Organizational Timeline
Saratoga PLAN
Saratoga PLAN finalized a perpetual conservation easement to preserve the 59+/- acre Carpenter Farm, located in the Town of Galway. Property owner Donald Carpenter donated the easement in order to conserve the land for agriculture, forestry, wildlife habitat, water resource protection, scenic beauty and public recreation. The property is situated in a rural historic landscape with scenic charm.
Carpenter Farm Conserved
Harold (Dusty) and Arlene Rhodes donated to Saratoga PLAN 23 acres of forested land in Galway that will connect the Milton Preserve to the south and the recently acquired conservation lands on the Carpenter Farm to the north. Together, these properties could provide a natural corridor for the proposed extension of the Long Path trail, eventually extending from New Jersey all the way to the Adirondacks. Saratoga PLAN will steward these lands, with plans for creating public trails across all three adjoining properties.
Saratoga PLAN helped conserve another beautiful and productive farm in fast-growing Saratoga County. With a high percentage of “prime” soils, beautiful views toward the Hudson River, and nearby productive dairy farms, the 144-acre Fiddle-i-Fee Farm in Bacon Hill, Town of Northumberland, was permanently conserved with the aid of local, county and state funding. To make this possible, Saratoga PLAN worked with property owners Cathy and Neil Roberts, who bargain sold the conservation easement on the property.
In early 2018 Saratoga PLAN finalized perpetual conservation easements on three adjacent scenic and productive farm properties in the Town of West Charlton, totaling more than 405 acres. Landowners Dawn and Dorothy Szurek sold a conservation easement on two farms of more than 315 acres, and Gary and Anne Vanderhorst sold an easement on an adjacent farm of close to 90 acres. Saratoga PLAN will steward these actively farmed properties in perpetuity, preserving open space, productive farm and forestland, and providing scenic enjoyment for all. These properties bring PLAN’s total of conserved lands in the county to about 4,985 acres.
Wildwood Farms, owned by Allen D. (Wayne) Wood and Wood Family Trust, is now protected for scenic enjoyment by the public and for agricultural use by a permanent conservation easement that will be forever monitored by Saratoga PLAN. Wildwood Farms supplies 12,000 bales of straw to the racetrack in Saratoga Springs, and another 1,400 bales to local thoroughbred horse farms. This project was supported by Hudson Valley Agricultural Enhancement funding from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Retired Farmer Donald Tooker generously donated a conservation easement to permanently protect 89 acres of productive farmland in the heart of the Town of Wilton. The farm is used for growing alfalfa for the Kings Ransom Dairy Farm and vegetables for the Vincek Farm. The views of open fields from busy roads, replenishment and cleansing of groundwater reserves, stormwater absorption, clean air, and climate moderation are a few of the other public benefits this protected farmland will continue to provide the community in years to come. Grants from Saratoga County and the Town of Wilton, combined with private donations, funded transaction costs so the easement donation could be accepted.
The beloved and 25-year-old Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail reopened in November, culminated a season of hard work. Renovations included: creating a new spur trail at Meadow Brook Road, extending bog bridging to traverse wet areas, extensive raising and smoothing of trail surfaces, numerous drainage improvements, and new additions to prevent flooding caused by an active beaver population. The renovations were partially paid for by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation’s Conservation Partnership Program, the city of Saratoga Springs, donations from the 3M Company and Stewart’s Shops, discounted materials from D.A. Collins Companies and Curtis Lumbar Co., equipment form TRAK Equipment Rental, and lots of labor and engineering from Munter Enterprises, Foothills Tree Service, and D.M. Wardell Excavation.
With the help of many partners and funders, including the Local Farms Fund, American Farmland Trust, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Farmland Protection Program, and Saratoga County, PLAN purchased and extinguished the development rights to the 60 acres of farm and woodland of Featherbed Lane Farm while also protecting the farm’s affordability for future farmers.
In April, Saratoga PLAN finalized a second easement on Wm. H Buckley Farm, a working farm situated on a picturesque ridge overlooking Ballston Lake, on Route 50 in the Town of Ballston. Phase II added 63 acres to the 252 acres conserved in 2015, for a total of 315 acres which will be protected for agricultural uses in perpetuity.
Saratoga PLAN completed its largest farmland conservation project to date. Four hundred sixty-four acres of the Barber Bros. Dairy Farm in the Town of Northumberland is now conserved in perpetuity. What began in 1939 as a small farm run by two brothers selling eggs and offering custom field work, Barber Bros. has developed into a successful 1,200-acre dairy farm, currently supporting a milking herd of 650 cows.