Listen to this articlePeconic Land Trust announced it has assisted in the preservation of 23.54 acres of farmland in Wading River.
The effort involved the cooperation of farmers Ginny and John Condzella and brothers John and Bill Zoumas and included , according to a Peconic Land Trust statement.
The trust acquired a conservation easement funding from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and donations from the community(development rights) on 8.5 acres of Zoumas farmland in Dec. 2023, restricting the land to agricultural purposes and barring residential or commercial development. Funding for the easement was achieved with $2 million from the state Agriculture and Markets farmland protection program and donations from the community.
In March, the trust worked with the Condzellas to conserve 15 acres of farmland they currently own and farm. The conservation easement was funded by donations from the community along with $1.946 million of state Agriculture and Markets grant funds. Using the proceeds from the sale of the easement, the Condzellas purchased the restricted Zoumas farmland later that month.
“We are so pleased to be able to celebrate this wonderful farmland conservation. Our sincere thanks go to Governor Kathy Hochul, our Senate and Assembly delegation, and the Department of Agriculture and Markets for the funding of programs that enable farmland protection. Also, to the many donors who participated and have clearly said that agriculture is an important part of our community,” John Halsey, Peconic Land Trust president, said in the statement. “We also thank John and Bill Zoumas and Ginny and John Condzella for seeing the value of agriculture and for their willingness to conserve land for future generations.”
The properties were part of the Peconic Land Trust’s Wading River Initiative fundraising campaign that concluded in the spring of 2022, raising $305,000 from the members of the public. The raised funds were combined with $3.946 million in Agriculture and Markets grant funds to purchase the easements, according to the trust.
“Our farmland is one of the most important natural resources we have. As the foundation for our food supply, it’s critical that we continue to protect our land and our rich soils so our farmers can continue to grow our food, strengthen our local food systems, plan for the future, and play an integral part in our fight against climate change,” State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said in the statement. “I’m grateful for our partnership with land trusts across the state like the Peconic Land Trust as well as all the farmers participating in this program who are pushing this mission forward and working hard to keep our precious farmland safe from development.”
John Condzella thanked the trust and everyone who worked towards the land conservation.
“While growing up in Wading River I have seen a lot of things change over the years, but the one thing that has never changed is my love for our family farm, and the desire to preserve it forever,” Condzella said in the statement. “It wasn’t easy, and at times I thought that it would be impossible, but through perseverance and the help of the Peconic Land Trust I finally have achieved my goal. While many things have changed in Wading River, the one thing that will remain forever, and almost the same as when my grandfather started it over one hundred years ago, is Condzella’s Farm.”