"Farming Protected Land" Workshops 

Join us for these exciting workshops.  Share your experiences and insights to help us develop more farm friendly easement language, learn about monitoring and stewardship of protected agricultural lands, and have a chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges of farming protected land with farmers!

To help improve the agricultural viability of land permanently protected by land trusts and municipalities, the American Farmland Trust (AFT), in partnership with the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC), and Connecticut Farmland Trust,(CFT) is developing model easement terms and conditions to include in conservation easements that are protecting land for agricultural use.  Funded through a CT Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Viability Grant (supported by Community Investment Act funds), the project includes workshops to gather information as well as educate and improve awareness amongst organizations, entities, and individuals engaged in land conservation about  easement terms and conditions, agriculture as an industry and land use, and the management and stewardship of existing and future agricultural easements.

Who should attend? Those involved in writing or monitoring agricultural easements, discussing farmland protection options with landowners, and those leasing municipal and land trust lands to farmers. Town staff, commission members, consultants, attorneys, land trust boards and staff are all welcome.  Registration is limited to 30 people per session.

Farming Protected Land Workshops: 

October 10:  12pm -5pm at Senexit Grange, 628 Route 169, Woodstock, CT (with afternoon field visit to Mayhill Farm)

October 17:  9:30am - 3:30pm at Sunny Valley Preserve, 8 Sunny Valley Lane, New Milford, CT (with afternoon field visits to two Bridgewater farms)

November 2:  9:30am – 3:30pm at Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow Street (Rts 10 & 202), Simsbury, CT (with afternoon field visit to Rosedale Farms and Vineyards, 25 East Weatogue St, Simsbury, CT)

Agenda: (Speakers and agenda will vary slightly between locations to reflect the farm/entity)

Indoor session (approx. 2 hours):  includes a discussion of: easement terms and conditions that impact agriculture; the needs and status of agricultural sectors in the state; and stewardship, monitoring and leasing.

Field session (approx. 2 hours):  includes a farm tour with an opportunity to learn from farmers about what it's like to farm protected land; the impact of easement language on their farm business; and their stewardship and production practices. The entities which hold and manage the easements and leases will also provide their perspective.

A Lunch featuring CT grown foods will be provided and the afternoon field portion will be held rain or shine.   For further information, contact Kip Kolesinskas at kkolesinskas@farmland.org; 860-878-0393