FLT Helps Protect Scenic Farmland in Charlemont

FLT is pleased to have assisted with the conservation of a 40- acre property along Rte. 2 in Charlemont. The property is a second generation farm owned by the Gould family and an important part of the landscape along the historic Mohawk Trail and significant frontage on the Deerfield River. A former dairy farm, it has also been farmed for field crops and beef, and is currently farmed for hay and pasture.

This project is an excellent example of how important the state Agricultural Preservation Restriction program is to families trying to negotiate the difficult process around generational transfers.  Following the death of Albert Gould, the land was inherited by his six children, who wanted to keep the land in agriculture, but weren’t sure how to manage the transfer so that it would be affordable and fair to all of the siblings.  

FLT helped the family access the APR program as well as funds from the MA Department of Transportation Scenic Byways program. We then negotiated the sale and protection of the land so that the heirs were able to split the value of the land while still keeping it in active agriculture, and in the family. Richard Gould, one of the heirs who currently works the land, will purchase the protected farm. 

The property is in an area that contains several other APRs of similar size and quality—together, these parcels create a substantial agricultural view shed along Route 2. In addition to the property’s agricultural and scenic value, it also holds considerable natural resource significance. The property contains Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife, Natural Heritage Living Waters Core and Critical Supporting Habitats, as well as Biomap2 Critical Natural Landscape and Biomap2 Core Habitat Aquatic Core and Upland Buffer of Aquatic Core as recognized by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. 

FLT is excited to be part of this project, continuing in our tradition of holding the conservation of our region’s rural landscape as a major priority for the organization. We are grateful to you--our members and supporters—for the financial contributions that enable us to do this important work.