1. 2010 Annual Report
We’re piecing together the landscape...
ONE FARM at a TIME
openviews2011 Annual Report and Review
Lancaster Farmland Trust newsletter and annual report designs
openviews
Saving the Land
We Love
Fall/WiNter 2014
Board of Trustees
Joseph V. Sweeney
Chair
R. James Lafferty
Vice-Chair
Caroline Morton
Secretary
Michelle F. Atwater
Treasurer
Dara C. Bachman, Esq.
Susan Baldrige
R. Ted Bowers
David Breniser
Samuel A.
Goodley, Jr., Esq.
Dennis M. Grimm
Robert M. Krasne
Ken Lewis
Donald M. Robinson
Larry Shirk
Melvyn G.
Wenger, VMD
Honorary Trustees
H. Eugene Garber
Kenneth H. Messner
Honorable Marilyn Ware
Honorable Noah W.
Wenger
Phyllis C. Whitesell
Senior Advisory
Council
Nancy Arnold
Daniel Betancourt
Herman Bontrager
John Cox
Robert J. Hershock
Charles Hoober
J. Melvin Nissley
F. Barry Shaw
R. Scott Smith
Staff
Karen L. Martynick
Executive Director
Jeffery E. Swinehart
Deputy Director
Karen J. Dickerson
Director of Communications
Amanda M. Hickle
Development
Coordinator
Ken Pacanowski
Stewardship Coordinator
Stephanie A. Smith
Municipal Outreach
Coordinator
Stephanie L. Butler
Land Preservation Assistant
Joella Garber
Monitoring Specialist
Jeb Musser
Land Preservation Assistant
Jordan Tuscan
Land Preservation Specialist
Lucie Orzech
Financial Assistant
General Counsel
Brubaker, Connaughton,
Goss & Lucarelli
From the Chair, Joe Sweeney
Ask anyone what comes to mind when they think of Lancaster County and they no
doubt will say “farmland.” Agriculture and a rural lifestyle are synonymous with Lancast-
er County. While other places have transformed from farming communities to suburban
sprawl, Lancaster has held on to its heritage thanks to good planning and effective preserva-
tion efforts.
The mission of Lancaster Farmland Trust is to “preserve and steward the beautiful, pro-
ductive farmland of Lancaster County.” Protecting our farms provides many benefits to our
community. The products produced on our farms contribute $6 billion to the economy each
year. The vast green fields recharge our aquifers. The beautiful landscape draws tourists from
around the world.
We are proud of the relationship we have built with farm families. The Trust serves as
a resource for farmers and works with them to improve their practices and reduce the envi-
ronmental impact of their operations. Our goal is to help farmers meet the many challenges
they face because the best way to protect farmland is to ensure the success of the farmer.
The most recent challenge faced by our farmers is the proposed Atlantic Sunrise natural
gas pipeline that will traverse 35 miles of Lancaster County — including many preserved
farms. While the project has not yet been approved, its impact on farmland is a great con-
cern. Our community has made a commitment to protecting what is unique and special
about Lancaster County and we are working tirelessly to ensure that this project does not
breach that commitment.
When a farm is preserved, the value goes beyond that of the soils. An investment has
been made in maintaining the productivity of the soils, our economy, natural resources,
agriculture as a way of life, and the ability of future generations to continue the farming
tradition.
As we close out another successful year, we thank you for your support and encourage-
ment. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and staff of Lancaster Farmland Trust, I wish you
and your family a very happy holiday season.
Cordially,
From the Executive Director, Karen Martynick
The corn has been harvested, the hay is in the barn and things are very busy at Lancaster
Farmland Trust. This is our busiest time of the year. Farmers are in from the fields and ready
to preserve their farms. With just a few weeks left to go, we have nine farms on our waiting
list to be preserved and we’re hoping we can get all the projects completed before the end
of the year.
One of the best things about the work we do is getting to know the families who preserve
their farms. Their commitment to the land inspires us. They have a love for the land that
is deep and abiding. They want to preserve their farms so their children and grandchildren
can farm the land as their ancestors have. For them, preserving their land is preserving a
way of life!
The farms that dot our countryside like a patchwork quilt, provide a beautiful landscape.
But their benefits go far beyond a scenic view. They contribute to our quality of life and
make Lancaster a special and unique place to live and visit. By preserving these farms — sav-
ing the land we love -- we are leaving a legacy that no one can take away.
This holiday season, as my family gathers around the table, we will give thanks for many
things. Among those will be the abundance on our table and the hard-working farmers who
grew it. We know we are fortunate to have so much available to us and we are deeply grate-
ful that farmers preserve their land so our grandchildren can continue to enjoy these gifts.
We are very thankful that you recognize the importance of preserving our precious farm-
land. Your support is very much appreciated and makes our success possible. I hope your
holidays are joyful and blessed with family, friends . . . and delicious food!
Cordially,
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Organic Farming –
A Local Farmer’s
Perspective
Cottage cheese, Swiss and cheddar cheese, as well as butter, but-
termilk, and kefir (a fermented milk drink that tastes a bit like
unsweetened yogurt) are some of the dairy products produced at a
local organic farm here in Lancaster County. The 81 acre farm was
preserved in 2009 through the first transfer of development rights
project in Penn Township. The project was a done as a partnership
between Lancaster Farmland Trust and Penn Township.
The Amish farmer also raises dairy cattle, free-range broiler chick-
ens, swine, and laying hens. The farm family markets some of the
farm’s products through on-site retail sales. In a recent conversa-
tion, the farmer explained that he uses no chemicals, herbicides,
or pesticides because he believes that plant intake of minerals and
vitamins is blocked if too much genetically modified or chemical
sources are used to grow crops.
The farmer cited a personal experience as his reason for exploring
organic farming. He explained that he had always been interested
in organic farming; however, his decision to switch from traditional
farming to organic was motivated by a family member whose child
had a vitamin K deficiency. Traditional healthcare experts had rec-
ommended that the boy take medicine for the deficiency for the
rest of his life, but when the boy’s parents began to investigate vita-
min deficiencies and how they might be corrected with diet, their
search led them to eating organic products.
“The more organic you are, the better,” the farmer commented.
Historically, the farm supported a traditional grain-based dairy
operation, but now the farmer has converted the majority of his
land to pastureland and grassland with
only three acres dedicated for grain.
While feeding grain is the more com-
mon method, the farmer believes that
this “wears out the cow sooner and re-
sults in more health problems for the
herd”.
The farmer learned about organic
farming from reading and listening.
“Amish farmers would like to get
into organic farming, but they are
stuck,” he explained. “The cost of
transitioning from traditional farm-
ing methods to organic holds people
back. During the transition, farmers
must feed organic forage but cannot
market their products as organic until
they are certified.” Typically, the process
of certification takes three years.
Work on the farm involves a lot of man-
ual labor. His wife and six children share
the work with him. “I’m not a pioneer, but
you can’t do it (organic farming) unless
you believe in it; you can’t do it just for the
money,” he said. We must “use common sense if we don’t want to
have a negative effect on the Chesapeake Bay,” he concluded.
Municipal Outreach Services
Currently, many of the Trust’s municipal services are available at no cost, thanks to a
municipal outreach grant from William Penn Foundation. These services include…
• Educational presentations on agricultural topics for local residents,
staff, supervisors, planners, and zoning officials
• Agricultural zoning & subdivision ordinance revision assistance
• Comprehensive plan review
• Transferable development rights (TDR) program establishment
& administration
• Prioritizing farmland for preservation
• GIS mapping services
• Technical assistance on land preservation projects
• Organizing local agricultural advisory councils
…and more. The Trust is always eager to find new ways to work with municipalities to
advance agriculture, land use planning, and the preservation of Lancaster’s farming
heritage. Municipal officials – please contact us with your ideas for how we can partner
with you!
Organic Farming –
A Local Farmer’s
Perspective
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photocreditDanMyers
photo credit Patty O’Brien
photo credit Patty O’Brien