Lancaster Farmland Trust raised $150,000 for farmland preservation at its 2016 Annual Dinner and Silent Auction, held on November 1. Over 280 attendees joined in the annual celebration. The "Acres for Auction" event featured two farms in Clay Township that will be part of a larger protected "greenway" of preserved farms along Route 322. The live auction raised over read more
One Step Closer to the Preservation of Bryn Coed Farms
On October 14, Natural Lands Trust announced a major milestone in its effort to preserve 1,505 acres in northern Chester County known as Bryn Coed Farms. In September, Natural Lands Trust and the current property owners, the Dietrich family, executed an Agreement of Sale for the property. Natural Lands Trust now has six months to conduct due diligence, including Phase II read more
Berks Nature Conserves Schuylkill County Farm
On September 27, Berks Nature announced the acquisition of a conservation easement on a farm in southern Schuylkill County, ensuring the protection of hundreds of acres of land from future development. At 342 acres, the conservation easement on Dennis and Pauline Fehr's Wayne Township property makes it the second-largest in the 42-year history of Berks Nature. While Berks read more
Merrill Linn Conservancy Protects 240 Acres in Buffalo Township
In its fall 2016 newsletter, the Merill W. Linn Conservancy announced that it has protected 240 acres of farmland and forest in Buffalo Township, Union County. The land belongs to Wayne Stahl, who reached an agreement with the Conservancy to place the land under a conservation easement. The easement will ensure that the land retains its rural character in perpetuity. "As it read more
Lancaster Farmland Trust Partners with Turkey Hill Dairy to Preserve Local Farm
Lancaster Farmland Trust is excited to join Turkey Hill Dairy in their "Preserve a Farm" campaign, which aims to preserve a 63-acre Amish farm in East Lampeter Township. The campaign is part of the local business's 85th anniversary celebration and inspired by a new line of drinks call "Haymakers," based upon an old recipe to help farmers quench their thirst. Under the read more
Land Conservancy preserves 157 acres of farmland in Latimore Township
In March, Adams County farmers Kenneth and Mildred Hankey completed a conservation easement agreement with the Land Conservancy of Adams County to preserve a 29-acre parcel of land in Latimore Township outside York Springs. They are currently working with the Land Conservancy on two more conservation easements, on parcels of approximately 70 acres and 58 acres, read more
Lancaster County Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Farmland Preservation
Lancaster Farmland Trust is excited to announce the results of a recent public survey concerning Lancaster County residents' opinions regarding farmland preservation and current policies. The Trust commissioned Susquehanna Polling and Research, a nationally-recognized survey research and polling firm in Harrisburg, to conduct the survey of Lancaster County residents. In read more
North Branch Land Trust: Grajewski Farm Conservation Project Completed
North Branch Land Trust (NBLT) has recently completed a conservation project in Huntington Mills, Luzerne County. The 210-acre Grajewski farm is a generational family farm dating back to 1917. The farm encompasses active agricultural fields, mixed deciduous forests, ponds, wetlands, and streams which feed a nationally registered wetland. Owned by Bob and Susan Grajewski, the read more
114-acre Farm Preserved in Warwick Township, Chester County
Natural Lands Trust announced recently the conservation of the Yoder Farm, a 114-acre property in Warwick Township, Chester County. The scenic farm forms the gateway vista into Warwick Township. The property lies in the upper reaches of French Creek near the western boundary of the Hopewell Big Woods, the largest unbroken forest remaining in southeastern Pennsylvania. In read more
Land Conservancy preserves 28-acre farm in Mount Joy Township
The Land Conservancy of Adams County recently partnered with Mount Joy Township residents Lee and Jean Bentz to preserve the couple’s 28-acre farm along Barlow-Two Taverns Road. The farm joins six other preserved properties within a mile radius in southern Cumberland and Mount Joy townships. “We’ve always been conservation-minded, and we’ve always lived on our own read more
Lancaster Farmland Trust Helps Farmers Clean Up Millcreek Watershed
Lancaster Farmland Trust will receive $198,920 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's (NFWF) Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund to help farmers in the Millcreek Watershed improve local water and the health of the Chesapeake Bay. The funding will be used to implement good conservation practices on four strategic farms in the Millcreek in Upper Leacock Township. This read more
WVWA Protects the Byrne Farm in Lower Gwynedd
In September, WVWA acquired the Byrne Family Preserve, a 15.9-acre farm located along Welsh Road adjacent to Lower Gwynedd Township’s Oxford Park and at the headwaters of the Trewellyn Creek, a major tributary of the Wissahickon. Purchased at a fraction of the market value, this preservation could only have been possible due to the generosity of Dr. Byrne and his family. As read more
Lancaster Farmland Trust Preserves 111-Acre Farm
Yesterday, Lancaster Farmland Trust staff preserved a 111 acre Old Order Amish farm in Salisbury Township. The farm is home to a conventional dairy operation with 50 head of cattle. This large farm has over 5,100 feet of road frontage and is near the border of Lancaster and Chester Counties. There are 13 other preserved farms within a two-mile radius of the property. The read more
Landowner preserves farm in tribute to departed husband
Jeff and Beulah Hartlaub met when they were 16 and married right out of high school. They raised their three daughters, Sherry, Angie, and Amanda, in a home outside Littlestown; and with his father, John, Jeff ran Hartlaub and Sons Auto Parts. For years Jeff and Beulah had their eyes on a beautiful piece of farmland right up the road from their house that was owned by B. Guy read more