Press release from Buncombe County Government:
On April 28, 2022, the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Farmland Preservation Program closed on five conservation easements, protecting a total of 90 acres in the South Turkey Creek Community in Leicester. The properties were awarded both NCDA and USDA funding as they are considered desirable for conservation for a variety of reasons, but largely due to the high concentration of prime agricultural soils.
The Hart & Currie Farm is a combination of two properties: one is owned by William “Bill” A Hart Jr. and his wife Alice Hart; the other is owned by his sister, Carole Currie and her husband Walter Currie. These landowners have expressed their passion and commitment for conservation by protecting their family farm into perpetuity. This decision not only honors their ancestors but will allow future generations to farm on land with prime agricultural soils. In addition to prime soils, conservation values on this property include a variety of forest types, open space, diverse plant habitat, high water quality, and scenic pasture and forest. The farm is a mix of open pastures and cropland, as well as forest that contains timber ranging in age from 30 to 100+ years old. This large, intact family farm also boasts a rich diversity of native plant species. The Hart/Currie Farm is surrounded by thousands of acres of land held under conservation easements by Buncombe County Soil and Water and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and the contiguity of conserved lands will continue to support diverse wildlife habitat and water quality protection.
The Hart & Currie farm is in proximity to a number of farmland conservation easements within the Leicester/Sandy Mush Region. Conserving this property adds to the significant acreage of protected lands within the County and the overall Blue Ridge Mountain landscape. The property is visible from South Turkey Creek Road and is along the Farm Heritage Trail. Thus, it’s protection helps to ensure that the rural and scenic vistas – as well as productive agricultural lands – are protected in the region forever.
sounds wonderful until the authorities take it from everyone…remember…democrats want to outlaw property ownership by 2030 !