Farmland Preserved in Wading River
May 20, 2024
“While growing up in Wading River I have seen a lot of things change over the years, but the one thing that has never changed is my love for our family farm, and the desire to preserve it forever. It wasn’t easy, and at times I thought that it would be impossible, but through perseverance and the help of the Peconic Land Trust I finally achieved my goal. While many things have changed in Wading River, the one thing that will remain forever, and almost the same as when my grandfather started it over one hundred years ago, is Condzella’s Farm. Thank you, Peconic Land Trust, and everyone who contributed to this effort,” said John Condzella.
Working with the Condzella family, and John and Bill Zoumas, additional land has been preserved in Wading River. This is the next step in a 20+ years long project to see the Condzella family farmland protected forever.
In December 2023, the Trust acquired a conservation easement on farmland owned by the Zoumas brothers. Then in early March, the Trust worked with Ginny and John Condzella to conserve the land they currently own and farm. Using the proceeds from the sale of development rights on their farmland, they were able to buy the farmland from John and Bill Zoumas in mid-March 2024.
These properties were part of the Peconic Land Trust’s Wading River Farmland Initiative fundraising campaign that concluded in the Spring of 2022, raising $305,000 from the public. The funds raised have been applied to both easements, in addition to $3.946 million in grants from the NY Ag and Markets. These funds have been applied to restricting the future use of the farmland to agricultural use. “We are thrilled to be able to play a role in seeing this farmland forever protected for agriculture and reconnected to the Condzella family, who have farmed in the area for over 100 years,” said Julie Wesnofske, Senior Project Manager, Peconic Land Trust.
To learn more about this project, contact Julie Wesnofske, Senior Project Manager at JWesnofske@PeconicLandTrust.org.