As a land conservation organization based in rural New Hampshire, The Monadnock Conservancy loves our local farmers and works to protect the land they need.
We do this (primarily) by buying conservation easements on farmland. By purchasing conservation easements from farmers, we ensure that precious fertile acres remain viable for farming into the future. The purchase also offers an additional way for farmers to make some money through the sale of the easement. It’s a true win-win.
A Panoramic View of Picadilly Farm, Image Credit: Picadilly Farm
That doesn’t mean this work doesn’t come with challenges. The biggest one is a race against the clock. Farmland in the Monadnock region is precious – not every piece of land has soil suitable for farming and so much land with great soil has disappeared to residential and commercial development. And once it’s gone, baby, it’s gone. Not only does farmland disappear under concrete, but if a working farm turns into a residential home (or often a vacation home), the infrastructure is neglected, and when that land goes back up for sale, farmers can’t afford the purchase price plus what it would cost to bring the farm back online.
But among a cloud of challenges comes a sun beam of success. Thanks in part to the support of the NH Farm Future Fund, along with some very dedicated farmers, and passionate experts on our land protection team, one exceedingly productive farm in Winchester N.H. will remain farmland for generations to come.
The NH Farm Future Fund, provides funding for farm viability planning in concert with the conservation of important agricultural soils. Since 2020, the NH Farm Future Fund has distributed over $252,000 to protect over 1,279 acres of land throughout the Granite State. The NH Farm Future Fund is a grant program that is privately funded and administered by the Cheshire County Conservation District on behalf of the New Hampshire Conservation Districts.
Picadilly Farm in Winchester, N.H. is a working certified organic farm that sells to many of our regional stores, including two popular coops, the Monadnock Food Coop and the Brattleboro Food Coop in Vermont. Of the 21.9 acres of the farm under easement, 14 acres are classified as "prime'' farmland soil, a designation reserved for the most fertile soil in the nation.
Rows of Sugar Snap Peas at Picadilly Farm, Image Credit: Picadilly Farm
This easement also included a special provision. Remember that vacation home I was talking about? Well, we have written in terms which gives the Conservancy an option to purchase the farm at the agricultural value should it ever go up for sale. We would then resell it to someone who has the desire and expertise to continue farming the land. That’s a forever farm!
Along with the great soil, and creative easement terms, Picadilly farm also has some amazing people running it. Bruce and Jenny Wooster have owned this farm since 2006 and worked with the Conservancy to find the best solutions to conserve the land.
Bruce and Jenny Wooster of Picadilly Farm, Image Credit: Picadilly Farm
From the Keene Sentinel: “I just think about the idea of forever, which is hard,” Jenny Wooster said. “Once land is developed, that land is gone forever.”
Thanks to Jenny and Bruce, the NH Farm Fund and the Monadnock Conservancy, Picadilly farm is forever-proof!
This NH Farm Future Fund grant opportunity would not be possible without the help of our generous funders. The NH Farm Future Fund is a grant program that is privately funded and administered by the Cheshire County Conservation District on behalf of the New Hampshire Conservation Districts.
Many thanks to our funders that make this program possible. The primary funder is the You Have Our Trust Fund of Fidelity Charitable Additional funding provided by the Maddison Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Additional thanks to the Land Resources Action Team of the New Hampshire Food Alliance. The NH Farm Future Fund grew out of the efforts of this Action Team. Donations to the NH Farm Future Fund are accepted year round, Click here to make a donation online. Checks can be made payable to "NHFFF" 11 Industrial Park Drive Walpole, NH 03608"
For further information or to discuss project proposals, please contact Amanda Littleton: amanda@cheshireconservation.org or 603-756-2988 x4
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