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Town seeks help for farmland protection
One hundred and fifty years ago the hills and valleys of New Lebanon resembled a quilt with squares of green pastures, dotted with grazing sheep and cattle, stitched together by stonewalls. Today, most of the pastures have grown up into forestland and only a few farms remain. But a group of residents have partnered with the town, the Columbia Land Conservancy and New York state Department of Agriculture and Markets to try and ensure that what farmland remains will be available for farming for another 150 years.
Working in support of the town’s Comprehensive Plan, which calls for a variety of strategies to support agriculture, open spaces, the town’s rural/pastoral setting, and community appearance, the group has been acting for the last six months to assist the owners of Shaker View Farm in their efforts to permanently protect the farm.
Jack Yurish, coordinator of the community group, stated that “a number of residents have come to the conclusion that the future economic health of New Lebanon can be built upon ‘Tourism’, i.e., tourism based on the town’s Shaker Heritage and other historic events which occurred here.” Further, he noted that “maintenance of open spaces and a pastoral setting, as proposed by the Shaker View Farmland Conservation Project, become very important to that goal.”
Larry and Barbara Benson, the owners of Shaker View Farm, have been working their land since 1965. Through their excellent management of their Jersey cows, the Benson’s farm was recognized as a dairy of distinction. Now looking at retirement options, the Benson’s want to make sure they have made provisions that will help keep their land open and available for farming in the future.
“We’ve spent almost half a century caring for our farm, and it is important to us that the property continue to be farmed,” stated Larry Benson.
The Bensons worked with the Columbia Land Conservancy and town officials to prepare an application to the State Farmland Protection Program which requires both town and county endorsements. The application was successful and the state awarded a $513,150 grant, which will cover 75 percent of the appraised value of the non-farm development rights on the property.
“Our job now is to complete the conservation easement that will protect the farm’s agricultural resources and to work with the community to raise the remaining 25 percent of the development rights value in local matching funds,” explained senior land protection manager Marissa Codey.
A final push to complete the local fundraising effort is now underway. To date some 56 people have made charitable gifts to the project totaling just more than $51,000. Anyone interested in supporting this project and helping ensure an agricultural future in New Lebanon can make a contribution to the Columbia Land Conservancy’s project fund at www.clctrust.org or by sending a check to the Columbia Land Conservancy, P.O. Box 299, Chatham NY 12037.
For more information contact Codey at 518-392-5252 or marissa@clctrust.org.
Working in support of the town’s Comprehensive Plan, which calls for a variety of strategies to support agriculture, open spaces, the town’s rural/pastoral setting, and community appearance, the group has been acting for the last six months to assist the owners of Shaker View Farm in their efforts to permanently protect the farm.
Jack Yurish, coordinator of the community group, stated that “a number of residents have come to the conclusion that the future economic health of New Lebanon can be built upon ‘Tourism’, i.e., tourism based on the town’s Shaker Heritage and other historic events which occurred here.” Further, he noted that “maintenance of open spaces and a pastoral setting, as proposed by the Shaker View Farmland Conservation Project, become very important to that goal.”
Larry and Barbara Benson, the owners of Shaker View Farm, have been working their land since 1965. Through their excellent management of their Jersey cows, the Benson’s farm was recognized as a dairy of distinction. Now looking at retirement options, the Benson’s want to make sure they have made provisions that will help keep their land open and available for farming in the future.
“We’ve spent almost half a century caring for our farm, and it is important to us that the property continue to be farmed,” stated Larry Benson.
The Bensons worked with the Columbia Land Conservancy and town officials to prepare an application to the State Farmland Protection Program which requires both town and county endorsements. The application was successful and the state awarded a $513,150 grant, which will cover 75 percent of the appraised value of the non-farm development rights on the property.
“Our job now is to complete the conservation easement that will protect the farm’s agricultural resources and to work with the community to raise the remaining 25 percent of the development rights value in local matching funds,” explained senior land protection manager Marissa Codey.
A final push to complete the local fundraising effort is now underway. To date some 56 people have made charitable gifts to the project totaling just more than $51,000. Anyone interested in supporting this project and helping ensure an agricultural future in New Lebanon can make a contribution to the Columbia Land Conservancy’s project fund at www.clctrust.org or by sending a check to the Columbia Land Conservancy, P.O. Box 299, Chatham NY 12037.
For more information contact Codey at 518-392-5252 or marissa@clctrust.org.
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