Town of Niagara Farmland Conservancy organized to protect open farmland from development

A group of Town of Niagara residents and historians have organized a Farmland Conservancy to preserve some of the remaining land in the town that has been farmland since the early 1800s. 

The Town of Niagara Farmland Conservancy has been incorporated by the New York State Education Department and has been designated a 501(c)3 by the Internal Revenue Service.  All donations to the organization are tax deductible.

A meeting, which will give more details of the project, will be held at the St. Leo’s Church Social Hall at 6 p.m. Monday, April 8.  The hall is located at 2748 Military Road. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

A Power Point presentation with maps, current photos of what is in the farmlands, and drawings of the group’s plans for the lands will be shown. These include a community garden, a public orchard, farmed fields, open meadows, nature trails, replanting original trees, bird watching and removal of invasive species.  The group has been working with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeepers (formerly Riverkeepers), the Greenway Commission and other environmental groups.

The conservancy was happy to announce that it acquired 38 acres of land on the west side of Miller Road from the donation of the Johnson Family Foundation.  The Conservancy is in a contract to purchase farmland that is currently for sale on the east side of Miller Road from the Town of Lewiston/ Town of Niagara town line south to Colonial Drive. It contains approximately 28 acres. 

The conservancy plans to finance these programs with grants and membership donations.  

Plans for the preserves include areas devoted to farming, organic orchards, nature walks, bird watches, bee keeping, community gardens and educational programs.

Input from Town of Niagara residents and the public is encouraged and invited to the meeting.

For more information, call 425-4005 or 297-6953