Farmland Program - Farmland Preservation
Mission
The mission of the Farmland Program is to preserve agricultural land in the service area of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
Local Farms for Local Food
In 2005, we established the Farmland Program to preserve working agricultural lands important to the natural and cultural heritage of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee. We build relationships with agricultural landowners to place voluntary conservation easements on their land — protecting our most vital agricultural soils form development in perpetuity.
The success of the program has resulted in protection of over 5,000 working acres throughout the region, with a focus on the significant farming communities of Fairview, Sandy Mush, Bethel, and Spring Creek. Our work to preserve productive farmland in this region ensures that there will be land available for local food production and consumption for current and future generations.
The American Family Farm: Land Solutions That Work Right Now
Our specialty is working with families that own large amounts of land and have a need to make decisions on how to keep the property in the family. Solutions for many of the landowning families that we have worked with to date include a purchase of development rights which provides needed liquidity, the permanent protection of meaningful family property, and significant benefits in long term estate planning.
Gifts and Bequests of Farm Tracts:
We accept donations of farm tracts. This ensures permanent protection of a farm and can strengthen our Farmland Access Service. We also accept donations of farms with a life estate, so you can donate your farm to SAHC now and continue to live on it and enjoy it for the rest of your life. Contact us for more information.
In 2010, we accepted the donation of a 100-acre farm and farm house in Buncombe County. The owner of this tract did not have heirs to which to leave the farm, so she placed her trust in SAHC. Today, we have several exciting projects going on at the Anderson Farm. Read more about it here.
Farmland Access Service:
The mission of SAHC’s Farmland Access Service is to provide farmers with opportunities to purchase or lease affordable farmland so that they can initiate or expand agricultural businesses. Supporting local communities, local food production, and the long-term productive use of farmland are all goals of this initiative. Read more about our Farmland Access Service here.
Consultation:
Whether your concern about your land involves property taxes, the possible sale of your land, transfer of land to the next generation, or a potential conservation easement, we want to talk with you. We can provide you with information to help you make good decisions as well as point you towards professionals who we trust.Contact:
William Hamilton
828-253-0095 ext. 211
william@appalachian.orgAllison Kiehl
828-253-0095 ext. 203
allison@appalachian.org
Useful Links
Land Protection Information
