Marion
Dorothy Ave Wilmington
Friday, October 17, 2008
 05:57 PM

Today is October 17th and the odor coming from Krochmal Farm is absolutely sickening, and it was yesterday too, I live just down the street from the North Intermediate school. We shouldn't have to put up with this horrible odor, I have lived in this house for 51 yrs which pre dates the farm, they must be stopped from spreading that raw sewage on their farm fields, and anyone going there to buy pumpkins and hayrides ought to have their heads examined.

Tony
Rounsevelle/emily
September 29, 2008

Hi to all, one of the main issues I have is with those folks who are trying to ridicule those of us who are protesting these smells from the farms by calling us yuppies. 1)If I was a yuppie I would live over in North Tewksbury not South Tewksbury. 2)From what I saw at the town meeting 2 weeks ago I saw a bunch of blue collar hard working people who have had enough of the smell. 3) This isn't just a couple of people that are unhappy, this is literally hundreds of people in 2 towns, how can one family think that they have more rights than all of these people?  This is just sad.

Christina
South St.
September 27, 2008
10:32 PM

My mother lived on South St for about a year. The smells were terrible especially in the summer. I used to run a loop down to the end of South St. and the farther I got, the worse the smells were. I feel badly for the people living in that area, it's no wonder you'd never see anyone outside on a nice day.

Willi
Tewksbury
September 24, 2008
09:56 AM

While I am not a current resident, I lived on Rounsevell Rd for 23 years (1968-1991).  We always had an occasional "odor", but it wasn't so bad back then.  I still visit friends in the area, and the smell has definitely gotten MUCH worse.  The problem has increased, both in the smell's "intensity", and the area it covers is MUCH bigger.  The Town either needs to shut down the illegal expansion, or buy out the homeowners who will now lose property value.

Kevin and Sharon
Ella Ave
September 11, 2008
04:19 PM

My family and I are horrified of the nasty smell. We never know when it will hit. We have had barbeques and have had to explain to people what the stench is. It's so embarrassing. I can't believe it had gone on this long. People in Tewksbury/Wilmington should not have to deal with such foul odors. On a nice day it's a shame we have to close our windows and you can still smell it. Our property value is going down because the word is out about the stench.

Joe
Wilmington/Tewksbury line
September 09, 2008
08:55 PM

Farming & agriculture is the backbone of this country & we have no right to interfere with a legitimate business. If the building was built without the proper permits it's within the power of the local Building Inspector to order the structure to be removed/repaired/corrected.  The farm owners should want to assist in keeping the peace with their community by helping correct &/or do their part in fixing the pollution problems.  The way they treat the livestock is horrible & cruel if that really is the living conditions of these animals.  Become Vegetarians!

Mike
Route 93
August 23, 2008
12:50 PM

I went to Dunkin Donuts this morning on Shawsheen street and then continued down route 93 south and when I hit the route 125 exit I thought I was going to vomit. So much for a nice cup of coffee on a nice Saturday morning. GEEESH!

Sandra
South Street
August 21, 2008
07:16 PM

I am a 20 year resident of South Street in Tewksbury. My parents and I have lived here since 1987. Krochmal Farm has always been a nuisance. The smells coming from their have worsened through the years. I have a disabled son with respiratory issues and when he gets picked up for school the smell is so raunchy that my son, the bus driver, and I are gagging. There are also the afternoons when he comes home and the smell is there again. My friends and family have a hard time enjoying a bar-b-que when that smell comes, can you imagine having to deal with it on a daily basis.

Jan
Arlene Ave. Wilmington
August 21, 2008
07:20 PM

Believe me if the housing market was a little better, I would me gone by now. I moved here from Medford 10 Years ago and was not the least bit prepared for the horrific smells of summer. I have only had three outdoor gatherings and not because of the weather, I'm afraid to have company because of the smells. All we need is a little wind from the right direction. Go Green. Thank God for air conditioning.

Gina
Wilmington
August 20, 2008
09:21 PM

I am a Wilmington resident living... just off McDonald Road.    The smell yesterday was grotesque!  As a matter of fact it smelled all the way into North Wilmington at Elias.  Everyone in the store was complaining.

John
Wilmington
August 19, 2008
05:16 PM

Today 8/19/08 the smell is unbearable and totally disgusting. Decent living people have to suffer the unhealthy and putrid fumes from this operation
that is run for the profit of a few.  This is not only wrong it is unjust.

Sheila
Wilmington
August 04, 2008
04:20 PM

It's too bad that on this beautiful summer day we are unable to sit by the pool and enjoy it because the odor is so unbearable!

Marion
North Wilmington
August 04, 2008
01:34 PM

I was out trying to work in my garden, the odor coming from the pig farm today is really very bad, it's really a beautiful dry day and the odor prevented me from  staying out any longer, really too bad because it's a perfect day to garden. There must be a solution to this problem, I wish they'd find it.

Kelly
Memorial Drive
July 30, 2008
08:25 PM

My husband and I just got home from a nice dinner at Luna Rosa. I couldn't get over the stink as we came down Shawsheen onto our street.

So I sit here on my new deck, smelling sh**. Gotta love Tewksbury, huh?

Phaedra
Sunset Circle
May 14, 2008
10:17 PM

Hey gang, it's been really rancid these last few days.  Please make sure that in addition to posting testimonials here that you call local officials and report how this odor is effecting you.  www.tewksburyodor.org needs your help.  They can't do it alone.  Remember just as the farm has the right to farm, you have a right to enjoy your property.

Suzanna
Allen Road
May 13, 2008
11:21 AM

Hello,
My fiance and myself have lived on Allen Road for three years now, and are just shocked at how horrible the odor is. We were not aware of how bad it was prior to purchasing our home, and are now upset, that we can't even open our windows.
I would love to be a part of the group battling this so called farm and their odors ruining nearby neighborhoods.

Sandra
South Street
Friday, May 02, 2008
05:40 PM

Hi, I've been a resident of South Street for over 20 years. I was just wondering if you have noticed a huge amount of garbage truck traffic. I kept a log today of when a truck went down to the Private Property area across from Regina Drive and when it left, in an hour and a half over 8 trucks came by towards that property they would leave 20 min from when they got there. Do you have any idea what is going on?

I am trying to stay patient about this odor, but I have a disabled son, who has been gagging with the smell. It always seems to happen more in the morning when he is getting on the bus and/or when he is getting off the bus from school.

diane
south street
April 22, 2008
04:45 PM

I have been working outside for the past 5-6 days, on on each day have had the wonderful odor of the farm.  I read in one of the local papers that something was going to done so we would not get the heavy odors.  Based on what I have been smelling for the past few days, it is not working. Guess no open windows to let
spring in.    April 22, 2008

Sean
Starr Ave
April 20, 2008
08:33 PM

First nice weekend of the year. Fresh air with a hint of garbage odor to it.
Looks like it's going to be a long summer.

Kelly
Memorial Dr.
April 04, 2008
08:09 AM

After four long months of living with family members, in another town,  while our home was gutted and rebuilt, lastnight was our first night back in our "new to us" home.  At 7:45 this morning, our son and I walked out the door on our way to the bus stop. As we stepped down the first step out of our front door, like a brick wall the stench of manure hit us.  Our son said, "Mom, I had forgotten all about that stinky smell!"

Honestly, I had forgotten just how bad it can smell here too!  All that we have been through to get to this point, ruined by the nasty smell lurking outside my new front door. Good thing we have central air as I don't think we will want to be outside, again,  this summer, if it is anything like last summer.

Eric
Tanager Rd.
February 24, 2008
10:50 PM

I Moved into this neighborhood at the beginning of the year. I was excited to have found such a wonderful neighborhood in a great town. My house overlooks the Shawsheen River where the wildlife is abundant. This was the perfect house. While moving in I smelled this horrible odor. I thought that this was an isolated incident. I am sorry to say that it wasn't. Today is Feb. 24th 2008 and it is the worst it's been so far this year. I can only imagine how bad this will be during the summertime. Besides the odor I am very concerned about the groundwater in the area. There is no way that this pig farm and manure storage can be good for the surrounding wetlands. After finding out that this farm and the structures on the farm's property were not properly licensed I was very upset. Something needs to be done to ensure that this neighborhood continues to be healthy and livable soon. I would support action to rectify this matter quickly. Thank you.

Karen
Arlene Ave
January 17, 2008
11:49 AM

The new year had  brought the old smell back, even worse than ever.
It is so outrageous that the Board of Health and Town can't handle this....I think the farm folks are so used to idle investigations they will continue to make this a disgusting and undesirable place to live.. it's pathetic  that the officials  in place  can't handle this after all this time.

Phaedra
Tewksbury
January 07, 2008
07:46 AM

Well everyone the odor is awful... it's been slowly creeping back in since New Years... I know that we were told that the odor would be worse when the Piggery's land is frozen... I am sure with the past few cold days the land froze. So what now... I will call /email/drop by the BOH today and see what measures will be taken to abate the odor. How I knew the odor was back... I could smell it in my house... the Chimney flue was open... So much for wanted to light a fire too!

Kerry
Andover
November 29, 2007
02:00 PM

Thursday November 29 - Distinct odors throughout the neighborhood starting approx 11:30am.

Ed
Wamesit Rd
November 22, 2007
10:21 AM

Well here it is Thanksgiving morning and the first comment out of our guests as they arrived was  "What is that smell??"
Welcome to Tewksbury !!!!

Sean
Starr Ave
November 21, 2007
12:39 PM

For the past 11 years I have resided in Tewksbury, first at Indian Ridge and then on Starr Ave. There was never any smell in this area until about 3 1/2 years ago. That's when I started to notice. Over the last 3 years the smell has gotten much worse and more frequent, lasting for longer periods at a time. I live about 3/4 -1 mile from the farm. It's not a matter of "the smell has always been there" because it has not. While there may have always been a smell from time to time around the farm, this is not the case. Something is wrong. I grew up in Woburn not far from a Tannery that always had rotting animal carcasses. Then smell generated from the Tannery was nothing compared to the smell from Krochmal Farm.

Kelly
Memorial Drive
Tewksbury
November 19, 2007
08:56 AM

comments:

I was truly amazed that when we got home last night around 6:30pm, for as cold as it was, I could still smell manure.  I thought that perhaps the colder it gets the less we would smell the manure.  Guess not.

Stan
McDonald Rd. Wilmington
November 19, 2007
08:12 AM

This smell started 2-3 years ago and has gotten worse and more consistent.  We can't even have outdoor birthday parties anymore because it smells like someone's septic tank is wide open.  We have to sit inside all summer and run the air conditioners.  We can't even enjoy our pool anymore. This is absolutely ridiculous and affects THOUSANDS of lives.  There is no reason we should be forced to live with this horrible smell.

We will not go away until the smell goes away so someone should fix it now.

JOSEPH
SHAWSHEEN  ST.
Friday, November 16, 2007
01:15 AM

YES,  I  TOO  CAN  SMELL THE  ODOR  WHILE  I  AM  OUTSIDE  IN MY YARD. IT IS VERY STRONG  AT TIMES.

BETTY
ANTHONY RD
November 12, 2007
01:23 PM

I've lived in Tewksbury on Anthony Rd for over 30 years. 
Anthony Rd is on the other side of the river from the farm.
In the last 2 years the odor has been unbearable. There's no enjoying being outside in your own yard on a nice day.  It's actually sickening.  It's hard to explain what the odor smells like.  I've had guest actually leave our yard because of it.
I did not always live in Tewksbury. I grew up in another town where we also had 2 or 3 neighboring pig farms.  I don't remember ever being subjected to this kind of odor from these farms.  I feel something is definitely not being taken care of over there. There was a time you'd occasionally smell an odor, but it was nothing like the odor we smell now or as often. 

Christine
Indian Ridge
November 11, 2007
04:23 PM

After reading the BOH findings I'm more frustrated than I was before. It was all a bunch of redundant crappola. Hopefully the attention from the Herald and Fox news will inspire the BOH to do some rethinking and maybe FINALLY take us seriously.

Dave (Webmaster)
South St.
November 11, 2007
02:23 AM

Documents obtained by us show that the Perkins Development Trust Parcel / Berg Parcel had filed an ENF (Environmental Notification Form) in August of 2006 to clean up PIG MANURE from 31,500 square feet of wetlands on Perkins land.
It appears that the ENF was later withdrawn.

What was pig manure doing on Perkins Trust Land?

Why was this withdrawn?

Was the pig manure left there in the wetlands?

Was the work actually done?

wOw
Tewksbury
November 11, 2007
01:50 PM

Check out FOX 25 news at 10 pm

ed
Tewksbury
November 10, 2007
03:57 PM

I am so happy to hear it is not just me that cant bear the odor this farm does to us.. I'm afraid the value of my home is going down directly related to this. last week I smelled it at Oakdale mall. it is embarrassing and we pay an awful  lot in taxes and cant enjoy our backyard.. this is the worst in 20+ years.................I also would like to add that one day a over-loaded truck drove down south street and on it's way dropped the garbage on the street heading to the farm.. Unfortunately I was behind the  truck and the smell was so bad I had to go to the car wash to remove the smell of onion/garlic from the car

Karen
Salem St, Wilmington
November 08, 2007
04:39 PM

I just saw the article in the Town Crier tonite -- I am so relieved to know it's not my septic system -- while the odor wasn't constant, I was concerned as it happened frequently - now I know why.  Thanks to those of you who have been so diligent in reporting and pushing this issue.

wOw
Tewksbury
November 08, 2007
3:45 PM

Anyone get the crier... I heard there was another follow up to the "cause". 
 

wOw
Tewksbury
November 5, 2007
08:11 AM

Hi everyone... it' s been bliss these last two days... I have truly enjoy deep breaths in... soooo sorry Wilmington.

Dave (Webmaster)
South St.
October 31, 2007
07:51 AM

I believe the sweet air the last couple of days is because of the cold wind coming from the north.

Paul
Andover
October 30, 2007
09:15 PM

Karen in Wilmington,

When was the last time you had your water tested?

wOw
Tewksbury
October 30, 2007
06:46 PM

Hey gang... I saw Lou-Ann today with two other official trucks out in the front of 1079 South... Red gate was closed.  She had a folder under her arm.   The BOH should be meeting on November 1st to discuss all we had to say

Jane
Tewksbury
October 30, 2007
06:17 PM

Maybe it's just us, or just our street, but there has only been one day, or two at the most, since the meeting with the BOH that we have been stunk out of out own yard. Last night I smelled autumn leaves and wood smoke - very nice -  and the mild odors we get occasionally in the morning or evening are like they used to be - an "oh yeah, there's a piggery nearby" experience, with no gut-wrenching or gagging smells.
If it's the wind shifting around, I am grateful to the weather gods. But if it's improved farm management, I am grateful to the Cave family. And yes, it should never have been allowed to get so bad or go on so long, but it does seem once again like a livable neighborhood. so thank you to Dave and all his helpers!
 

Kelly
Tewksbury
October 30, 2007
05:23 PM

On October 17th I called the Board of Health and left a message stating that I could not get over the stench in my yard at 6:40pm.  I also found their website through this website and sent them an email. I will say that a Lou-Ann Clement, Director of Public Health, did answer my email and stated she would look into my complaint.  Yesterday I received another email from Lou-Ann and she informed me that they are investigating the issue and will be mailing us an infromation package when it is ready.  She informed me to call should I have further questions.  Has anyone else received an email like this?

The conversation this morning at the bus stop was the number of trucks coming in and out of the farm. Perhaps the owners are clearing out the manure?  As another person stated on this site, it would seem that the stench has subsided in intensity, since the arrival of these trucks.

I truly hope that this is seen through to the end, and not just shelved as it would seem to have been done in the past.  We just moved to Tewksbury in June, and have no plans to move ever again. I don't want to be sorry for having moved to such a great town.Mike and Karen

Tewksbury
October 29, 2007
10:09 PM

We went to Monday night football at Kitty's in North Reading with some family and friends.. one of the people there asked  us why the highway always smells so bad at exit 41!  great ...now we are known as the people from the smelly town...I believe it was w0w who posted the master plan from Tewksbury...you have got to be kidding me...if it is not in their  master plan to get rid of this disgusting stench in their town then I am going to go crazy.

karen
south st
October 29, 2007
05:41 PM

My daughter was away all week visiting friends in Florida she came home about 5:30 this morning as she was heading down South St. happy to be coming home, the stench hit her like a ton of bricks! So much for home sweet home :(  I wonder if they are cleaning up down there...the front of the entrance looks better, and people have seen septic trucks and trucks with pigs leaving...If they are in fact cleaning up it makes me ask why wasn't this enforced sooner? and on a regular basis.Why did it take the community to make this happen? Why isn't the BOH staying on top of this? Why was the piggery given such a long notice to the up coming inspection? How long will this "clean-up" last? I hope I don't sound too negative but these are questions I can't help wonder about.

Kevin & Sharon
Wilmington
October 29, 2007
12:58 PM

We live an a nice community and pay high taxes we should not have to deal with the horrific stench of a piggery. I once had my sons first birthday party outside with a barbeque, the stench was so bad  my guests and I had to move the party inside the house and turn on the air conditioner because we couldn't even open the windows the smell was so bad. My family and I were so embarrassed by the horrible stench. We should NOT have to have that smell in the air, it gross!! It has made me mention lately that I prefer to move out of town than to smell that all the time.

Concerned Former Resident

October 26, 2007
10:13 AM

My parents moved onto South Street over 30 years ago. Some people may have only moved into the neighborhood a few years ago. Obviously it is the responsibility of any home buyer to research the neighborhood they are moving to. Obviously a neighborhood that is in close proximity to a pig farm is going to experience farm odors every once in awhile. However, the odors in the neighborhood go way beyond a normal farm smell, way, way beyond.

wOw
Tewksbury
October 25, 2007
06:04 PM

Enough IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!... IN 1958 the farm was considered a "nuisance" by courts.... In 1962 the piggery was told to comply with the law! In 1969 ALL PIGS were SLAUGHTERED because they were INFECTED WITH DISEASE.... Also in 1969 hog were ordered REMOVED by the state this time inadequate housing... IN 1977 the BOH Director ordered farm to control rodents and flies....in 1981 the farm was again ordered to take action on pollution control due to 56 Complaints from residents.... IN 1982 23 people filed complaints.... in 1983 ANOTHER 25 COMPLAINED....IN 1991 A CAPTAIN IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NOTED THE FARM BURNING CARCASSES.... In 1991 a petition with 122 was presented.. ALONG WITH 69 COMPLAINTS and so on and so on.......ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Fed up
Tewksbury
October 25, 2007
02:32 PM

It's a little weird that just yesterday someone saw what they described as Septic Trucks.....and today there aren't any posting on the odor tracking page? I wonder if there was a massive cleanup yesterday. I didn't smell anything this morning before leaving for work. I too saw the BMC information on a couple cities websites IE Westford.... How does that work? Can anyone drop of yard waste there?  I am just curious to see for myself exactly what is back there (personally).  I can't deal with the stench anymore either....

Cris
Methuen
October 25, 2007
12:42 PM

I drive to Boston a couple times a week and always get repulsed for the 1 mile stretch between exit 42 and 41... I had no Idea what it was.. me and my boss had mad it into a Joke of rolling down the windows to enjoy the stink of Tewksbury on the way by... we went even so far to call into a local AM Radio station to mention it.. So today I went looking to see if anyone actually knew what the stink was all about... and I found this site... I'm utterly amazed about this ODOR! I don't live in Tewksbury or around that area.. but trust me... Everyone that travels down 93 knows about it... and I bet no one would ever stop their because of it... My sympathies for the people in that area.. I hope that this gets fixed for you soon this smell does no justice for the area.

mommaP.
McDonald Rd
October 25, 2007
08:53 AM

The foul repulsive odors strangely have been out of control for the past 4 yrs. Been here 14 yrs now its disgusting have to close windows especially now with rain and with humidity. Does anyone know what's up with the cows being stored out behind what I think is the Tewksbury leave drop off area. Quite a strange site to see cattle fenced in upon toxic grounds nowhere to graze nowhere to go. Who takes care of these cows? Kids in the neighborhood say the fence is electrified but I'm not gonna touch it or walk through it. On Google earth they are to the right of the large kwansit hut which is massive you can land planes in it. I think its Krochmal farm property??

Dave (Webmaster)
South St.
October 25, 2007
07:41 AM

I'm not going to say I know for sure what this is. (Although some who ride bikes back there say they know what this is). You be the judge. It's not a new photo, but it is just behind the the piggery in the Toxic Woods of Wonder. Anyone driving to drop off leaves at BMC should be able to see some interesting stuff behind there. http://www.tewksburyodor.org/images/pile.jpg

mike
south street
71.184.139.49
October 24, 2007
11:04 PM

B&S it wouldn't surprise me at all but it just disturbs me if they are getting ready for inspections here they are doing exactly what we have known them to be doing and I doubt anyone is monitoring the situation.

B&S
Emily rd
October 24, 2007
10:26 PM

Mike, I know my nieces field trip only went to the pumpkin patch, not the piggery. I did notice however, today two big trucks one entering, and one leaving the road to the piggery. They looked almost like septic type trucks. Maybe there doing a lot of cleaning, and getting rid of pig feces, because of all this, and possible inspections from boh, state, and whoever else. I don't know just a thought.

charlene
Wilmington
October 24, 2007
09:05 PM

Hi, I just found out about this site, and I think its great what you are doing Dave. I have been calling the Wilmington BOH for some time now about the offensive and horrid odor outside and was told repeatedly that it is normal and its the organic breakdown in the wetlands. I didn't buy that. All of the sudden, just yesterday, the BOH is admitting that its the piggery and it is a known issue and that putrid smell is traveling almost 5.27 miles to my area!!! So for all of you that say that we should have done our homework before purchasing a home, that's just baloney and a nice try because I don't have the farm in my backyard (5.27 miles away) and that odor is traveling that far to my home!!! So I can only imagine what it must be like for the closer residents. It only has become a real problem for me this past year, as it has been brutal almost every day. I had my sons third birthday party outside and my guests were reeling from the stench, It was quite embarrassing. There are many days I have to run from my car into my home gagging from the stench and can't open my windows. I will now be on your site every day checking, and tracking the odor, because, as a community I think we need to do something about this before it gets any worse (although at this point I doubt it could!).

wOw
Tewksbury
October 24, 2007
05:51 PM

guys check out tewksbury's 2002 master plan...scroll to page 8 right before "desired actions." http://www.tewksbury.net/dcd/Master Plan Committee/Visioning/visioning forums-final.pdf Apparently they have heard complaints before!

grossed out

75.192.182.49
October 23, 2007
02:51 PM

I spent a large chunk of my youth bringing hay to a farm and never did it smell the way this place smells. i knew there was a "FARM" when i purchased my home a few years back, what i didn't know was there was an active piggery on this alleged "farm", as a matter of fact it was one of the selling points to my family, as again it should've brought back fond childhood memories. let's call a spade a spade, just because you grow a couple ears of corn and sell some pumpkins in the fall, that does not make you a farm. it should be called the Krochmal piggery because that's what it is, it is nothing more than a piggery, and we are all tired of this place ruining our lives, and stinking out our neighborhoods.

Sousa Family
Wilmington
October 21, 2007
11:52 AM

We live on Arlene Ave in Wilmington and lately the odor is a disgrace and I believe lowers the property value in the neighborhoods affected. We pay taxes for a reason (to keep sanitary conditions at the least). We spend a lot of time outdoors and find it extremely difficult to enjoy it recently.

limeyldy
No. Wilmington
October 20, 2007
10:53 PM

I live just off Salem St, and sometimes the odor coming from somewhere in Tewksbury is positively gaggingly strong, so much so that I can't go outside and work in my garden, it smells like open sewer or pig farm or worse. What is the source of the odor? and how can it be stopped? limeyldy.

Lyn
Idlewild Road
October 20, 2007
05:48 PM

1) The odor reaches us on Idlewild Road when the wind is right. There have been times when the odor has been unpleasant enough that we don't go outside due to that odor. 2) Sometimes you can follow your nose down County Road, to Pringle, Baldwin, and Homestead. The worst times are during really humid weather when it is not raining. In short, the odor problem is much more widespread than is shown on the map.

Karen Lee
Wilmington
October 20, 2007
03:53 PM

I'm sitting in my office, downstairs in my house trying to get some overdue work done. The front door is ajar to let some air in the house because the temps are so mild. BUT!!!!!! The reek that appeared an hour ago is permeating the entire house now, in every room and I'm forced to close the door on our fading indian summer. I'm so sick of this.

Caroline
Salem Street
October 20, 2007
10:15 AM

We can not take it anymore!!!!!! My neighbors and I have gone to the Wilmington town, hall the board of health and complained and NOTHING has been done. We can't enjoy being out in our yards, having a outdoor party. It is so awful. I think the next step is our state rep. and if that doesn't work then we have to contact someone at the news. This HAS to be addressed, and we can not sit by and allow this stench to keep on permeating our homes and yards. We all work very hard and pay a lot to live here and should not have to deal with this!!!!!!!!

bob
south st
October 19, 2007
10:02 PM

I lived in the area of 1100 South St. for four years ending in 2004 and the reason we moved to west Tewksbury was the awful smell coming from that farm. At times it was so strong it would make your eyes burn. Good luck on your fight. we couldn't wait any longer

Paul
Tewksbury
October 19, 2007
07:21 PM

I started a new job in Wilmington on Ballardvale Rd. earlier this summer. The existing employees thought that the smell was coming from Charles River Labs until I told them that this Horrible Smell was coming from Tewksbury. I have been down to the Pig Farm and there is no question that this smell is coming from there. Thank you for getting the word out about this terrible condition. My sympathies to all residents that live in this area and are prisoners in their own homes

Gail
Wilmington
October 19, 2007
01:00 PM

I have smelt a foul odor at my place on occasion which reminds me of horse manure. It is sometime very very offensive and sometimes not so bad. Gail McCarthy

Vincent & Christine
Tewksbury
October 19, 2007
10:48 AM

We have lived in Tewksbury for 9 years. Over the past year, we have become quiet aware of this horrible odor. It has been getting considerably worse and more frequent with every passing day. The odor was present this morning. As like many of the Tewksbury residents in this area, we are concerned about the health of our family and enjoyment of our property. We recently had an in ground pool installed in our backyard and would like to be able to enjoy it fully with our family, friends and neighbors. We are concerned with this horrible odor and the quality of the air that we breath. Please address this issue of ours. Thank you.

Kelly Joyce
4 Memorial Drive
71.174.235.29
October 19, 2007
08:49 AM

Well at 7:45am when I sent my 6th grader to the bus stop, the wall of stench was right there upon opening the door waiting to walk him down. Then at 8:15am, when walking to the elementary bus stop, not a smell to be found. I am not in support of the farm being shut down. I am sure there is a solution that will allow everyone to lead the lives they were prior to this situation. Being new to the area, I began my own research on this odor issue. I am just learning about the "Rocco" site and am not familiar with the situation. Coming from Lowell, and having put up with the sporadic odor from the waste treatment facility, this does not compare. I recently had a great opportunity to tour the EPA facility in No. Chelmsford. What an amazing place. I'd like to think that the EPA should be able to do air monitoring in various locations of Tewks., Wilmington and Andover, which in turn would enable the EPA to determine what the odor is and where it is coming from. If the EPA can monitor the air quality from a fire that occurred in a large commercial building, to ensure the surrounding business/homes are not in any danger, why can't they monitor the "odor" and determine if it is from a pig farm or a dump site? Does anyone know if the EPA has done any air testing?

chris
Wilmington
October 18, 2007
08:53 PM

I have worked at Keyspan in Wilmington for the past 4 years and I just don't know how homeowners can live with this horrible stench. I have heard that in addition to the pig farm there is also an animal testing lab nearby which every so often burns the carcasses of the dead animals. I don't know how true that is, but whatever is causing it...well I've said many times that if I ever made the mistake of buying a house in the area only to discover it later I would be on the hunt for the previous owner and the realtor. As I DO know how bad it is, I would not accept a property around here if it was GIVEN to me. And I commute 50 miles each way now. All you area residents have my most sincere sympathy. I truly hope something can be done.

Kelly
Tewksbury
October 18, 2007
08:09 PM

To the Tewksbury Board of Health, I am writing with concern in regards to the odors in my neighborhood, and points beyond. I have lived in this area for 46 years and have experienced all the various odors: dump, piggery, farm, wet lands. Odor in this area has been escalating in concentration, frequency, and foulness. We regularly have to close our windows. Our neighbors looked around their yard one recent night, convinced that something had died and was rotting. A child in the neighborhood said it smelled like a hundred people went poopies on her lawn. These are not comments we have grown up with here. In talking to people in this area, many of them say the odors are stronger and odder, than any time in the past, and that the escalation has occurred during the past 1 to 5 years. (I agree, although I can surely recall the extremely noxious odors of the days of illegal dumping, which I hope is over with, and will be “cleaned” and treated as recommended.) Several people talk of a high number of trucks going up and down South Street, and a very noisy, very large truck, at 1 and 2am. A few folks have commented that they grew up on or near a farm and never smelled the kind of odor they smell around here. Living with this situation is not at all reasonable. In addition, we must come to understand health risks that might currently exist. Please listen to what is being said by so many, assist us, and see this through until there is change and resolution. Thank-you.

Case Closed
Tewksbury
24.147.247.241
October 18, 2007
07:40 PM

I spoke to the head of the Superfund Cleanup at the EPA today. He assured me that there is no odor of garbage coming from the Sutton Brook Disposal area (Rocco's dump)! He has been up there (on the mountain) on numerous occasions and done extensive testing. The mountain is covered in soil with trees, grass and other vegetation growing on it. No trash is exposed except for a few plastic bags, etc.. There are no vents as well. Basically, that stuff is buried!

Pumpkin's mom
south st
Tewksbury
October 18, 2007
07:27 PM

Like Serenity said Thank you for the testimonials...Please EVERYONE if you have time please write a testimonial they will make a huge impact when they are sent to the BOH in large numbers!! LETS MAKE SOME NOISE! :)

Paul
Wilmington
October 18, 2007
06:20 PM

The odor is so horrible that we must close the windows and are unable to go enjoy the outdoors during our limited warm weather season. If my grandchildren come over and smell the stench when they get out of the car, they cover their noses and ask to go home. Something has to be done about this horrible odor problem. It is impacting our quality of life. Thank you.

JOE
Tewksbury
October 18, 2007
05:50 PM

Hi I would just like to say that this terrible smell has been the talk between neighbors for a long time around the Polaris lane and Compass lane area. I to have tried to get some answers from town officials but really got no satisfaction. This farm smell gets so strong sometimes that my kids will come in the house and tell my wife and I that it is making them sick. Every day coming home from working in Boston as Im just approaching the Dascomb road exit I can start to smell it and it just gets stronger and stronger as you go down shawsheen St. The farm smell is not only ruining a lot of family get togethers but im also concerned how it is affecting us health wise. We hope this matter get resolved A.S.A.P. THANKS.

Kerry
Andover
October 18, 2007
05:03 PM

We have an office on the Andover/Wilmington line and on warmer days (and lately even on cold days) the smell is unbearable. I heard that it was a farm causing it but learned more details after finding this site and am disgusted. We wish to have lunch outings and can't because of the putrid smell and that cannot be good for our health. We have been here 2 years and it has only gotten worse. Please do something about this.

john
Independence Ave
October 18, 2007
04:16 PM

I just read in the Town Crier about the odors around South Tewksbury. I live on Independence Ave and at times durring the evening the odor is so bad that we also are forced to close windows and doors. Although I knew the farm was there I never would have believed that this strong of an ordor could travel that far. Thank you for your effort in trying to resolve this.

Michael
24.128.141.80
October 18, 2007
02:43 PM

I have lived in Tewksbury on Rockvale Rd for over 15 yrs.. During this time, our family has noticed the putrid odor getting progressively worse and occurring more frequently and as recently as today 10/18/07. We frequently have to go indoors and close the windows as the smell makes us sick. Something needs to be done to remedy this situation so that all residents of Tewksbury are afforded the same use and enjoyment of their home and yards without becoming nauseous smell from Krochmal Farm.

Michael
Tewksbury
October 18, 2007
02:06 PM

We moved to our current home in July of '95, and while we have had to suffer from the very unpleasant odors for years we do believe that in the past year it has become a lot more frequent, pretty much a daily occurence. We often had to explain to family and friends visiting us the source of the smell partly so they do not think we have a septic tank problem, that the source is a pig farm around the corner. While the explanation is always understood it never makes it any more pleasant! It seems to us there is a total disregard towards the neighbours in their farm management. We do not have any problem with the farm being where it is either as long as they control the odors to the point where we could actually forget that they are back there!!!

Kelly
Tewksbury
October 18, 2007
01:51 PM

My husband and I just moved our family here, around the end of June. We are buying my mother-in-laws home so that we may care for her. All summer I thought what I was smelling was bad septic systems, as our prior home had sewer. There have been numerous instances where we have had to go into the house and turn on the central air, to get away from the odors. However, last night (10/17/07) was the worst I have smelled so far. I had opened our windows as it was warm and shorthly thereafter, a putrid smell was coming into our home. At first I thought I was smelling things, until I went to every window and ultimatley shut them all. I walked out my front door and was literally hit with this awfull smell. It was as if 20 port-a-potties had been placed in my front yard.Had I known about last weeks meeting, I would have been there. I am very concerned about this issue, as my husband and I are preparing to start major renovations to our new home. Must I be concerned about breathing issues and/or germs for all of us? Isn't there some way that the EPA can test and monitor the air so as to identify the source of the odor? I look forward to a day whne I can sit outside to watch my children play and not be driven back into the house due to foul odors. Thank you.

starr ave
Tewksbury
October 18, 2007
11:56 AM

smell seems to have gotten stronger

Linda
Wilmington
October 18, 2007
10:30 AM

I live on Ballardvale Street in Wilmington and I have never in my life smelled something like this outside. There are times I don't want to take my child to the park right across the street from our house because the smell is so bad. We have to stay at home with our windows shut. On nice days on the weekends I have to go to my sisters houses out of town to get away from it. Please help us!!! Our health is at risk!!

Karen
Wilmington
October 18, 2007
09:53 AM

To: Mass Rep. James Miceli Dana Muldoon, Environmental Strike Force, Environmental Protection Lou-Ann C. Clement, Tewksbury Board of Health Barbara Westaway, Tewksbury Board of Health Steve Kenyon, Dept. Agricultural Resources Alfred Karl, Dept. Agricultural Resources Christine Chisolm, Dept. Agricultural Resources Lee Corte-Real, Dept. Agricultural Resources Edward Hageman, Dept. Agricultural Resources Barbara Hopson, Dept. Agricultural Resources Andre Kokro, Dept. Agricultural Resources Phyllis Michalewich, Dept. Agricultural Resources Lorraine O'Connor, Dept. Agricultural Resources Craig Richov, Dept. Agricultural Resources Howard Vinton, Dept. Agricultural Resources cc: Michael A. Caira, Wilmington Town Manager I live in Wilmington, MA and have been here for only two years. Prior to coming to Wilmington, I lived in New York City and Los Angeles. However, I grew up in Winchester and since my mother was getting on in years, I decided it was time for me to come home so I could be close to her. I chose to live in Wilmington because I found a dream house here. It really reminds me of my house in L.A., including a nice big lot and an inground pool. I run a music marketing business that I started 10 years ago. I work from my home and I thought it would be great to be able to have music clients over to the house in summertime to be in the yard and at the pool. I also planned extended family parties all summer long. I planned loads of gardening with sprawling flowers and shrubs and window boxes and to keep the grass mowed and super healthy. I even have a well so I don't have to use the town water. I live for the summers; doesn't everybody? None of this has come to pass because of the offensive reek that apparently blows all the way to Wilmington from the Tewksbury Krotchmal Pig Farm. I can tell you that if YOU had to live with a disgusting stench wafting into your windows and blowing in your face and through your hair and clothes everytime YOU walked outside, you would be as upset as I am. I'm not one of the people who wants to keep the farm in Tewksbury. I want them shut down. With Boston being as expensive as it is, people are moving up and out and into the likes of Tewksbury, Wilmington and Andover and they expect a nice relaxing and healthy life here. And, we deserve that; we pay our taxes and contribute to society here. The evolution of the town and the flight of people into it is encroaching on these semi-rural areas and Tewksbury should respond accordingly. How can you expect people to walk outside and literally gag when they take a breath of the foul air? You should be ashamed of yourselves for letting this get to this point. We are entitled to some action on this issue and I propose to shut the farm down or move it out to the country where it belongs! I am outraged at the constant stink in Wilmington and I absolutely do not understand how Tewksbury residents tolerate it, being so much closer to it. I demand an answer with a solid plan as to what will be done about this problem.

Dave (Webmaster)
South St.
October 18, 2007
09:26 AM

I think the piggery owner is a decent guy and deserves a chance to understand how upset and worried his neighbors are and act. However, I believe that the piggery's refusal to talk to all of the newspapers so far is evidence of their lack of acknowledgement towards us. It's frustrating because we don't want to have their business (the piggery) closed and I think their stubbornness may hurt them badly in the long run. We have well over two hundred signatures on our petition so far, very few people refused to sign. Please note we didn’t stand in front of Market Basket and we didn’t go outside the 1/2 to 1 mile radius of the piggery location. Of the few who refused to sign most are friends of the owners or had worked for them. The piggery owners need to realize that we've all had enough.

TFM Associates, Inc.
Wilmington
October 18, 2007
09:10 AM

Pleased be advised that our company has the horrible smell, all summer long at our location and it occured again yesterday at higher level. We are unable to have our employees sit outside at the tables provided, due to the foul odor. We thought that this would pass, now that the cool weather is approaching, but it has not. We just moved into this area in January and had not one clue that this is a constant problem in this area. Not a good thing for your real estate market as far as selling property in this area. Wish that we had known.

Linda
Wilmington
October 18, 2007
08:54 AM

There have been days that we cannot go outside because the smell is so bad. My children kept thinking it was the septic (which being fairly new to the area) we were not aware where the smells were coming from. We actually had our septic pumped twice in three years trying to get rid of the odors until a neighbor told us it was from the pig farm. It is really bad when you can't even invite family and friends over for a cookout because no one wants to put up with the smell. Please do something about this odor (could it be a hazard as well as just a stink?).

LaRonda
Wilmington
October 18, 2007
08:25 AM

I've moved to Wilmington so that my child can have a better education..and i can be a lot closer to work..but living here for a year with that bad odor smell..has turn my stomach that everytime i come from work or to just go for a walk in my complex...i feel like vomiting..i wish that someone can fix the problem about this bad odor...

Karen
Tewksbury
October 17, 2007
09:02 PM

In 1955, my parents and my three brothers moved from Cambridge MA to a nice little house on South St., where I was born. I spent my entire childhood on South St. I remember the "piggery" smelling every so often in the summer and when it smelled it was never for very long. It also did not smell any other time of year. In 1982, after I married and had children, I moved to New Hampshire. In 1999 my mother had a stroke. When I would come to visit and help out my father, I started noticing different odors, unlike the smells when I was young. The odors ranged from dirty diapers to sour milk to dog dung, just to name a few. It was absolutely horrible. My husband and I had to make the decision to move back into the neighborhood to help out my parents. In 2003 we moved into a house down the street. Shortly after moving in, we realized the smell was getting stronger and lasting longer, (sometimes all day!). My mother is in a wheel chair and doesn't get around well, so my dad bought her a scooter so she could go up and down South St. to visit the neighbors and get “fresh air”. Unfortunately, this summer, she could barely ever get out of the house because the stench bothered her too much. She is 80 years old and can't even enjoy the neighborhood she loves so much. My parents have paid a lot of taxes over the years and as Tewksbury citizens, we feel outraged that the Board of Health has not taken this matter seriously. In short, we feel neglected and consider it the BOH’s responsibility to protect its Tewksbury residents. Please do not insult us by telling us the owners of the “farm” are doing everything they can to limit the odors. We know this to be untrue. We have noses. Please take action and address this issue.

Donna
Wilmington
October 17, 2007
08:07 PM

Thank you for providing us with a forum to express our thoughts about the horrible odors that have been permeating the air this past summer. There has been some mild odors in past years but this past year has been horrible to say the least. There have been many a night that I've wanted to sit on my back porch and have refrained from doing so because of the odor. I did know that a piggery had existed in this area in past years but did not realize that one still existed today. My son has told me that there are many cows on the farm and am wondering if that has contributed to the odors as well? Please feel free to bring petitions to the neighborhood for signature or email further information as to how we can help resolve this issue. I did not know this website existed until we received a notice on our door today. Thank you for reaching out and speaking for the entire neighborhood.

Pat
Moonlight Dr
October 17, 2007
07:50 PM

I have lived on Moonlight Dr for 39 years and through the years have tolerated the smell from the pig farm. This year is the worse year for smell since I have lived here. I do not want to put the pig farm out of business but I think that something can and should be done to eliminate the foul smell from the farm.

Gina
Wilmington
October 17, 2007
05:36 PM

This problem DESPERATELY NEEDS to be resolved. It seems that the residents of this large area between several towns have been ignored for a very long time. I have lived here for over 12 years and complaints don't go far. PLEASE........RESOLUTION!!!.....not just another swept under the rug bandaid.

David
Wilmington
October 17, 2007
05:18 PM

I moved to Wilmington in 1991 and for the first 6 or 7 years, I would notice the odor from the pig farm on windy days, once or twice a year. Over the past 7 or 8 years, the odor occured more and more frequently. On occasion, it began to prevent us from going outside and enjoying our pool. It sometimes prevented us from inviting friends over, because we felt the odor would be embarrassing and nauseating for our guests. During the past two years, the smell has become intolerable. It seems that almost everyday, we can smell the odor of pig feces to some degree. It frequently prevents us from enjoying our yard or from opening the windows of our home for "fresh" air, because the air is not fresh at all. I hope something can be done to control or at least reduce the odor. It just doesn't seem fair.

robert/mary
Wilmington
October 17, 2007
04:40 PM

The smell is disgusting at times. I feel like we live on a farm. Something has to be done about the odor. It seems to be coming around more frequent.

Karen
Wilmington
October 17, 2007
04:01 PM

To : Board Of Health After living in Wilminton for 2 years now I noticed the sickening smell more frequently and more sickening this summer and fall than last year. I can't open my windows at night if the wind is blowing because we are litterally sick from the stentch. It seems as if the odor is now stronger once its dark out..I didn't know about the pig farm ..that is not an acceptable farm smell..something is really wrong . We should be able to rely on our public officials to do something immediately about this. I have thought about moving due to the smell..its that bad Regards.

DAVID
Wilmington
October 17, 2007
03:41 PM

For the past several days the odor coming from the pig farm has been extremely strong. Today we were outside cleaning up the leaves, and the odor was bad. There should be a way for the farm to rotate the pig pens to keep them cleaner. It would be appreciated.

LaRee
Wilmington
October 17, 2007
11:00 AM

When the odor is present is can be very strong and unpleasant. I frequently experience headaches and nausea after exposure to the noxious odor from inside my workplace.

Eric
Tewksbury
October 17, 2007
10:21 AM

[BoH Director], I am writing to you today to highlight my concern of the bad smell that has been in the air on average of a couple days per week throughout the spring, summer, and fall months this year. The putrid smell has been getting worse throughout this period of time. This is a serious quality of life concern for my family and I would like to see this rectified immediately. I spoke at length about this serious problem this past Saturday with Chris , Board of Health Member. Chris assured me that the farm owners were trying many different things to curb the smell of the pig dung. I am not sold on the fact that any of their efforts have worked to date as the smell is worse now than ever. This farm needs to be mandated to curb the odor now.

Terri
Wilmington
October 16, 2007
08:25 PM

I live 3.1 miles from the farm. The smell outside is unbearable. I can not believe that this odor is not harmful in some medical way. A person can not smell swill for hours at a time and not have any side effects. I believe that the State Board of Health needs to inspect this property at night, it seems that the odor is worse at night. The suspicious side of me thinks that things are done differently than during the day when government workers and inspectors are working. I am outraged by all this, I just learned about this pig farm tonight, and this website. We need legal representation immediately, that is the only way to stop this. Also, we need to spread the word to everyone who will listen to use our power as consumers and no longer frequent this establishment, immediately! No pumpkins, hay rides, etc., there are plenty of other farms nearby that treat their neighbors better.

Trisha
Tewksbury
October 16, 2007
01:46 PM

I would like to note that the odor is strongest (over powering) on the weekends. I have taken my mountain bike down a trail off of Carleton road that has brought me to a very large machine used to sift rocks and materials from a pile of dirt/trash/pig dung. It would seem to me that when this machine is in operation it would aerate the dung smell above and beyond what is tolerable. It would also seem to me that this machine is intentionally operated during off hours. It is not clear to me that this is part of Krochmal Farm although it is in the general area and would at least border it. If it is part of the farm it is far away from where the residence of the farm live.

Phaedra
Tewksbury
October 15, 2007
01:27 PM

October 15, 2007 Honorable Board of Health, Thank you so much for taking the time to listen the concern’s of our citizens on the evening of October 11th 2007. I came to Tewksbury eight (8) years ago and absolutely fell in love with the town! Having grown up on a small beach island and then my early adult years in a city, it was only natural that Tewksbury, for me, was the best of both worlds. My family instantly fell in love with the rural lifestyle, farm land and country road of South Street. We subsequently found a sweet little house on a dead-end, cul-de-sac and knew instantly we were “HOME”. When the real-estate broker told us of the “cute, little farm” down the road where kids could pick pumpkins and ride hayrides both my husband and myself “cooed” at the idea. We moved in summer 2003! Shortly after moving in, we immediately detected the odor of manure and farm life. The rewards of living in rural-ity. We were delighted to live with this, if it meant safety for our child. However, within a few short days of the first whiff… the lovely little farm like odor became a raging, intense odor of bowel movement, garbage and waste (how could this be safe for our child?)… and as the time went on, August and September the ODOR became more and more intense, to the point where we couldn’t entertain. We became embarrassed to show people the lovely little town we called home. You can imagine what a nice relief it was when the pumpkin picking signs went up. The odor appeared to disapate it seemed somewhat reduced. Ah relief… But then once the picking season ended and even into the winter months, we were no longer able to open our home windows to vent out our home… As the new spring approached we were still not able to leave our car windows open as we drove around in our neighborhoods. Once the spring was completely thawed, it was back, the odor, with a vengeance! Over the years, I became frustrated with not only the odor, its intensity, including the year round factor. I found it hard to believe that the farm and the TOWN showed no concern to the intensity of the ODOR. I began to inquire with neighbors. It was shocking to me… that people living in the area for 30 + years would tell me… how the farm isn't a farm but a PIGGERY and that it’s always been bad, but never this intense! They would say how small, local efforts were made in the past, but nothing made a longterm difference. It became obvious to me that the farm didn't care at all about its surrounding neighbors. People would often mention how the previous BOH were “friends of the farm” and matters were getting worse as time went on. I couldn't believe what I was hearing… a farm that didn't care? I supported this farm, 4 years in a row, I would organize groups of neighbors, often purchasing 10- 30 tickets for the hay rides in support of the farm. Why wasn't the PIGGERY supporting me? How could that be? When I began to express my concerns about the local Piggery, one person said to me, “the farm was here first” and “if you don't like it, MOVE!”. My response to this BULLY was… why would I move from a town I love? Why should several streets/many neighborhoods live with this intense, retched odor when there are reasonable solutions? Why do we have laws, if there is nothing that can be done in the area of agriculture, nuisance odors? Why should my neighbors live in silence when we have a Board of Health that is here to protect and serve us? And most importantly… WHAT IS THIS ODOR DOING TO OUR CHILDREN?! Honorable BOH, please enforce the laws that are on the books today… Assist the piggery and abate this odor LONGTERM… there are solutions! Furthermore, please put our minds at ease by having an independent organization test the water, soil and air quality around the piggery, and also the Shawsheen River inlets. Please let me and my neighbors know that it’s safe for us all to breathe, run, sit out and enjoy this town we love so much.

Tommy and Ann
Tewksbury
October 15, 2007
10:15 AM

A humble plea to The Tewksbury Board of Health; Our family looked for a home away from the noise and pollution of a busy city. The search was a long one. We had our minds set and our home was not easy to find around all our other daily responsibilties. I can remember when we started looking in Tewksbury, I loved it right away. I had met with the broker while my husband was at work. I had to talk him into it as it was a little further from his work in Boston than he wanted to commute. I told him of the smell in Tewksbury, the smell of pines.. it was unmistakable, clean air and I fell in love with it as soon as I turned off the highway. My husband's reaction was the same. It was like our little peice of the country in Massachusetts. As our family started to grow here, from 2 children to 4, we kept finding things that confirmed why we liked living here so much. Krochmal Farms has been a part of our family's life since 1992 and we have enjoyed many a hayride, face painting, pony ride and pumpkin picking there throughout the years. It is understandable that a farm has an odor, but for the past several years the smell of the piggery has not only overpowered our beloved pine smell but it has become unbearable and a health hazard. It is so pungeant now that the kids on our street (elementary age to high school age) come off the bus holding their noses and running for their houses. On days we'd like to have our windows open, the smell forces us to close them and run an A/C. If you hang your sheets outside, you'll surely smell it as you lay your head down that night. To enjoy our pools and backyards we must endure the smell. The smell travels and if you're in the winds path you won't be able to mistake it..a strong, face slapping urine smell accompanies it. We have even smelled it from our car on RT 93. My daughter and I have asthma and this type of pollution so close to our home can be a trigger to an asthma attack. When this happens we have needed to use a nebulizer to control the adverse reaction. When you, and especially your child, are not able to breath properly you realize how dangerous this situation really is. I want to stress how much we support having a farm in our town and all we ask is that some reasonable measures be taken to ensure a subduing of the strength of this odor.

Patricia & Stephen
Tewksbury
October 14, 2007
02:56 PM

I understand that the odor is one of many issues that you deal with on a daily basis. However, the odor is quite a nuisance. I am an avid runner in my neighborhood and it is not as easy to run when you breathe in the manure or pig smell. I also have asthma and stomach issues and I can’t help to think that the smell and fumes have something to do with my health problems. ** One instance is when I planned on running, the date was 10-3-07 the smell was extremely high. I usually run 3-5 miles but I needed to stop after 1 ½ miles due to I could not stand to breathe in the smell and my stomach started to hurt. The area in which I run is a ½ mile from the area in question. We have lived on Moonlight Drive for 11 ½ years and we could smell the farm every once in a while and never would we smell it during the winter. However, in the last 8 years the smell has gotten more intenese and more often. We are now smelling it during the winter. As you have been told it is impossible to have a cookout, run, bike, or walk outside when we have the smell as intense as it has been. We hope that the BOH will be able to make a difference!!! The piggery needs to understand that the residents don’t appreciate and enjoy breathing this odor in and believe it is not good for our health. I hope that you will take the opportunity to have the state help. WE hope that the state understands the magnitude of this issue and will offer some assistance to the BOH as needed. Thank you for your time Patricia & Stephen Langeleh 35 Moonlight Drive Tewksbury, MA 01876

Richelle
Tewksbury
October 13, 2007
09:45 PM

Honorable Members of the Tewksbury Board of Health: When deciding to purchase a home for our family we selected Tewksbury for many reasons including its strong sense of community, its youth activities and especially for its rural nature. We wanted a town with open spaces and a home with a nice backyard so we could enjoy lots of outdoor activities and because we love to entertain and have family over. We found the perfect home for us in a picturesque neighborhood on a beautiful lot of land and with a pool! I was even more excited to find that there was a farm walking distance from our home because through my life I have spent lots of time at farms and as a family now we frequent many area farms throughout the year either visiting animals or picking various crops and of course for hayrides and pumpkin fairs. We do not want to see the farm go away because we enjoy the activities it offers - what we do want is some relief from the suffocating smell. Something has literally gone afoul over there lately (especially so this last year). I have never smelled anything like the horrific stench that eminates throughout the neighborhood - its oppressive, stifling and toxic and UNLIKE any ordinary "farm" smell Ive ever experienced. I was heavily involved in the care of various livestock at UMASS Amhersts', Stockbridge School of Agriculture and even when cleaning out the stalls it NEVER smelled as bad as our neighborhood chronically does. When we bought five years ago we asked several neighbors about the farm odor (two of which are original residents from when the neighborhood was built). They all told us that they rarely noticed it and that when they did smell it, it is mild and short in duration. That actually was the truth 5 years ago but it is not even close to the truth now. The odor is chronic, nauseating and more than likely downright harmful to our health. On beautiful spring mornings or crisp fall days even on breezy summer evenings we are forced to close our windows and forgo the fresh air because its not fresh - its putrid and its the last thing you want to welcome into your home. We are forced to use our A/C even when the temp is only in the 70's because the smell is unbearable and the closed up house just bakes in the sun and becomes like an oven. We have significantly decreased our entertaining and say a prayer when we do entertain because its embarassing and impossible to predict. We never know what time it will smell at, how long it will smell for and how offensive the odor will be. The odor has transitioned from an expectible bearable, infrequent "farm" smell when we first moved here to now an unbearable, frequent and indescribeable stench. We simply cannot enjoy the outdoors without wondering what we are breathing in and how its effecting our health - I especially wonder about what the health consequences will be for my two energetic young sons who are 5 and 3. If I keep them in they are not getting the activity they need and if I have them out what am I exposing them to? I also have to ask - What has changed over the last few years? Why is this worsening? Whats being done differently? and even What is REALLY going on back there? There has been a huge negative impact on our quality of life, our ability to enjoy our homes and property and now the lingering questions of what is the impact on our health short and long term? What are we breathing in? What is getting into our water? We have been great neighbors to the farm and have numerous outings there with different groups of family and friends every October and even for a sleigh ride in the winter. We are simply asking that the farm reciprocate and be good neighbors to us by using best practices and current aviailable technology to abate the odor. Until now we have been suffering fairly silently - thinking as some have told us "what did you expect moving in near a farm" but fortunately now there is a group of committed, concerned, and compassionalte citizens that have given a voice to all the silent sufferers! Tewksburyodor.org has given people the knowledge that they definitely are not alone and that there are options available to make things better. This situation is unreasonable and has gone on for far too long - it needs to get some serious attention, be investigated and remedied.

Joe
Tewksbury
October 13, 2007
10:21 AM

Just wanted to state a few things about the odor of the farm,BMC Corp.,and the capped landfill. I believe the odor that is emitted from this area is the combination of the three of the above subjects listed above. I have no problem with having a farm in the area I reside in, but it has become a real problem. Having a party in the yard and all of a sudden you get a wind direction change and explaining to your company is quite embarressing not to mention the possible health risks. I built my home in 1990 and at that time maybe twice a year you would detect an odor. Progressively within the last few years it has become at least 4 times a week. A couple a times a year when they are plowing the feilds with manure for the purpose of fertilizing is totally expectable but the frequentcy now is totally unexceptable and should be eliminated. The tranqulity of our neighboorhood is being effected and to me is a breach of the peace which last time I looked was against the law.

Kathleen
Tewksbury
October 13, 2007
10:00 AM

My family and I have lived in Tewksbury for six years now. We lived on Druid Hill Ave, about 3/4 of a mile from the farm for almost three years and we smelled some odors rarely. We now live about a half mile from the farm on South Street and we smell odors almost daily. I am very much aware of this, because I run in the mornings. This is often when it is the worst. My biggest concern is of how the air around here might be affecting my nine-month-old, and my three year old, sons. I like going for walks with my children in the neighborhood and playing in the back yard. Often, these activities are wrecked. We rarely are able to get fresh air into our house in the summers and need to run the air conditioners more often because we cannot open the windows. Our cookouts, parties and leisure time in our yard have been wrecked. We are extremely embarrassed and notice how no one but closest family will come to our house anymore when invited.

scarlett
rounsevell road
October 11, 2007
11:27 AM

i have lived here for over 30 years...the realtor never mentioned the pig farm or Rocco's before we bought...i complain to the boh at the beginning of every year...now i complain ALL YEAR LONG...did anyone notice coming home on "new years eve"...it was horrid...happy new year...dave, thank you so much for starting this site...the last time i contacted ms. clement was the end of july after 3 to 4 weeks of straight disgusting odor...the first day we had a breeze, i opened the windows and went right to the phone...i had to leave a message...she left me a message a few days later and i just could not call her back because i didn't want my blood pressure getting out of control listening to the same old excuses...so when my neighbor told me about what you were doing, i started to regain some hope...i was tired of being told that i was the 'ONLY ONE COMPLAINING' and 'I SENT SOMEONE DOWN THERE AND IT DIDN'T SMELL"...PLEASE!!!...i just read all the comments on this sight and all i can say to all those people who do not think the farm smells...get checked...maybe the odor has eaten away your nostrils...no joke...i'm serious...we have lived with this embarrassment long enough...i will see all of you tonight at the meeting. Dealing with Tewksbury town workers is not easy...i've given up more than once...have a great odorless day...thank you

mikarso
south street
October 09, 2007
01:08 PM

I was just down on Ballardvale street in Wilmington and I just happen to talk to a few but not many people but everybody I did talk to all showed concerned. One person said he worked in the warehouse and they had to wear masks last week. Another said that he and his co-worker drive a mile away to go eat lunch (after losing their appetite). And another said that at times he has very important clients that come in and the find themselves rushing to the door. This is the things I heard in the VERY SHORT TIME I WAS DOWN THERE. I JUST HAPPEN TO BE DRIVING BY THERE AND HAD A LITTLE TIME TO KILL.

Steve
Ballardvale Business
October 09, 2007
01:07 PM

WORST SMELL EVER ! I was riding my motorcycle home and drove into the smell. I started to vomit in my helmet and almost lost control of my bike. Something needs to be done about the smell.

dsw
Mitchell G Dr
October 09, 2007
08:49 AM

I have been a resident for over 10 years now, it was not uncommon for us to smell fertilizer or strong manure odor once or twice a year, but this year has gotten out of control. The smell has been extreme throughout September and October. I have just found this website and I am very thankful to its originators.

Concerned
Serenity Dr.
October 08, 2007
06:38 PM

First, I want to say a very big THANK YOU to who ever started this initiative. We need to create one voice for this escalating problem. I too have no interest in driving the farm out of the neighborhood but something has gone terribly wrong just recently-the last 3 weeks or so. I would not venture to guess what the reasons are but I am confident that the folks over at the farm know what has caused the escalation in odor. On Monday, October 1 at approximately 2 p.m., my husband and I went out on our deck to relax and read a book. The odor was like no other time or smell I have ever smelled in this neighborhood. We have lived here for over 11 years. We searched our yard for the dead animal that must be decaying close by. It soon became apparent that it was the farm. It was unbearable and we had to go inside. This same smell has reoccurred several times this past week. I will definitely be in attendance this Thursday. I really hope the owners of the farm attend as well so we can all understand the problem and work toward a solution that everyone can live with.

Underdog
Tewksbury
October 08, 2007
11:26 AM

In the log of complaints that the BOH maintains about the farm, which goes back many, many years, the BOH investigations always describe it as a “mild odor” even though the complaints themselves describe the odor as horrible, awful, horrendous, etc.! The log of complaints is available from the Board of Health to anyone interested in reading it.

Jimmy
South Street
October 08, 2007
11:04 AM

Smell is beyond disgusting...Some days I want to work in the yard and can't because I am literally gagging on the smell. Would love to leave the windows open in my house on a nice day, but can not, because the entire inside of the house then smells disgusting....It gets in my car.. it is everywhere!!!!

runsalot
South St.
October 07, 2007
01:28 PM

I run almost everyday and sometimes I can't even step out my door without getting nauseous. The other day I drove to the other side of Tewksbury just so I could run without getting sick to my stomach. Finally people are speaking out and doing something about this situation.

mileaway
tewksbury
October 07, 2007
11:28 AM

Yesterday around 4:30 I answered my door bell to find a friend checking the bottom of her shoe because she thought she must have stepped in dog waste and didn't want to track it into my house. Had to explain the smell was coming from the "piggery" a mile away. How embarrassing!! (Baldwin St area)

Dave (Webmaster)
South St
October 07, 2007
10:13 AM

Like half the people here I live in a Cape with a dark roof that absorbs heat from the sun. Even on 70 degree days my upstairs bedrooms get very hot. I cannot open windows many days out of the year, so I have to use AC instead. This costs me... I have a two year old and a nine month old, last week my house smelled so bad from diapers, I thought I was going to be ill. I opened my windows... and then I was ill. How can we be denied the simple right of fresh air?

Serenity
October 07, 2007
09:31 AM

I have lived here for 46 years, my parents even longer. We've experienced all the various odors: dump, piggery, farm, wet lands. As many have already said, odor in this area has been escalating: in concentration, frequency, and foulness. Also like many others, we have had to close our windows. This past week, the odor was extremely foul, different and far more intolerable, seeming to peak at 3 and 4 am. It has woken us up. Obviously something specific occurs when the odor has a sudden onset and then disappears again and my guess is, someone knows what it is. Our neighbors looked around their yard the other night, convinced that something had died and was rotting. A child in the neighborhood said it smelled like a hundred people just went poopies on her lawn. These are not comments we've grown up with here. Thank-you Dave for your time and efforts. Most folks here seem quite reasonable. We are not experiencing simple farm smells. . . .

mikarso
south street
October 06, 2007
10:42 PM

I know I'm not the not person out there that probably has to work long hours but I work around 65 hours a week to make ends meet and the little time that i have i would like to be able to enjoy my property. I work nights and almost every night this summer as I drive down south street it was absolutely horrible. There was a day a couple of weeks ago when me and my wife were working on flower beds one afternoon and I about had to run for cover. We have tried enjoying these nice September and October evenings with our windows open but we have been awaken with the foul smell. Hasn't this way of life been going on ALL TOO LONG. I'm glad things are going in the right direction. But we still have a long way to go. I strongly encourage everybody to help out in this matter in any way you feel comfortable but please lets all participate one way or an other. thanks

Marie
Off Shawsheen St.
October 06, 2007
09:08 PM

I've lived here 20 years and this is the first year that the smell is so bad (this past week in particular) that it made me sick to my stomach. I had to shut my windows on warm days.

JOMAMA
SOUTH STREET
October 05, 2007
11:08 PM

This smell was so bad the other day that my daughter my husband and I were outside fixing our deck and each one of us got sick and had to leave our own house for the evening and returned at around 10:30 at night. We had to close all of our windows in the house as well. We love animals here and don't want to cause any problems for anyone who raises them but please I am begging you for all of our health lets get together and do something about this!!  It is not a good situation.

Bob
Shawsheen
October 05, 2007
10:46 PM

Great site and better cause. I've lived on Shawsheen Street for 14 years and I'm tired of the stench. It's ridiculous that this odor prevents my family from playing outside and enjoying some fresh air.

Concerned Former Resident
Lowell
October 05, 2007
10:49 AM

I grew up on South Street and my parents still reside in the same house, and I visit them quite often. The odor in this neighborhood has been around for many, many, many years. This year, however, was more foul than ever. And for those that doubt how foul this odor is, believe me when I say it is enough to make you vomit. I read with amusement the people that comment that the farm has been around much longer than the people living in the neighborhood....stop complaining and just move....the odor is not that bad...it's just a farm smell. Well, yes, the farm has been in operation for many years but that does not mean they should not be held responsible for the health and wellbeing of their neighbors. It is not so easy to make the decision to move from a neighborhood that you love and where you have worked hard to make a good home. Oh, and how do you sell your house without basically having to lie to people about the odor that permeates every spring and summer and now into the fall? If no one has ever been in the neighborhood when the smell is at it's worst really has no idea how horrible it really can smell. No one wants to see the Cave family put out of business. However, it is high time something was done about the odor. A sensible solution to the problem, one that works for all parties involved, must be found.

stinks here too
Emily Road
October 05, 2007
10:41 AM

I have lived in the area for 7 years and I don't recall the smell being as bad as it's been for the last year or so. I don't think when you buy a house, you would even think to ask if there are any farms around. I am not from this area and I would have expected it to be disclosed to me as it is a nuisance. I bought in the winter as well and visited the house several times and never smelled a thing. The waste dump was disclosed to me when I bought the house as the realtor had a legal responsibility to disclose that fact due to the proximity. I give who ever started the site kudos for standing up to what is right and what should be tolerable. The stench does make it's way over here and I can't even imagine how bad it is for those who live on South St or Jennies Way. I think of the money that some of those families spent on those gorgeous houses only to be slapped in the face with such a stench. It's inexcusable that the owner of the farm wouldn't take measures to do the right thing for his neighbors or himself. I come from the country and lived on a farm myself - never have I experienced such a bad smell in my life. You can't blame the poor pigs - they are one of the cleanest animals and unfortunately they can't clean up after themselves. I am all for farming and making a living as well but there has to be a happy medium in there somewhere.

Sheryl
Regina S Drive
October 04, 2007
06:50 PM

The smell the past 4 days has been unbearable. It is really sad that our neighborhoods suffer to this extreme. Last night I had to shut my windows and turn on my air conditioner because the smell was coming into my home. Shall I forward the town my electric bills??? We are in with any support needed, meetings, whatever. Just email me. Will there ever be a time when we want to plan an outdoor event in our yards and not have to worry about the stench? We should get a tax break for not being able to use our properties as we would like to.

Harry
Tewksbury
October 04, 2007
05:42 PM

The point is there is far more wrong on that "farm" than just unsanitary pigs. The farm has been cited for unsafe and unsanitary conditions by the MSPCA. I live over a mile away from this "farm", have so for 15 years. Never knew it was there until 3 years ago. That's when the smell became so intense and so obnoxious that it would gag you. Been to many farms, nothing like this "farm" A farm has smells no and then but for the most part farms should not, and need not, smell with what can only be described as a putrid stench.

Case Closed
Tewksbury
October 03, 2007
08:25 PM

I don’t think the Dept. of Agriculture is going to be of much help. I think they generally tend to side with the farmers. They may think what is going on now is “normal”, but that does not negate the laws and regulations protecting us against the air pollution! It may be “normal” to spread pig manure all over your fields and expect no one to complain, if your farm is way out in the country and miles from nowhere. But if you think you’re going to do it in the middle of a residential neighborhood and get away with it, you’re going to get a fight, a fight for our health, our children’s health, our property values, our neighborhoods and the environment! It seems to me that this falls at the feet of the DEP. My best advice would be to call or email the Mass. DEP Environmental Strike Force. If they try to pawn it off to the Dept. of Agriculture, cite the following law, which states that the DEP is responsible for enforcing it! 310 CMR: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 310 CMR 7.00: AIR POLLUTION CONTROL Section 7.09: U Dust, Odor, Construction and Demolition (1) No person having control of any dust or odor generating operations such as, but not limited to..........agricultural operations and street sweeping shall permit emissions therefrom which cause or contribute to a condition of air pollution. (4) No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the handling, transportation, or storage of any material in a manner that results or may result in emissions therefrom which cause or contribute to a condition of air pollution. (7) 310 CMR 7.09(1) through 7.09(4) and 7.09(6) are subject to the enforcement provisions specified in 310 CMR 7.52. Call 617-556-1000 or toll free, 1-888-VIOLATE (1-888-846-5283) from outside the 617 area code, or e-mail the Strike Force: Dana.Muldoon@state.ma.us.

mikarso
south street
October 02, 2007
02:35 PM

I walked my wife down the driveway this morning to say goodbye as she and I head off to work at about 9am and we both found ourselves saying goodbye and running off to our cars. This is unbelievable !And this isn't because of fertilizing. Its because the farm is grandfather-claused in and they get a free ticket to stink us out regardless of how we feel!

B & S
Emily Rd
October 01, 2007
06:38 PM

I want to thank Dave and our neighbors for sharing this website to us to get proactive to this uncomfortbable situation. When we moved here about 4 years ago, in our sales agreement we were only told about the "landfill: closed over 20 years ago" As a month or two went by, we noticed the smell and thought it was the closed down landfill for natural reasons. Then we started to inquire about the smell a little bit more in depth. Of the four years that we have been here this year has been the worst of them as every year got worse, we fear next year. Our main objective is to get clarification from the farm, boh, on what is causing this odor, and what steps are they taking to prevent this. If no solution is taken, I am in full support of filing a complaint with the state, and look to suspend business at the farm if they are found violating health codes. We are currently trying to start a family and are getting very worried about the health ramifications of this situation. And we have no other options available other to fight the problem ourselves.

Annoyed
Jennies Way
September 24, 2007
04:17 AM

I have only been here for five years and have watched this smell become more and more of a problem each year. It will be up to all of us to come out in large numbers to be able to accomplish something when it is time. This site is a tool and information place for all of us to learn and educate ourselves. We just need to stick to the facts and hammer that home and leave the negative comments to them. It will only hurt them in the long run. Dave has said it over and over, we don't want to farm to close we just want them to be a good neighbor and provide a safe place for us and our children to enjoy.

Case Closed
North Andover
September 22, 2007
09:18 AM

I've heard that the farm is using a deodorizer product to help with the smell. Obviously, they need to do more! This may be a “farm”, but it’s also a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). The pigs live inside a building. They’re fed garbage until they reach a certain size and then they’re slaughtered. Their fecal waste is washed down into a holding tank. This is what’s causing the stink. What a life…

Paulie Walnuts
Sunset Cir
September 21, 2007

If one or your neighbors was doing something that prohibited you from the full use and enjoyment of your property, wouldn't you address the matter? Many people were aware of the farm before buying their property. The odor was never as bad as it has been over the last few years. So, regardless of whether or not the location of the farm was revealed to home buyers, the farm odor has gotten dramatically worse and the farm owners have not addressed it properly. Speak to people that have lived on South Street for decades and they will ALL tell you that the odor has increased dramatically over the last few years. Again, nobody is asking the farm to close down. We are just asking them to address the problem and not ignore it.

grossed out
stinkville
september 21, 2007

I live 3/4 of a mile from the farm and have had to go back inside for hours on end due to the smell. I'll tell ya something else -my friends, family, the people who paved our neighborhood, the police officers who worked the details have all asked how we can live down here with that smell. We do not want the farm shut down. All we ask is that they use the products that are out there to limit or eliminate the odors that they create. Just because they were here first does not give them the right to stink out several neighborhoods. I should be able to sit out in my yard and enjoy my property and surroundings, but we can't because they won't take care of their business the right way. That is unacceptable!

Paulie Walnuts
Sunset Cir
September 21, 2007

My family has lived in the neighborhood for the last 7 years and the odor has gotten progressively worse each year. Nobody wants the farm to close. All we want is for the farm to act like a responsible neighbor and do what they are required to do to keep the odor to a minimum. We all understand that farms create odors, but why does the odor get worse and spread farther away? The only explanation I can think of is that the farm is not treating its manure and other waste the way it is supposed to be treated. Also, please note that my dad was born and raised on a farm and spent over 25 years working the farm. He has noticed the worsening of the odor and tells me that something is not right!

Jennies Way
Jennies Way
September 21, 2007

Sometimes it does get really smelly. I think that what I've read on this site seems like the site is a reasonable and measured response to an unpleasant situation. If the farm is in the right, then so be it. If the farm is not in the right, then that needs to be looked at, and they need an opportunity to take corrective measures. I don't see a need for hysteria, but I see a need for reasonable discussion on the topic.

Under Dog
Tewksbury
September 20, 2007

A recent investigation of Krochmal Farm by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found sanitation issues and horses living without shelter there! The MSPCA has visited the farm at three times within the last month or so to monitor the situation and enforce the law. TO REPORT SUSPECTED ANIMAL CRUELTY PLEASE CALL: (617) 522-6008 or (800) 628-5808 The MSPCA Law Enforcement Department encourages individuals to contact us to request an investigation of animal abuse. In fact, without the assistance of the public, our mission to prevent cruelty to animals, help those animals in need, and prosecute offenders would be nearly impossible. The Law Enforcement Department Administration is staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon.-Fri. When calling after hours, leave a brief message along with your name, and the area code and phone number where you may be reached during normal business hours. ALL CALLS ARE CONFIDENTIAL On weekends and holidays, phone messages are monitored no less frequently than every two hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. by an on-call officer.