Conserveland

Contact Us | Get Updates

Welcome to Conserveland.org
  • Login
  • Create Account
  • About
    • Vision & Mission
    • Background
    • Board of Directors
    • Policy Advisory Committee
    • Member Organizations
    • Milestones
    • Public Policy Accomplishments
    • Bylaws
    • Program Reports
    • Staff
  • Conservation Basics
  • Stories
    • Success Story Map
    • In Their Own Words
    • Stories of Land and People
    • Video
    • Conservation Champions
    • More Stories
  • Jobs
    • Job Board
    • Submit A Job Listing
  • Training
    • 2020 Western PA Summit
    • Trailability: DEI and Access on Recreational Trails in PA
    • 2020 Trail Workshops
    • 2020 WeConservePA Webinars
    • 2020 EAC Network Conference
    • Past Conferences
    • Mentorship Program
  • News
    • Archive
    • Newsletters
  • Support
    • Donate Online
    • Donate by Check
    • Gifford Pinchot Society
    • Planned Giving and Stock Donations
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • AmazonSmile
    • Donate Your Vehicle
You are here: Home / Stories / An Amazing Feeling

An Amazing Feeling

05/07/2015

“Protecting our land has provided an even more gratifying result—after hearing about our experience, several of our neighbors have expressed interest in protecting their land, too.”

Author: Joseph & Ethel Ondra
Land Trust: Natural Lands

After several years of receiving letters each week from developers wanting us to sell our family farm, we decided we needed to think seriously about protecting our land. It was surprisingly difficult for us to find information about our options – at least until we found our way to the Natural Lands Trust web site. Within a half-hour of contacting them, we received a response, and so began an exciting year that ended with our completed easement in hand.

We never realized quite how many decisions we’d have to make along the way – decisions that would affect the land not just for our lifetime, but for generations to come. Initially, we were concerned that we’d be stuck with a pre-made set of restrictions, but that was far from the case. We were able to customize the agreement to perfectly fit our needs and our hopes for the future of the land. Our farm has been cultivated for many generations, but it is hardly prime agricultural land. Therefore, we chose restrictions that will allow it to return to woodland and meadows.

On our daily walks, we enjoy watching the insects and animals, listening to the birds, and seeing the various wildflowers that appear throughout the year. Knowing that all of this natural beauty will always be safe from chainsaws and bulldozers is an amazing feeling! Our next step will be to create and implement a stewardship plan, to help us keep the woods and fields free of troublesome invasive plants, and maintain welcoming habitats for native plants and wildlife.

Besides making us feel great, protecting our land has provided an even more gratifying result – after hearing about our experience, several of our neighbors have expressed interest in protecting their land, too! One adjoining landowner has already completed the process, so we’ve started to create a sizeable area of preserved land in our township. We take every opportunity to spread the word about the benefits of conservation easements in hopes that more people will get involved. We say: Instead of spending so much energy fighting developments in the future, let’s get the land protected now!

In Their Own Words

  • A Gift to the Community
  • A Permanent Agreement Between Us and Nature
  • A Place in the Country
  • A Quiet Satisfaction
  • An Amazing Feeling
  • Essentially as We Found It
  • Five Hills Farm
  • For Future Generations 
to Enjoy
  • Forever Holding on to Holden Farm
  • Greg’s Woods
  • Keeping Bedminster Green
  • Kipp’s Fen
  • Preserve Our Farms
  • Preserving the Character of York County
  • Saving Our Family Lands
  • Solebury Township Landowners
  • The Value of Land Conservation
  • There Was Really No Other Choice

People & Projects

  • Part of Brandywine Battlefield Preserved in Westtown Township

    Part of Brandywine Battlefield Preserved in Westtown Township

    Natural Lands announced on October 26, 2020 the permanent protection of nearly 10 acres of land along the fast-developing Route …Read More »
  • Unlikely Partners BalletX and Natural Lands Make Nature Center Stage

    Unlikely Partners BalletX and Natural Lands Make Nature Center Stage

    What does it look like when the regions oldest and largest land conservation organization and Philadelphia’s Premier Contemporary Ballet Company …Read More »
  • Heritage Conservancy Sets Pioneering Example of Partnership and Preservation with Manoff Market Gardens

    Heritage Conservancy Sets Pioneering Example of Partnership and Preservation with Manoff Market Gardens

    Freda R. Savana for Heritage Conservancy It could be said that Gary and Amy Manoff have farming in their blood. …Read More »
  • Berks Nature Closes on a Conservation Easement of Olivet Blue Mountain Camp

    Berks Nature Closes on a Conservation Easement of Olivet Blue Mountain Camp

    On September 30th, 2020, Berks Nature closed on a conservation easement project in the Schuylkill River Watershed, Kittatinny Ridge and …Read More »
  • Fifteen More Acres Protected Forever!

    Fifteen More Acres Protected Forever!

      Article originally published in September 2020 by Willistown Conservation Trust. The final conservation chapter to the 15-acre Stonehedge Farm …Read More »
View more posts >>
  • Conserved Properties for Sale
  • Conservation Easement Assistance Program
Get The Latest News

WeConservePA envisions future generations enjoying—undiminished—Pennsylvania’s natural areas and open spaces.

Thank you to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for supporting the Association’s conservation efforts.

© 2025 · Pennsylvania Land Trust Association