Ryder Farm, one of the oldest farms in the region (it's been in the same family for almost 200 years), sits on the west shore of Peach Lake, just above the North Salem border, in Southeast. Although it's in Putnam County, it's close enough and important enough for us to do what we can to help protect it.
Eileen Goren, our director of conservation outreach, visited the farm last week, along with a number of others who want to see it stay in business and are working to secure a New York State Farmland Protection grant for the farm. Here's an excerpt from a story Mike Risinit of the Journal News wrote about it:
Through a Farmland Protection Implementation Grant, the state, helped
by conservation organizations, the surrounding municipality and other
organizations, purchases a farm's development rights. That means no one
could subdivide or develop the property into houses, a shopping center
or anything changing the face of the land. The competitive program
requires a 25 percent match from local funding sources.
"If this project is successful, it's going to be handled in effect as an endowment," said David Weber of Exeter, N.H., past president of the corporation and the family member spearheading the grant effort.
If the state selects Ryder Farm as one of this year's grant recipients, Weber said, the money would be used for capital improvements and other efforts to maintain the farm as open land.
Stuart's Fruit Farm in Somers received about $2.3 million from the state last year for its development rights. Hemlock Hills Farm in Cortlandt received a similar award in 2006.
Eileen Goren, conservation director with the Westchester Land Trust, worked on those farms' applications and is assisting with Ryder's. She said the program has $30 million available this year for farmland protection statewide. The Ryder Farm, Goren said, satisfies all the criteria.
"The main purpose is to keep agriculture alive in New York as a viable industry," Goren said. "This is no doubt a fundable farm."
The
farm participates in a cooperative program known as Community Supported
Agriculture, which is overseen by Hall Gibson. Members pay a fee and
get a share of the harvest throughout the growing season. In addition
to growing food, the Ryder Farm also drains into New York City's supply
of drinking water.
It goes without saying of course but no farms means no food. We'll keep working to help this one get protected.