Simsbury Land Trust Receives $50,000 Challenge Grant For George Hall Farm Protection Project

Submitted release 

SIMSBURY – The Simsbury Land Trust is seeking financial support from the community to meet a challenge grant for the George Hall Farm preservation effort. 

An anonymous Simsbury donor has offered to match the first $50,000 in contributions that are made before September 1, 2013. To meet this goal, the Simsbury Land Trust has launched a town-wide effort to raise the $50,000 needed for the matching grant and to complete the fundraising for this project.

The funds will help the Simsbury Land Trust  to acquire an agricultural conservation easement on the George Hall Farm, the last of Simsbury’s seven remaining family farms that still is unprotected. This 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 has 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.

“We are grateful to the donor for making such a generous offer,” remarked Chuck Howard, president of the Simsbury Land Trust. “We need support from more families in town so that we can receive the full $50,000 challenge grant. We can complete this project if everyone will pitch in,” notes Howard. “George Hall Farm is one of Simsbury’s hidden treasures that we would like preserved for future generations.”

 The George Hall Farm has the most productive agricultural soil in the Northeast and, for more than 25 years, it has been the largest certified organic farm in Simsbury. It has been a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm for over 15 years.

“Acquiring an agricultural easement on the George Hall Farm is important because it would provide for the permanent protection of the last of Simsbury’s remaining economically viable farms that is still vulnerable to development,” explained Dick Davis, past president of the Simsbury Land Trust. “This is the same type of agreement that the Simsbury Land Trust has with Rosedale Farms and Tulmeadow Farm. This purchase would preserve Hall Farm’s agricultural use and maintain its natural and scenic value. George Hall would continue to own, farm and live on the property for as long as he wishes,” noted Davis. “Our agreement prohibits non-farm development and requires that the fields be continuously mowed or cultivated.”

George 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.

The Simsbury Land Trust works to protect scenic vistas, geological features and farmland that visually define Simsbury’s character and provide healthy habitats for local wildlife and plants. Its goal is to develop, support and implement creative land conservation solutions for the benefit of present and future generations. Since its establishment in 1976, the not-for-profit organization has permanently protected 31 parcels of property in the town, totaling nearly 967 acres, more than half of which have been donated to 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.