Campaign to Preserve Lebanon Family Farms

Lebanon is Farm Country! Its historical and agricultural roots are inseparable. Lebanon's farms continue to provide food (and drink) necessary to sustain us all, just as it did at the time of our nation's founding. Cyr Farm, Mindel Farm, and Slate Farm are important pieces of Lebanon's agricultural history and future.

We need your help to preserve these farms!

Lebanon: The Heart of Agriculture in CT

Lebanon was the major supplier of provisions to the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War; today, agriculture remains the center of the community and the town's economy. Lebanon is now Connecticut's largest farming community with 10,000 plus acres of active farmland. More than 35% of this acreage is permanently protected, the largest amount of any town in the state. This leaves 6,500 acres of prime farmland that still need to be preserved to sustain Lebanon's farming economy and way-of-life.

For these reasons, research conducted by the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in 2005 identified Lebanon as the highest priority for Connecticut Farmland Trust's farmland preservation work.

Cyr Farm, Trumbull Highway

• 46 acres
• 90% prime and important farmland soils
• Fields leased to neighboring family dairy farm
• Part of 600+ acre cluster of active farmland
• Adjacent to the Lebanon Town Green Historic District and protected town land

Mindel Farm, Norwich Avenue

• 30 acres
• Part of proposed 500+ acre cluster of preserved farmland and open space
• 76% prime and important farmland soils
• Continuously farmed for over 100 years
• Hayfields leased to local farmer

Slate Farm, Trumbull Highway

• 33 acres, primarily used for hay production
• Owned and farmed by the same family for 10 generations
• 91% prime and important farmland soils
• Adjacent to the Lebanon Town Green, a designated National Register Historic District and the only town green in the state that is still actively farmed

The Challenge -- We Need Your Help

Connecticut Farmland Trust is pleased to be partnering with the Town of Lebanon and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service to preserve these historic family farms in Connecticut's largest farming community.

The farms' owners are strongly committed to preserving their land and each has offered to sell the development rights on their respective farms for 25% below their appraised value.

With 62% of the funds committed, this leaves just $195,000 (38%) that must be raised to protect 109 acres of some of the state's best agricultural soils - just $1,790 an acre.

Why is Preserving Lebanon's Small Family Farms so Important?

• They provide needed jobs and are key to the region's agricultural economy.
• They are easily developed and, therefore, highly threatened by conversion to non-farm uses.
• They provide key pasture and crop land that is leased by the area's large dairy farms.
• They are often too small to qualify for the State of Connecticut's Farmland Preservation Program.

If you care about retaining Lebanon's family farms, please donate online using PayPal

You can also send a tax-deductible contribution to:

Connecticut Farmland Trust

77 Buckingham Street

Hartford, CT 06106