Prospective farmers can apply now to lease farmland in Mercer County
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Sept. 20, 2019 – The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is seeking individuals interested in leasing land to grow crops or raise livestock as part of its Farmland Access Initiative.
In January, the Conservancy acquired farmland, located an hour north of Pittsburgh off of I-79 in Findley Township, Mercer County, which is now available for lease to local farmers for small-scale agricultural operations producing food for our local market.
This land acquisition and request for farmers are part of the Conservancy’s Farmland Access Initiative, a leasing program designed to make land more accessible to newly established local farmers interested in supplying crops to support Pittsburgh’s burgeoning food market. Leasing programs provide successful options near urban areas where high land prices make it challenging for farmers, particularly those who are new to the industry, to acquire land.
“We want to help address the challenge of land access and make affordable land available to farmers who want to grow local foods for the Pittsburgh market,” said Tom Saunders, president and CEO of the Conservancy. “Through this proactive effort, we are partnering with other organizations and supporting existing efforts while protecting the ecological significance and agrarian heritage of our region.”
Farmers interested in leasing the farm in Mercer County should contact the Conservancy at 412-288-2777 or land@paconserve.org to request the proposal documents or for more information. The request for proposals can also be downloaded from the Conservancy’s website.
In addition to farmers seeking land, the Conservancy encourages landowners wishing to donate land suitable for organic farming within an hour of the Pittsburgh region to also call the Conservancy at 412-288-2777 for more information.
Funding for WPC’s Farmland Access Initiative is made possible by the generosity of the Henry L. Hillman Foundation and an anonymous donor.
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About the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy:
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy enhances the region by protecting and restoring exceptional places. A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC has helped to establish 11 state parks, conserved more than a quarter million acres of natural lands and protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams. The Conservancy owns and operates Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which symbolizes people living in harmony with nature. In addition, WPC enriches our region’s cities and towns through 132 community gardens and other green spaces that are planted with the help of more than 11,000 volunteers. The work of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is accomplished through the support of more than 9,000 members. For more information, visit WaterLandLife.org or Fallingwater.org.
Media Contact:
Carmen Bray
Director of Communications
412-586-2358
cbray@paconserve.org