibility, and I’ve watched them grow into really good people.”
Westerveld is ready for retirement
After two poor blueberry seasons in a row, Westerveld was forced to start an online GoFundMe fundraiser in March 2023 to keep the farm open. She raised about $12,000, which helped her cover expenses and payroll costs for the year.
She said this season was mediocre. Lots of people wanted to pick berries, but the harvest wasn’t as big as she would have liked. She said she was happy to have another season with the customers she’s had for nearly 50 years.
“I was able to make the decision to retire and I didn’t have to close,” she said. “It was a beautiful life.”
