It's taken over two years, but a partnership between the Sharon Land Trust and the Connecticut Farmland Trust has been extraordinarily successful.
$1,100,000 has been raised from federal, state, foundation, and private sources to purchase conservation easements on the 276-acre Wike Brothers Farm in Sharon.
We need your help to complete this purchase!
One of Sharon's oldest and largest family farms, Wike Brothers Farm has been owned and worked by the same family for almost 150 years. In the 1860's, John Wike bought the farm to provide a livelihood for his growing family. John and his wife Mary had five sons. The fourth son, Edward, passed the farm to his daughter, Helen Wike Humeston. Helen, for many years Sharon's town assessor, is a much admired and extraordinary woman.
It is through her love of nature and natural farming methods, and commitment to open space preservation that the farm remains intact.
In recent years, the farm has evolved from a dairy operation to a diversified agricultural business.
Helen's son-in-law Hank Barlow, daughter Donna, and grandson Ben, have cleared and revived pastures that had been idle for nearly 30 years and are reseeding and naturally fertilizing hay lands for improved production. They raise free range chickens, pigs, and cattle grown naturally with only grass, minerals, and pure well water.
Farm products, which include cuts of beef and pork, sausages, eggs, apple-smoked bacon, hot dogs, and maple syrup, are sold at their roadside store and at LaBonne's and Jam.
Helen's granddaughter Becca and her husband Colin and their son Finian (the first member of the 7th generation) have recently returned to the farm. Colin is planting an orchard and will add organic fruits and vegetables to the farm's product list.
The purchase of conservation easements by the Connecticut Farmland Trust and the Sharon Land Trust will ensure that the Wike Brothers Farm operation continues and prospers.
The conservation easements are being sold by the family for a bargain price $164,000 below their total appraised value. The secured grants will cover 77% of the cost of the project.
This leaves $331,000 (23%) that must be raised in order to complete the project. That's a daunting sum in these tough times; but a small price (just over $1,200 an acre) for ensuring that one of Sharon's last working family farms is protected in perpetuity.
If you care about saving Wike Brothers Farm in Sharon, please donate online using PayPal
You can also send a tax-deductible contribution to:
Connecticut Farmland Trust
77 Buckingham Street
Hartford, CT 06106