1853 Historic Loudoun County Farm. 242 Acres right in the heart of Loudoun County, Virginia. Visito
(14)
Another 239 acres of Loudoun farmland is under permanent protection, thanks to the efforts of the owners and the Land Trust of Virginia with help from the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Piedmont Environmental Council. The farm, located on Rt. 15 in the Lucketts area north of Leesburg, has been in the family’s ownership for more than a century. In making the donation of the conservation easem
ent on the third generation family farm, the Lees gave up their development rights for an approved 47-lot residential subdivision located less than a mile from Lucketts. Not only does the conservation easement protect the land, it also protects significant historic structures that contribute to the Catoctin Rural Historic District. It contains one of the county’s oldest-known cemeteries, the Oxley family cemetery, that has been cared for by the family since Isaac Dyer and Gertrude Yeager Gum purchased the farm more than a century ago. In addition to the historic resources, the property also contains significant agricultural and natural features, including prime farmland, almost a mile of perennial stream channels that flow into Limestone Branch and then to the Potomac River, and a rare wetland community known as the Piedmont Upland Depression Swamp. It is the latter feature that has conservationists and environmentalists excited. As residential development continues to impact groundwater north of Leesburg in the Limestone Overlay District, protection of the land takes on added significance, according to LTV Easement Coordinator John Magistro, who has been working with the family on the easement. The easement came about through close cooperation with Joe Coleman and Nicole Hamilton of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Michael Kane at the Piedmont Environmental Council, all of whom strongly supported the easement donation and worked for the preservation of the property and its resources. Kane noted the extent of local support to preserve the wetlands and the farm. “We received such enthusiastic support from almost every corner of the Lucketts community, from local civic organizations to elementary school groups,” he said, adding the support showed area residents clearly valued and understood the Lee family’s place in the history of the area and its stewardship of the property over the years. Included in the easement is a provision giving the landowners an additional incentive, if they wish to convey 40 acres of the protected rare wetland habitat to a conservation organization in the future. The land is part of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership and its president, Cate Magennis Wyatt, applauded the donors for protecting such a key stretch of Rt. 15 in the heart of the National Heritage Area. The announcement came on the heels of the land trust’s annual meeting, held Nov. 10 at Buchanan Hall in Upperville. Virginia Outdoors Foundation Executive Director Bob Lee was both the featured speaker and recipient of the trust’s Conservationist of the Year Award for Lifetime Achievement. Lee is a big name in the world of land conservation and has steered the VOF for the past eight years, leading an organization that has protected more land than any other in the state’s history of land conservation. The Land Trust of Virginia is a Middleburg-based private nonprofit organization. Currently, LTV holds and stewards 119 easements on more than 12,000 acres in Loudoun, Fauquier and surrounding counties.
We arrive in Boston today!
On our next walk Dave Pierce and Joel Connick set out on an unprecedented attempt to cover 300 miles in just two weeks. Starting this Veterans Day you can follow their journey by watching our pages and following our posts. Your support is greatly appreciated.
http://www.landtrustva.org/landowner-stories/
An accredited, non-profit land trust that assists Virginia’s private landowners in preserving natural and historic landscapes through conservation easements in Virginia.
http://www.vt.edu/spotlight/achievement/2011-09-19-agtech/agtech.html
A student in the Agricultural Technology Program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences spreads fertilizer on a turf plot.
J Lee Farm's cover photo
Photos from J Lee Farm's post
Today is an exciting day at the farm!!! After years of hard work our mitigation bank plans are complete. Tree planting and restoration of close to 100 acres of the farm begins Spring 2016.
J Lee Farm
Another 239 acres of Loudoun farmland is under permanent protection, thanks to the efforts of the owners and the Land Trust of Virginia with help from the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Piedmont Environmental Council.
The Walk
On September 11th at 2:30pm est the boys will be on MSNBC's Live with Thomas Roberts, to discuss their upcoming documentary film and "The Life of 5" program! Tune in!
What a gorgeous day at Eagletree Farm right down the road from the farm! Our friends here don't spray anything on these blue beauties. Got Blueberries? Open daily except Sundays!
It's a beautiful day in Loudoun County! Have a great week!
History lesson! Happy Wednesday!
In a 1699 northward journey to meet with American Indians, adventurers Giles Vandercastel and Burr Harrison described a landscape feature unique to Piedmont Virginia and Maryland. As they trekked close to the Potomac River north of what is now Leesburg, they passed "very Grubby and greate stones ...
A beautiful blooming Loudoun County Sunday at the farm with good friends! Have a great week everyone!
It's a beautiful Saturday in Loudoun!
Snow is prettier than cold, wet rain! Optimistic and hopeful for bright, beautiful sunny days of Spring! Happy Friday!
Timeline Photos
Peaceful Sunday nightfall
A great article supporting successful farming, dedication, family, and hard work! "The numerous members of the Zurschmeide family take pride in the fact that the 300-acre Great Country Farms just south of Bluemont is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
But that’s not all that’s remarkable about the family’s enterprise. In a striking fashion, the Zurschmeides have given new definition to the phrase “the family farm,” returning it to the patterns and success of the traditional farm. In the past 30 years in Loudoun, “the family farm” often has given way to rooftops as the county became more and more developed and fewer and fewer family members wished to continue in farming....."
The numerous members of the Zurschmeide family take pride in the fact that the 300-acre Great Country Farms just south of Bluemont is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Lovely snow covered Loudoun County. Happy Friday!
We spotted at least two owl species flying over head. The perched Great Horned speak to each other from the treetops.
Fairy Shrimp! Third year measures in Western Loudoun County limestone district vernal pools coming soon!
Fairy shrimp provide food for migratory birds and filter nutrients for other species in California's vernal pools.
Restoring farm wet lands takes time (a lot of time). Meetings with engineers and joining others who have also dedicated their lives to this work is in progress. Hopeful to get it started soon! Here are a few pictures during wet months. More to come...
.Findings - Things unpacked, unearthed, uncovered. Pictures from the past in Western Loudoun, Leesburg, & Lucketts, VA.
Next month the Wood Frogs will return back to the "party pool!" The large vernal (a spot that is low and will fill of water that remains full during wet times of year and lowers to a moist wet soil below ground others) pool located in the center of the 38 acres of woods is their spot to mate each season. It is a fantastic experience and a cherished spot for these frogs who return "home" to their original spot every year by instinct.
Explains Wood Frog's Ears - Piedmont Environmental. Large Vernal Pool, right woods.
It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Dalton Thomas Milbourne, a Veteran of the US Navy and brother to Mrs. Mary Lee. His dedication to a life of duty & service was honored today in Purcellville, VA. Present were many of the Loudoun County Volunteer Fire and Rescue squads supporting his family and friends.
He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1948 and served in the US Navy Aviation during the Koran War. Mr. Milbourne attended Bluemont United Methodist Church. He married his childhood sweetheart Jean Feight Milbourne in 1951 and celebrated 63 years of marriage. Mr. Milbourne was a lifetime member of Purcellville Volunteer Fire Department serving as president and vice president and was on the Board of Directors. A founding member of Purcellville VRS, lifetime member of the VFW, NRA, and Loyal Order of the Moose. Mr. Milbourne had retired from Westinghouse Corp. as a electronic engineer.
Peace be with you and your families.
Jeremy, Lara, Kenny, Susan, Madison, Brayden, Preston, and Miranda
Dalton Thomas Milbourne, Sr. passed away Sunday, February 1, 2015 at Wi******er Medical Center. He had been a resident of Purcellville, VA for 60 years prior to moving to Wi******er in 2011. He was
Taken at the farm by Gayle T. Tiller Photography located in Lucketts, VA. Photographed from left to right: Miranda Ward, Kenneth M. Lee, Madison Lee, Brayden Lee, Preston Ward. Thank you Gayle for your amazing work all of these years.
One of my most loved human beings in this lifetime has passed away. My grandmother, who I always called "Grandma" & more recently "GG" as named by my children Brayden & Madison, was always a blessing in my life. I have never met a person that understands more about people than my grandma did. I don't know if it was her experience, her faith, her love, her magical being, or all of that and more. No matter what life brought me or what I thought life had brought me...she always seemed to help me understand the actuality of things. She was the best friend I've ever had and I am proud to be her grandson. I will miss her for eternity and I will honor what she has taught me. I love you Grandma. May you rest how you wish. Whether that is in peace or at the racetrack with Grandaddy.
Love,
Jeremy, Lara, Madison, Brayden, Preston, Miranda, Susan, & Kenny
http://www.colonialfuneralhome.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/11079/id/2919612
Please check back for arrangements and obituary....
15093 James Monroe Highway
Leesburg, VA
20176
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when J Lee Farm posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Explains Wood Frog's Ears - Piedmont Environmental. Large Vernal Pool, right woods.
Vernal Pool, largest of 6 known, on the farm.
#}
