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Latest farm purchase completes 98-acre ‘ag center’ in Southold

The development of Peconic Land Trust's Agricultural Center began in 2008 with the purchase of the Charnews family farm on Youngs Avenue, which now hosts the community garden program. The property's historic barn was built in 1940 and the Land Trust leases its space for its tenant, or incubator, farmers. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
The development of Peconic Land Trust’s Agricultural Center began in 2008 with the purchase of the Charnews family farm on Youngs Avenue, which now hosts the community garden program. The property’s historic barn was built in 1940 and the Land Trust leases its space for its tenant, or incubator, farmers. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

LAY OF THE LAND

The parcels that comprise the ag center are all located near the intersection of Route 48 and Youngs Avenue.

The last of them, a 19.2-acre parcel known as the Krupski/Dickerson Farm, was acquired March 28 through an in-kind land swap with Al and Mary Krupski for 16.8 acres farther west, on Route 48 in Peconic, that the land trust already owned. The land trust also paid the Krupskis $178,000 to make up for the difference in land values.

“It was a win-win,” said Mr. Krupski, a former Southold Town Board member and current Suffolk County legislator. “We’re a lot closer to home now. It’s always good when you pass it on to another grower and I’m sure whoever uses it will have the same good fortune we did.”

Mr. Caufield said the land trust hopes to incorporate the parcel in its professional development program by leasing it out to start-up farmers. The acquisition gives the organization the flexibility to move and expand other parts of its operations as well, with one result being more space for its community garden.

The land trust will add about 20 plots to the 40 already established at the community garden, which covers about two acres on the west side of Youngs Avenue in Southold. The garden has been operating at capacity since it was established in 2010, with a diverse group of growers that includes older people fond of tomatoes, Hispanic immigrants growing chili peppers for salsa and fourth- and fifth-grade students from Southold Elementary School, who are growing corn and potatoes.

The gardeners benefit from monthly programs aimed at teaching different growing techniques and providing tips, such as how to conduct soil sampling and balance nutrients.

“Most of our gardeners come back every year — they are forming their own community here,” said Denise Markut, who leads mentoring efforts at the community garden as stewardship manager. “They are loving their individual piece of the land — and that’s what any community garden hopes will happen.”

The hope is that some of the gardeners might progress to larger growing operations — joining others in the ag center’s young farmer program. Those “young farmers” typically lease one or two acres their first year, with the potential to plant up to five acres, Mr. Heston said.

While the land trust has acreage available for rent elsewhere on the East End, being part of the more centralized ag center gives participants access to often expensive tools and infrastructure like on-site irrigation and deer fencing. Participants also have nearly around-the-clock access to experienced farmers who are on hand to provide guidance during the inevitable rough patches that come before a successful harvest.

Young farmers who are ready to expand beyond five acres can apply to join other pros in their field by building larger operations on 60 acres at the edges of the ag center that have been set aside for use by established farmers. Fred Lee of Sang Lee Farms in Peconic is among the “pros in the field” who rent acreage at the center, Mr. Caufield said.

“If you can start small, you can grow your operation — whether you’re raising crops or animals,” said Mr. Krupski, a fourth-generation farmer. “The center gives people an opportunity to start, grow and then be able to go off on their own. The land trust deserves a lot of credit for developing the foresight to bring these aspects all together.”