Scenic Hudson has teamed with the Dutchess Land Conservancy to secure options to buy conservation easements on eight farms in Red Hook, protecting 440 prime agricultural acres. Scenic Hudson and the town each have committed to providing 25 percent of the purchase price for the easements.
The farms include:
- Northwind Farm (87 acres), which raises all-natural poultry, turkey, duck, rabbit, goat and pasture-raised pork and beef sold directly to families and local restaurants as well as at most regional farmers”™ markets. In 2010, the farm added a new, all-meat Community Supported Agriculture operation;
- Three Pond Farm (61 acres), leased to nearby Mead Orchards, which grows nearly 40 varieties of apples (along with other fruits, berries, summer greens and squashes) sold at eight regional and New York City greenmarkets as well as at the farm;
- Migliorelli Farm (27.5 acres), which sells over 130 varieties of fruits at vegetables at three of its own farmstands and more than 40 greenmarkets in the valley and New York City, as well as to local restaurants. The Migliorellis previously worked with Scenic Hudson to protect 135 agricultural acres through a conservation easement;
- Middle D Farm (16 acres), which raises poultry, rabbits, goats and pork for direct sale to local families;
- Trezza Farm (114.5 acres), which produces high-quality timothy and alfalfa hay, much in demand by area livestock farmers and horse operations;
- Panorama Farm (67 acres), a horse boarding and riding operation that offers indoor and outdoor riding arenas for its year-round clientele; and
- Sturges (36 acres) and Karpinski (33 acres) parcels, which provide important rental lands for two large adjacent farms.
At the same time, Scenic Hudson said it is close to acquiring easements on two Columbia County farms in Clermont and Germantown totaling 240 acres.
Together these transactions will ensure that nearly 700 acres of farmland continue sustaining local economies while providing the public with fresh, healthy produce via greenmarkets, farmstands and pick-your-own operations, according to Scenic Hudson.
Red Hook, Clermont and Germantown are among the agricultural communities where Scenic Hudson has been protecting what it calls a “critical mass” of working farmland since 1997. “In addition to allowing individual farmers to continue their livelihood and support agriculture-related businesses, these blocks of protected farmland help retain the towns”™ historic charm and centuries-old agricultural heritage, all of which contribute substantially to the region”™s $530-million agricultural and $4.7-billion tourism economies,” Scenic Hudson stated.
“With the population of the region and New York City projected to rise in the coming decade, increasing the demand for fresh produce, it”™s imperative we stem the tide of sprawling development that threatens our top-quality farmland,” Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson, said in a statement. “This historic initiative ensures that more of Red Hook”™s magnificent, highly productive farms will always be major suppliers of healthy fruits, vegetables and meats. Scenic Hudson thanks the town, Dutchess Land Conservancy and especially the landowners for partnering with us to bring this historic transaction closer to fruition.”
Scenic Hudson”™s senior land project manager, Cari Watkins-Bates, negotiated the options, working with Dutchess Land Conservancy”™s vice president for land conservation, Art Collings.
Scenic Hudson reported nearly 40 percent of Red Hook”™s farmland ”“ some 4,100 acres ”“ will possess protections when this deal is complete.
