Farmland Preservation

In 1994, when Fairview Gardens faced the threat of possible future development, a small committed group of local activists formed a non-profit organization to buy the land and place it under a conservation easement that protects it in perpetuity. Unlike the more common "open space" easement, ours is based on active use, requiring that the land must always remain a working organic farm and that the education work continue.

Thanks to these efforts, Fairview Gardens’ future is now secure. Yet the future for most small farms across the country is much less certain. Small farms are disappearing at a staggering rate: forty-six acres of prime farmland are being converted to non-agricultural use each hour.

We are frequently asked for advice and consultation on farm preservation efforts taking place around the country. The following resources may be helpful in your efforts to save a neighborhood farm.

Six Steps to Saving a Small Farm

The ecology magazine Orion Afield profiled the efforts to save Fairview Gardens in its Summer 1998 issue. Its short piece "Six Steps to Saving a Small Farm," is reprinted on our Articles page.

Helpful Organizations

A number of organizations are well qualified to help with saving farmland, crafting easements, or developing community partnerships. To view a list of these organizations, please visit our Resource Listings.

Conservation Easement

Paper copies of Fairview Gardens’ easement are available for a $15 fee to groups who are searching for similar ways of protecting farmland in their communities.

For more information, or to order copies, please call (805) 967-7369 or email to mail@fairviewgardens.org.

Consultations

For those involved in a serious acquisition campaign, please contact us.