I grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. My roots date back to the late 1700’s in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee.

My summers during the 1960’s and 1970’s were spent on my grandparent’s farm outside of town. At the time, there was still a strong connection, but also independence, between the rural communities and Asheville. My grandparent's livelihood depended on their farming. This included vegetables for the Farmer’s Market, ornamental shrubs and hay. I became immersed in their way of life and the indelible impression it made on me has never left.

If one visits Asheville today the bucolic environment is gone. Suburban sprawl has overwhelmed neighboring farms. The rural communities have been annexed and are unidentifiable except for names only. The land grab by overzealous developers has erased the farm I knew. Golf courses and multi-million dollar houses are the norm. All good things come to an end. My grandparent’s farm is now nonexistent; a subdivision and condominium complex now stand in its place.

I truly believe in the foresight of the land trust movement and conservation easements. I wish it would have existed 30 years ago.

I presently micromanage my seven acre “hobby” farm and dream of what it once used to be. I hope to be a strong advocate for Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust and steward for what precious land is left undeveloped.
Helping preserve what nature has provided, especially here in the mountains, is the responsibility of everyone. Whether our interest is in preserving farm lands for future generations to cultivate or if we are concerned about leaving green space to be enjoyed by those who will follow behind us, I feel a strong need to become involved.

Through the efforts of the Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust and its achievement in preserving land and bringing it to the attention of folks in our area and beyond, a positive difference can occur.