Community Corner

Simsbury Land Trusts Celebrates George Hall's Birthday, Raises Awareness for Farm Preservation

The Simsbury Land Trust hosted a special 86th birthday party for George Hall Tuesday afternoon, celebrating both the legacy of a local farmer and an effort to preserve farmland. 

"His birthday was a great opportunity to raise awareness," said land trust executive director Amy Zeiner. 

The land trust is looking to raise approximately $40,000 by the end of August.

It's a final push in a plan to purchase agricultural easements on 12 acres at the farm on Old Farms Road and another 38 acres on Terry's Plain Road (Pharos Farm) that Hall has been leasing from the town since the mid 1970s. Under the agreement, George Hall would purchase the Terry's Plain land from the town for $480,000 and the land trust would purchase easements on both properties for $550,000. 

Half that amount comes through a USA_NRCS grant and the land trust has worked to raise the rest. 

Farmland preservation has been a key focus of the land trust for more than a decade and the Hall Farm project follows preservation efforts at Rosedale Farms and Tulmeadow farms. 

The projects ensure the agriculture use of the farms continue, land trust officials said. 

Dick Davis, board member and past president of the land trust, said local farms are important for so many reasons. One, he said, is that large one-crop farms the country so depends on are vulnerable. 

"Today farms are a luxury and tomorrow I think they'll be  a necessity," he said. 

While each farm was different, Davis said the public has been supportive of the efforts and other towns have noted the efforts and preservation, he said. 

Hall said he was grateful for the party and the preservation effort. He said his family has farmed in town since his great grandfather had a place on Hoskins Road in 1854. 

Hall grew up on a farm on Terry's Plain Road. He said he's been on Old Farms Road since 1963, stopped using pesticides in George quit using pesticides in 1966 and received certification by the Northeast Organic Farming Association in 1979. 

"George Hall is a Simsbury legend," said state Rep. John Hampton. "This is a celebration of his birthday but also a celebration of the preservation of his beautiful farm." 

For more details and ways to donate, log on to the organization's web site, facebook page or call (860) 651-8773.

Follow the farm at https://www.facebook.com/pages/George-Hall-Farm-Ogre-Farm/106720546028097


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