Blog
This Earth Day You Can Protect a Family Farm
Wading River is the gateway to the North Fork. It’s here that farms and farm stands begin to dot the landscape – a legacy that continues all the way to Orient.
Development pressure is extremely high. Without preservation, we could lose more of our farmland and scenic open space. That’s why the Trust has embarked on a Wading River Farmland Initiative to conserve 6 farmland parcels totaling 38 acres farmed by the Condzella family.
The total cost of this project is $7,896,758. The good news is that we’ve already raised $7,591,758 in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (that includes a bargain sale donation by the landowners) and $243,000 donated by your generous neighbors.
Your help is needed to raise the remaining $62,000 by April 30, 2022. Will you join us in this rare opportunity to conserve a multi-generational working farm?
![block.image[0].title](/assets/images/Condzella-Kid-on-Tractor-with-John-Sr.JPG)
John Sr. smiles with his grandson, who will hopefully be the fifth Condzella generation to farm this land.
About the Condzellas
John and Ginny Condzella, along with their son John, own three of the parcels we are trying to conserve, and operate Condzella’s Farm on all six.
James Weeks and Ina Obernesser of Wading River said, “It’s been our privilege – and a pleasure – to contribute to the Peconic Land Trust’s work preserving the Condzella family farm in Wading River. Ina and I took part in a walking tour of the farm last summer, led by John & Ginny, over their current fields of strawberries, asparagus, hops, and late season tomatoes. At the end of the tour we all gathered by an enormous, perfectly restored old barn where we noticed a miniature tractor – a favorite toy of their little grandson who we all hope will be working those same fields one day. We’ve already asked our friends and neighbors to contribute to this good work. We hope you can too.”
Interested in supporting this effort? Visit www.PeconicLandTrust.org/WadingRiver or give us a call: Amanda Abraham, Director of Development, 631.283.3195, ext. 120; AAbraham@PeconicLandTrust.org and Julie Wesnofske, Senior Project Manager, 631.283.3195, ext. 140; JWesnofske@PeconicLandTrust.org.
