Some people have noticed the "For Sale" sign on the southern fields of Wright Family Farm, but most don't realize that the acreage shown is for the entire farm. Due to a tangled web of legacies, there are more than a dozen family members who now own this farm. Most are willing to allow the farm to continue in operation, but to settle the long standing differences about the legacy, some family members want to "cash out" their share -- so the for sale sign went up a few months ago.
What will we be losing if this farm goes to developers? Not just a very pretty view and good neighbors!
The farm is one of Warwick's historic farms, having been in continuous operation since Revolutionary days, and is the last livestock farm operating on King's Highway and Route 94 (the colonial "King's Highway) in the Town.
It is also an essential watershed area for the Wickham Water District-- an aquifer that repeatedly in the past dozen years has been under summer-long water restrictions due to low productivity. A good portion of the farm is even included in the "Aquifer Protection Overlay District" of the town's zoning maps.
We can't afford to lose this farm! What can you do to help? As we work towards a solution to keep the farm operating, send us your email if you'd like to be kept posted, and let the Town Board and Agricultural and Open Space Advisory Board know what an essential resource it is to our community.
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I am very impressed by the work that went into creating this site. I have no idea how to create a blog. I hope that a way to "save the farm" without development can be found.
ReplyDeleteFYI-There are currently 13 owners of the property-slightly less than the "dozens" referred to in the blog. The farm also has not been an active dairy farm (as in milking cows every day) since the 80's. Inaccurate statements, although well intentioned, could undermine the validity of the blog and it's stated mission.
Feel free to contact me if you want additional info.
The dairy cows were slaughtered under the 1986/87, $1.827 billion, Dairy Termination Program. Under this federal program the farmer was paid to "not" produce milk for 5 years.
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