No fewer than ten acres

At the time we applied to the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation program, we only had 12 acres.  Our land was the type that developers are salivating for.  Across Pohopoco Drive was Beltzville State Park, and our property was half a mile from the Wild Creek Falls.  12 acres was probably enough for at least ten houses.  Norm Strohl’s old farm next to us was sold to a developer, and 12 houses have already been built with at least three more slated for construction.

At the time we applied to the program, under Pennsylvania regulations you had to own at least 50 acres to be considered unless your farm adjoined already protected farmland.  Since the adjoining fields on the south side of the road were owned by the Army Corps and leased to other farmers, we assumed that was preserved farmland, although it took years for the Corps to give us an official ruling to that effect.  [The fields across the road were part of the original Christman farm taken by eminent domain by the Corps, but that’s another story.]

In any case, we were able to enroll our 12 acres in the program.  Later, when we bought ten more adjoining acres, we were able to put that into the program as well.  

My friend Tom, who makes a living in Mahoning Township on fewer than 10 acres, has pointed out to me just how unfair Pennsylvania regulations are.  Tom obviously has a farm.  It’s close to Lehighton and under development pressure.  This would be an ideal farm to preserve and, as Tom points out, it would also preserve an actual farmer, of which there are fewer and fewer in Pennsylvania.

Tomorrow:  The New York and New Jersey laws on farmland preservation compared.