Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm

Promoting Regional Agriculture, Local Food Production and Community Involvement

Farmland News

In 2011, Fred Lee of Sang Lee Farms again leased the majority of the farmland. Please visit their website or call 631.734.7001 to learn more about their CSA. In addition, Chris Browder of Browder's Birds leased acreage for his poultry farm. Chris sells his birds through Sang Lee's CSA, through other local farmers, and at the Westhampton Farmers Market and Greenport Farmers Market.  Please email Chris or call 917.376.1999 to learn more. Dan Machin of The Lone Acre also leased one acre for his 100 variety vegetable farm, and took up residence in the farmhouse. Dan sells his produce mainly through a farmers market in Brooklyn, but also locally.  Please email Dan or call 631.320.1186 to learn more. 

In 2011, the Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm welcomed a third farmer to the site: Stephanie Gaylor of Invincible Summer Farms. Stephanie specializes in rare organic heirloom tomatoes and peppers.  She is offering certified organic seeds and is participating in the Greenport Farmers Market. To learn more about Stephanie and Invinciple Summer Farms, visit her website. 

This past summer, Katherine Griffiths, Steve Gessler and Doug Elliot from the Avalon Outdoor Leadership and Summer Stewardship program (Avalon Park and Preserve in Stonybrook, NY), for the second year made Charnews Farm their overnight adventure in farming. Read Doug Elliot's insightful article on the group's experience at Charnews Farm and Quail Hill Farm during the summers of 2009 and 2010. 

To receive periodic updates about the Peconic Land Trust Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm, join the eNewsletter list. An archive of past eNewsletters is also available.

Charnews Farm Conservation Story

In early April 2008, the Peconic Land Trust acquired 23.4 acres of farmland in Southold from the Charnews Family, which included an 1889 farmhouse, barn, and accessory buildings. The Trust purchased the farmland by borrowing from its Stewardship Fund. Following the acquisition, the Trust sold the development rights to the Town of Southold, thereby partially reimbursing the Stewardship Fund. In 2009, the Trust worked with a subcommittee, The Friends of Charnews Farm, in the on-going fundraising efforts. The acquisition phase of fundraising for the farm has been completed, with over 80 donations from local supporters, and a generous matching donation from one of the Trust's long time supporters to close the gap.

Given its unique location and characteristics, the Trust remains committed to actively cultivating the farmland to promote local agriculture and regional food. The Trust has continued to work with the Friends of Charnews Farm Committee to formulate a plan for community uses of the farmland.  In this regard, the Trust has arranged for the planting of vegetables to continue again this spring, and has also established a "Learning Garden" for community education initiatives. Meanwhile, the Friends of Charnews Farm is working diligently with the Trust to raise funds to support the farm, as well as to envision the many community benefits that this farm could provide in the future.

If you would like to help support this important agricultural initiative, Donate Now.

Here's How:
Click here for the Online Donation Form (please read the donor information sheet prior to making a donation)
or
Click here to download a PDF of the Donation Form (file is 3.1 MB and may take a few minutes to download) that you can print out and send to the Peconic Land Trust (please read the donor information sheet prior to making a donation):
By Mail: PO Box 1776, Southampton, NY 11969
By Fax: 631.283.0235
By Phone (credit cards accepted: MasterCard, Visa, American Express): 631.283.3195

Thank you for your support!