On September 1, Natural Lands announced 53 acres of the KB Kids Farm in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County was placed under a conservation easement.

KB Kidz Farm, LLC, a group of close-knit siblings and their spouses, believes in conservation and acts upon that conviction.

In 2015, they placed 80 acres of land under permanent restriction with Natural Lands so it would remain undeveloped.

They deepened their commitment to the environment by placing an additional 53 acres of farmland under conservation easement with Natural Lands. 

“The land has been farmed by many generations of our family. Preserving it was an easy decision for us,” said Jay Zeigler, speaking on behalf of his extended family. “We cherish this land that has provided both food and memories throughout all the generations. We inherited the land from our parents, and their wish was to keep it farmland instead of another housing development. Silver Spring Township’s Natural Land Preservation Program gave us the opportunity to keep the beautiful land open for generations to enjoy.”

The farm is located in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County. The 53-acre property is almost entirely in agricultural use, consisting of a rotation of corn, soybeans, and hay.

The property includes about 1,110 feet of a first-order tributary of Hogestown Run, a tributary of the Conodoguinet Creek.

Conodoguinet Creek, whose Native American name means “a long way with many bends,” flows to the Susquehanna River, which eventually empties into the Chesapeake Bay.

“Preservation of this farm means protecting water quality, both locally and all the way downstream,” said Robyn Jeney, land protection project manager for Natural Lands. “More than 18 million people and 3,600 species of plants and animals call the Chesapeake Bay watershed home. Land conservation within the watershed is one of the best ways to protect this remarkable ecological treasure. We are so grateful to the KB Kidz Farm family for doing just that, and to Silver Spring Township for supporting them through funding.”

“Silver Spring Township is so grateful to conservation-minded landowners like the KB Kidz Farm family, who have now protected their second farm through the township’s voluntary Land Preservation Program,” said Laura Brown, Silver Spring Township supervisor. “The township is deeply committed to preservation of our rural, agricultural heritage as we also experience the growth driven by the quality of life we offer our residents.”

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Natural Lands website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from Natural Lands and Like them on Facebook.  Click Here to support their activities.

Natural Lands has preserved more than 125,000 acres, including 42 nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,000 acres.

Related Articles:

-- Western PA Conservancy Protects 109 Acres Of Forest Land In Warren County As Addition To State Game Land 197  [PaEN]

-- Natural Lands Preserves 53-Acre Farm In Cumberland County To Help Protect The Chesapeake Bay  [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay: Allegheny National Forest’s Tracy Ridge Is A Prime Example Of Wilderness Here In The East - By Kirk Johnson, Friends Of Allegheny Wilderness  [PaEN]

[Posted: September 4, 2023]

9/11/2023