|
Thank you for helping us meet our goal
to fund the Eccardt Farm conservation easement project!
Together we have taken a wonderful opportunity to permanently
protect 141 acres of the Eccardt Farm through the purchase
of a conservation easement. The easement will protect the
141-acre upland lots while allowing continued use for farming,
forestry and recreation. The easement will provide for permanent
designation of the public trail on the property.
The land is part of their 465 acre farm, which, as many of
you know, is the last commercial dairy farm in Washington
and the nearby region, owned and operated by the Eccard family
and managed by George Eccard along with wife Sandy, son Ryan
and daughter Kristi. It has been recognized by the state as
a "Farm of Distinction" and significantly defines East Washington's
unique rural character and environment.
Looking across the pasture and
corn fields toward the wooded lots proposed for conservation
Last fall the Eccard family approached the Conservation Commission
about the possibility of selling a conservation easement on
this 141-acre wooded parcel. This meant that they would sell
the development rights to this land but still own it and retain
the right to use it for agriculture, forestry, sugaring and
more. The Commission members were happy to help. We contacted
the Forest Society and got to work on the project.
The Conservation Commission had submitted two grant applications
to help with project funding. We learned in October that we
were awarded a Q2C grant
to help pay all transaction costs for the easement. The Conservation
Commission committed to spend up to $40,000 of our Conservation
Fund toward the purchase of this easement. In December we
were notified that the requested LCHIP
grant for $30,000 was awarded to us and we are very grateful
to them for providing the balance of our needed funds. The
generous donations we received from local people and many
others, combined with what we raised at the Open House means
we have met our goals and we plan to close on the easement
in mid January!
The land is in a designated Conservation Priority Area in
our Conservation Plan. The 135 acre wooded piece contains
stands of white pine, red oak, balsam fir, red spruce, red
maple, popular, white and yellow birch, a seven acre sugar
bush and a public trail for hiking, snowmobiling, skiing,
horseback riding and snowshoeing. With this easement the conservation
land and trail will be connected to the Forest Society's Journey's
End property, which in turn connects to Pillsbury State Park,
Sunapee Highlands and thousands of other acres of protected
land. The snowmobile club will be working on the trail this
fall.
The project's close proximity to miles of woods roads, private
and class VI roads, the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway trail,
other large tracts of protected land, nearby commercial ski
areas, regional lakes and ponds, and the miles of seasonally
used trails creates an amazing recreation resource for Washington.
Two lots (in red) making up the
easement property, Journey's End abuts to the left
The Eccardt Farm has always welcomed the public to the farm
for educational and recreational purposes. Hundreds of families
and school groups come each year, many from towns in the three
county area and beyond, to learn about dairy farming and visit
the farm store, milking parlor, barns, the large variety of
animals and the farm museum, and to recreate. The land has
been used by the public for hiking, horseback riding, skiing,
snowshoeing and snowmobiling for more than fifty years. Other
landowners in the area have announced that they will soon
discontinue access to snowmobile trails; this property's trails
will be improved to provide a permanent link to existing trails
on the Forest Society's Journey's End property. Hiking, equestrian,
and snowmobile trails are an important recreational and cultural
resource in the town of Washington.
This easement will secure the existing trails for perpetual
public use. The value of the landscape and operations of the
working farm cannot be overstated. The project will expand
and preserve presently available recreation opportunities
through permanent trail protection and protect a much-valued
viewscape, while also protecting high value natural resources
and wildlife habitat and extending the conservation corridor.
How did you help?
The Eccardt Farm project has found great support within the
greater Washington community and town organizations. The townspeople
recognized the value of protecting this farmland for the future.
The Board of Selectmen had endorsed the conservation easement
project and encouraged our efforts to secure funding for it.
The Conservation Commission voted to commit a large portion
of their Conservation Fund dollars to the project. The Eccardt
Farm families agreed to sell the easement at a bargain sale
price to help make it happen. The Washington Snowriders snowmobile
club was very interested in securing the access to the trails
for public use. We received many pledges toward the project,
in our fundraising efforts. With your help we have successfully
raised the money needed to fully fund this project.
This successful easement project will greatly benefit our
community and the Eccardt Farm. It will help maintain the
unique rural character of our community, provide new permanent
recreation resources, protect important natural resources
and help the Eccardt Farm to secure its future.
Thanks to all who gave generously and helped us meet our goal
to preserve the rural character and natural resources of our
town, while helping the farm to continue farming.
There is still time to make a donation if you want to be counted
as a part of this worthy project! Any donation given will
go directly to this project and will lower the amount that
the Conservation Commission will need to use out of their
Conservation Fund, leaving more dollars available for future
projects. Please click here to make a pledge by e-mail to
the Washington Conservation
Commission. Donation boxes can be found at the Eccardt's
Farm Store and in the Town Hall, or you can send a check to
the Washington Conservation Commission at 7 Halfmoon Pond
Road, Washington, NH 03280, (write Eccardt Farm in the memo
line). Thank you for wanting to help.
Thanks also to all who attended the Farm's Open House on October
9th and bought raffle tickets, click here - Open
House and Raffle page to see pictures, find information
and see the raffle prize winners.
Click here to learn more about the
History of the Eccardt Farm
Three generations of Eccards
in front of their Farm Store - Ryan, Hans, Julia and George
|
