In Great Barrington, Massachusetts, longtime farmers Dennis and Judy Mareb have placed their Windy Hill Farm on the market, marking the end of a decades-long agricultural chapter amid changing circumstances. The property, which encompasses approximately 70 acres of orchards, nursery stock, vegetable gardens, two homes, and a garden supply business, is now seeking a new owner who is committed to maintaining its agricultural heritage under a state preservation program.
Windy Hill Farm sits in the scenic Berkshires region, bordered by Beartown State Forest and Monument Mountain. The Marebs originally purchased the land in 1980, transforming a former dairy farm with dilapidated structures into a thriving business focused on nursery plants, pick-your-own fruit operations, and floral sales. Over the years, the farm has become a community fixture, drawing in seasonal workers and customers, including some notable figures.
A defining aspect of the sale is the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) imposed on the farmland, a state program designed to protect farmland from development. In exchange for financial compensation reflecting the land's value as farmland versus development potential, owners agree to keep the property in agricultural use permanently. This restriction also means that the next owner must have experience in farming or be willing to learn, limiting the buyer pool at a time when the number of U.S. farmers is in decline and the profession’s average age is rising.
The sale faces further complexity following a garage fire that led to the destruction of the Marebs’ main residence, which had been recently valued at just over $1 million. The family’s listing agent adjusted the price to $4.525 million, subtracting the home’s value while including the adjacent residential parcel in the sale. Despite the loss, the absence of a home offers potential opportunities, including agritourism ventures such as a wedding venue or bed-and-breakfast.
The farm’s business operations generate roughly $2.9 million annually, with offerings like pick-your-own blueberries and apples, a winterberry bouquet business, and a nursery inventory valued at $250,000. The operation is supported by approximately 30 seasonal employees, some of whom have deep ties to the farm. Workers express hope that a new owner will respect the existing operations and community that the Marebs have cultivated.
Dennis Mareb, with a background in agricultural studies, describes the sale as a difficult but necessary step toward retirement. Although the couple’s two daughters chose careers outside of farming, the Marebs have committed to preserving the land’s agricultural value for future generations. With an additional 30 acres acquired in recent years to block potential development, the farm remains protected as a “forever farm.”
Looking ahead, Dennis Mareb plans to remain engaged in the agricultural community as a consultant and neighbor to the farm’s future steward. He expressed willingness to assist the next owner, underscoring the deep connection the Marebs have to the land and its ongoing legacy.