Simsbury Land Trust's August 6 Birthday Party for Farmer George Hall

The Simsbury Land Trust invites all town residents to a community birthday celebration for local farmer George Hall on Tuesday, August 6 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., rain or shine. The event will take place at George Hall Farm at 180 Old Farms Road in West Simsbury.

“The Simsbury Land Trust is hosting this special birthday party to honor George Hall for his dedication to preserving the beauty of our town through our major farm protection project,” explains Amy Zeiner, Executive Director of the Simsbury Land Trust. “For the past few months, members of our Land Trust have been seeking financial support from the community to acquire an agricultural conservation easement on the George Hall/Pharos Farm property, the last of Simsbury’s seven remaining family farms that still is unprotected. We still need to raise $45,000 to meet our goal of $550,000 by the end of this summer,” adds Zeiner. “On August 6, we hope that Simsbury residents will come to wish George a Happy Birthday and also help the Land Trust to raise the remaining dollars needed.”

Admission to the “George Hall Birthday Celebration” is free, but donations to the farm protection project will be accepted. The afternoon will feature free Tulmeadow Farm ice cream and birthday cake, and the farm stand will be open. Information on the George Hall Farm/Pharos Farm preservation project and Simsbury Land Trust membership will be available on site.

The George Hall working farm consists of two separate properties: 12 acres on Old Farms Road; and 38 acres (also known as Pharos Farm) between Terry’s Plain and Quarry Roads. Hall has owned and operated the farm property on Old Farms Road since 1963 and has leased the Terry’s Plain field from the Town of Simsbury since the mid-1970s. The Town approved a proposal where George Hall would purchase Pharos Farm from the Town for $480,000 and, at the same time, for the Simsbury Land Trust to acquire an agricultural conservation easement on both parcels to preserve their agricultural use forever.

The purchase of George Hall Farm would preserve its agricultural use and maintain its natural and scenic value forever, notes Zeiner. George Hall would continue to own, farm and live on the property for as long as he wishes, and the agreement would prohibit all non-farm development. Hall’s Old Farms Road site also would provide off-street parking and pedestrian access to the adjacent 62-acre Wagner Woods that already is protected by the Simsbury Land Trust.

To make a donation to the Simsbury Land Trust, or learn about its volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, or get a map of Land Trust properties, call (860) 651-8773 or visit www.simsburylandtrust.org. Individual memberships in the Simsbury Land Trust begin at donations of $40 and Family memberships begin at donations of $60.