Peonies and ALE’s

I picked my wife a bouquet of peonies this morning while checking cows. There is a single peony bush in my south pasture that is the only remnant of farmstead that has been gone since the 1930’s. As I appreciated the flowers and the resilience of the peony plant. I felt strong emotions.

They made me think of a farm wife who had the faith to plant the peonies to bring some beauty to a farmstead during the 30’s a decade in agriculture marked by the great depression and the dust bowl. The worst environmental and economic disasters in our nation’s history. Both caused by the thoughtlessness and greed of mankind. Both alleviated by the pragmatism and virtue of mankind. Amid the chaos someone cared enough to plant the peony bush that I picked a bouquet from this morning.

Being able to protect the peony bush and appreciate its flowers every May has made me pause to give thanks for the values of stewardship shared with me by my parents, grandparents, and other farmers. It’s made me thankful for the FSA and NRCS employees and the programs they administer, like EQUIP, CSP, and CRP that have helped me protect the land I care for.

Most of all, the peonies have made me thankful that I have protected my farm with an Ag Land Easement (ALE). My Great Grandfather James Shambaugh established the land I care for today in 1848 and named it Pinhook Farm. No one is quite sure of the origin of the name Pinhook. What I do know is that it is a wonderful grass farm that has served my family well.

Putting Pinhook Farm in an ALE has given me the opportunity to serve the land, to pay it back for all it has given both my family and my community for the last 177 years. The ALE guarantees that Pinhook Farm will never be farmed and will never be developed for housing.

This means the pastures, tree, and wild things I share the farm with are protected forever. It also means I have encumbered my title and reduced the value to that of pasture. No highest best use appraisal for crop potential or a housing development. The lands value is for pasture, which is what it should be.

This means I’ve reduced its market value by 30% to 50%. This also means if the land leaves my family, a young livestock farmer will have a real opportunity to buy pasture for a price that works. There is nothing more important than land access for beginning farmers. Easements are the best tool we have to get this done.

The best part of my easement has been its unintended positive consequences. My neighbors have restored grasslands. Our community has established an 80-acre park that joins my farm along the river. Combined this investment in natural capital and the biodiversity of our landscape has helped strengthen our community and attract new people to town to support our workforce. I’m in awe of the benevolence of Nature. When we listen to her and work with her, she gives us so much in return.

We are in uncertain times, but on this Memorial Day the peonies planted nearly 100 years ago have filled me with gratitude. To those who taught me the lessons of stewardship and those who have planted flowers and trees. I will always be grateful and will do my best to honor your legacy by protecting nature and all the good she bestows upon us.