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York Township, Michigan: The Washtenaw Land Trust will be able to move ahead with plans to protect 43 acres of the Rogers farm in York Township, now that supporters have met the Farmland Protection Challenge goal.
This will expand a contiguous block of already-protected farmland just outside of Saline to more than 500 acres. It is part of the Land Trust’s vision to protect – forever – the special local natural areas and rural landscapes that make this community a great place to live, work, and visit.
This project relied on a wide range of organizations and individuals. More than 350 people, local family foundations, and businesses contributed toward the goal. Local support was demonstrated by gifts from the majority of the members of the Charter Township of York Board of Trustees and Planning Commission. The Rogers family themselves agreed to forego 40% of the overall price of the project, appraised at $608,000. Matching funds include grants of $25,000 from the Carls Foundation and $215,000 from the federal Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program.
“This is an exciting project,” said Charity Steere, chair of the Land Trust’s Land Protection Committee. “It’s great to know that the southern entryway into Saline will look just as lovely 100 years from now as it does today.”
Land protection efforts like this provide a wide range of community benefits:
- Maintaining the community’s unique balance of vibrant growth and common heritage
- Conservation of contiguous blocks of land, the most critical resource needed for the local agricultural economy
- Improved local air quality, water quality, wildlife habitat, pollution reduction, and quality of life
- Permanent conservation of natural areas and open space for an extremely low cost
- Preservation of the community’s farming heritage, in the hands of farming families who contribute to the local economy
- Guaranteed sources of land for growing food
The Land Trust has a proven history of successful local conservation. Thanks to the support of local families and businesses, the Land Trust led all local conservation organizations in acres protected in 2006. The 488 additional acres protected by the Land Trust in 2006 include 100 acres of natural area, 68 acres of farmland, 84 acres of rolling hills, 139 acres of wetlands, 30 acres of woods, and 66 acres on a Huron River tributary. Past keystone farmland projects include the Vershum family dairy farm (Bridgewater Township) protected in 2006 and the Strieter farm (Freedom Township) protected in 2003.
Project details, photos, and locator map
How You Can Support Farmland Protection
More great projects like this are in the works. Your gift to the Farmland Fund will ensure that funds are ready for the next big opportunity. If you'd like to make a gift:
If you'd like your gift to go specifically toward farmland protection, please note "Farmland Fund" on your gift. Thank you! For more information, please contact Suzie Heiney at 734-302-LAND (5263) or suzie@washtenawlandtrust.org.
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The first land trust established in Michigan, Washtenaw Land Trust protects the natural areas and rural landscapes that make our community a great place to live. Since 1971, this growing organization has directly protected 51 properties totaling 2,776 acres throughout Washtenaw, Jackson, and Ingham counties through voluntary land conservation. The Washtenaw Land Trust is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. For more information please visit www.washtenawlandtrust.org, or contact the Land Trust at info@washtenawlandtrust.org or 734-302-LAND (5263).
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