Farmland is disappearing at an alarming rate all over the country.
In the Southern Blue Ridge, farms are especially vulnerable, as any expanse of relatively level terrain is a prime target for development.
Conservation doesn’t mean taking land out of use. In fact, some of the region’s most important conservation success stories are working family farms.
Across our region, these family farms provide fresh food, support local economies, preserve open space and carry forward traditions that have been passed from one generation to the next. But as development pressure continues to grow, many of these landscapes face an uncertain future.
Mainspring works with farmers and landowners to ensure productive farmland remains productive. Through voluntary conservation easements and collaborative restoration projects, we help protect agricultural land from future development while supporting healthy soils, clean water and thriving working landscapes. Our stream restoration efforts also strengthen farms by reducing erosion, improving water quality and creating more resilient agricultural systems.
When farmland stays in the hands of those who care for it, communities remain connected to their agricultural heritage, local food systems grow stronger, and future generations inherit a landscape that is both productive and protected.
Interested in protecting your property under a working farmland easement?
