The Township of Frelinghuysen and The Land Conservancy of New Jersey are pleased to announce the recent preservation of the 122 acre Linz Farm in Frelinghuysen.
“The Township of Frelinghuysen is please to add another valuable piece of farmland to its preservation effort,” stated Charlie Schaffer, Chairman of the Frelinghuysen Township Farmland Preservation Committee.
Prior to the preservation of the Linz Farm there were 1,659 acres of permanently preserved farmland in Frelinghuysen Township and with the addition of the Linz Farm, there are now 1,780 acres, ensuring a permanent agricultural legacy in the Township.
“Frelinghuysen Township deserves credit for spearheading this project,” explained Corey Tierney, Director of the Warren County Department of Land Preservation. “Mayor Charles and the Township Committee, Chairman Schaffer and the Farmland Preservation Committee, and Gail McDonald from The Land Conservancy of New Jersey all deserve special thanks for their hard work and commitment to preserving farmland. This is an investment in the future. Farmland preservation helps keep agriculture viable for generations to come and ensures that we’ll always have access to locally grown produce and products. We’re happy to see Frelinghuysen Township taking advantage of this great program. By teaming up on this project, the county and municipality each paid less than 15% towards the total purchase price. Working together, we were able to leverage our combined investment in farmland preservation and secure state funding for the 70% balance. We are immensely grateful to the State Agriculture Development Committee for its substantial contributions to this and other preserved farms throughout Warren County.”
“The Land Conservancy of New Jersey appreciates the landowner’s commitment to preservation and the Township and County’s proactive approach to farmland preservation,” stated Gail McDonald, Land Preservation Specialist with The Land Conservancy. “Each partner plays a significant role in the preservation of each farm, and The Land Conservancy is pleased to have been able to assist in preserving this beautiful farm in perpetuity.”
The Linz Farm has been a family farm for three generations. This farm consists mostly of gently rolling open farmland with moderately sloped woodland areas in the easterly portion of the tract and small areas of steep slopes. There is a small stream that flows through the center of the property. The land is currently farmed for hay. In the past, the farm was one of the best working dairies in the area. Corn and other grain crops have also been grown on the farm.
“Since some of that region is already protected, this will provide a wider buffer of protection, while still maintaining viable farmland,” said Freeholder Richard D. Gardner, who is liaison to the Warren County Agriculture Development Board. “As properties become available, the county is pleased to participate in protecting them,” Gardner said. “The open space we have, we owe much to the diligence of the state working hand-in-hand with the county and municipalities,” he said.
Founded in 1981, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a member supported non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting our vital natural lands and water resources. We are working to inspire and empower individuals and communities to take action to preserve land and protect the environment in New Jersey. The Conservancy has preserved more than 20,000 acres of land and helped towns secure $220 million in county, state, and federal grants for their land conservation projects. We have worked in 89 municipalities in 13 counties benefiting millions of people who live, work, or visit our state. Accredited by the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2009, The Conservancy joins 181 organizations nationwide recognized for meeting the highest quality standards for protecting open space, upholding the public trust, and ensuring that our conservation efforts are permanent.
For more information, to volunteer or make a donation, call (973) 541-1010, or visit our website at tlc-nj.org.
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