MODEL AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT for a greenhouse community.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
The purpose of an Agricultural Conservation Easement is to protect and preserve agricultural lands, encourage sound soil management practices, preserve natural resources, maintain active agricultural use of the property, and preserve the economic viability of commercial agricultural use of the property by ensuring affordable resale prices. In addition, this easement is intended to regulate and control activities and uses that may be detrimental to the present or future agricultural productivity of the property or the present and future viability of agricultural use of the Property. It is intended to encourage organic gardening practices, water conservation and soil conservation. It protects good agricultural and/or forestry management practices and supports use of natural and native resources.
Agricultural use will be defined in accordance with local regulations and may include the raising of livestock such as dairy cattle, beef cattle, poultry, sheep, swine, horses, ponies, mules, goats, bees and fur-bearing animals. Agricultural use will also be defined for horticultural purposes, such as the raising of fruits, vegetables, berries, nuts and other foods for human consumption, feed for animals, flowers, sod, trees, nursery, or greenhouse products, including ornamental plants and shrubs.
A “greenhouse community” within a Land Trust co-op will commit time and a percentage of products for the purpose of selling such products in the regular course of business at locale farmers markets, grocery stores or other local businesses.
A “greenhouse community” is defined as a group of affordable home owners either living on the same tract of land or individual building lots as grantors of the same Land Trust with the purpose of establishing an agricultural conservation easement.
A “greenhouse community” will foster affordable, self-reliant housing for present and future generations.
Each “greenhouse community” land trust will be encouraged to participate as an affordable housing development business dedicated to sustainable building and agricultural practices. Thereby establishing a more self-reliant means of income and promoting a network of affordable rural housing.
