Farmland Conservation

Protected versus Unprotected Land in Essex County

Essex County's rich agricultural history dates back to the indigenous people who first settled this region. Today, farms remain a vital and integral part of our community, supporting our social fabric, economy, and food needs.

Since its inception, Greenbelt has been committed to preserving the county’s working farms. To date, we have partnered with more than 80 farm families, conserving over 1,500 acres of active farmland.

Greenbelt’s farm conservation efforts support the long-term viability of Essex County’s farms not just through conserving land, but by:

Creating opportunities for secure and affordable farmland access.
Free educational programs for farmers with partner farm service organizations.
Educating our members and the public on how to support local farms.

Celebrating the Farms of Essex County

In this video, we celebrate several farms that Greenbelt has helped protect in recent years, including Brown Spring Farm in West Newbury; Colby Farm in Newbury; Iron Ox Farm in Hamilton & Topsfield; Leonhard Farm in North Andover & Boxford; and Wally’s Vegetables in Haverhill. This video was filmed and edited by Jerry Monkman and Ryan Smith, with narration by Diane Stern.

Farmland Q&A

Threats to Essex County Farms

American Farmlands Trust’s Farms Under Threat Special Report: A New England Perspective describes the most pressing issues facing farmland preservation in New England – including Essex County.