American Farmland Trust (AFT), a national agricultural conservation organization that promotes environmentally sound farming practices and protection of agricultural land, has awarded Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) with a $10,000 grant through their Soil Health Stewards Program. The grant, along with associated trainings, will enhance ESLC’s ability to promote soil health practices to the landowners and agricultural producers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is a leading land trust in conservation easement protections. Since 1990, ESLC has protected 306 easements on approximately 52,000 acres across Dorchester, Talbot, Caroline, Queen Anne’s, Kent, and Lower Cecil County.
The grant, which is funded by the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), will allow two staff members to attend a 2.5 day Soil Health Workshop focusing on soil health practices and how to engage the community in the implementation of these practices. The workshop will prepare staff to build a Soil Health Stewards Action Plan on how ESLC will address soil health issues in our community.
“At ESLC, we are dedicated to staying on the cutting edge of conservation practices,” said David Satterfield, Land Program Manager at ESLC. “We are thankful for the support from AFT and NRCS to continue this dedication by building our knowledge around soil health practices and programs. We are excited to work with both groups at the upcoming workshop and through the Soil Health Stewards planning process to bring new resources to communities.”
ESLC’s Restoration Program plans to use the expertise gained through this grant to vastly improve the way it communicates soil health practices to its constituents through improved mailings and educational events. For those interested in assistance in achieving conservation goals for their property through management practice solutions, such as soil health improvements, please contact ESLC’s Restoration Specialist, Larisa Prezioso, at lprezioso@eslc.org or 410-690-4603.
About the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a private, nonprofit land conservation organization committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. For more information please visit www.eslc.org.
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