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We are excited to announce that in 2021 Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District Farmland Preservation Program has protected 120 acres in our prime farming regions.
On September 24, 2021, Buncombe Soil and Water Conservation District closed a conservation easement on Crosscreek Farm 46.8 acre Farm in Sandy Mush Community. On December 7, 2021, Buncombe Soil and Water Conservation District closed a conservation easement on Ed and Suzy Rankin 45.8 acre Farm in Fairview, NC. On December 29th 2021, Buncombe Soil and Water Conservation District closed on a conservation easement Jan Burleson’s 27.5 acre Still Mountain Farm in Barnardsville, NC.
Barnardsville, Fairview and Sandy Mush are all traditional farming communities, with high prime, local and statewide important soils for agriculture with close proximity to other conserved lands. Protecting these farms have been an important dream for these families, and through this they will be able to keep these farms intact and undeveloped for generations to come. The conservation values protected by a conservation easement include but are not limited to, prime soils to support healthy agricultural uses, a variety of forest types, open space, scenic viewsheds, diverse plant habitat, high-quality waterways, riparian buffers around streams, fertile pastureland, and wildlife habitat.
A sincere thank you to Jan Burleson, Donna and Mark Diaz, and Ed and Suzy Rankin for being such passionate land stewards and conservationists, you have truly made a lasting difference in Buncombe County by preserving your family farm.
If you want to learn more about Buncombe’s Farmland Preservation Conservation easement program, please contact Ariel Zijp at ariel.zijp@buncombecounty.org or 828-250-4794.
Jan Burleson, landowner and Ariel Zijp, Farmland Preservation Coordinator at closing.
Still Mountain Farm, Barnardsville, NC. On Dec. 29 2021, Buncombe Soil and Water Conservation District closed on a conservation easement Jan Burleson’s 27.5-acre Still Mountain Farm in Barnardsville, NC.
Lynn Cox, attorney, Ed Rankin, Suzy, landowner and Ariel Zijp, Farmland Preservation Manager at closing.
Ed and Suzy Rankin Farm in Fairview, NC. On Dec. 7, 2021, Buncombe Soil and Water Conservation District closed a conservation easement on Ed and Suzy Rankin 45.8-acre Farm in Fairview, NC.
Crosscreek Farm, Sandy Mush Community. On Sept. 24, 2021, Buncombe Soil and Water Conservation District closed a conservation easement on Crosscreek Farm 46.79 acre Farm in Sandy Mush Community.