Warning: Undefined array key "y" in /home/t1qfja96jt8g/public_html/wp-content/themes/lft/archive-blog.php on line 2

Blog


Lancaster is growing. There's no doubt about it. We are growing corn and cows. We are growing strawberries and soybeans. And we are growing our communities. As we are growing all of these things, we are trying to do it smarter and more sustainably. Find out more about our community of stewards and landowners below.

Green for the Holidays: Sustainable Practices for Your Holiday Season

December 6, 2023

The holidays are a great time to celebrate the year with friends and loved ones, but with all the wrapping paper, decorations, and feasts, it can also be a time of waste. No matter how you celebrate the holiday season, we encourage everyone to practice sustainable holiday practices where they can. If you’re looking to […]

continue reading

Festive Finds: All About LFT’s Holiday Silent Auction

November 30, 2023

The holidays are quickly approaching, and gift-giving can be hard! Lucky for you, Lancaster Farmland Trust opened this year’s Holiday Silent Auction today! Click here to view our catalog, or scroll for more information, including a personalized gift guide quiz! This year’s auction features gifts perfect for everyone! From the athlete to the foodie, we […]

continue reading

Give to Preserve: An ExtraGive Tutorial

November 13, 2023

Lancaster County’s 2023 ExtraGive campaign is right around the corner, and we’re so excited to be participating another year. If you’re looking to give during ExtraGive this Friday but need help figuring out where to start, you’re in the right place!   When: Friday, November 17th, 12 am to 11:59 pm: 24 hours of giving!!! […]

continue reading

Preserve to Prosper: The Benefits of Farmland Preservation

October 27, 2023

Who benefits from farmland preservation other than the farm family? What does it mean for our community when farmland is protected forever? Here’s a look into what preserving farmland brings to our community…   Preservation Protects Our Soil Did you know that the soil beneath your feet is some of the best soil in America? […]

continue reading

Agricultural Artistry: A Short History of the Beloved Corn Maze

October 4, 2023

The fall season sparks many wonderful things here in Lancaster County. The leaves change, apples and pumpkins take over farm stands and markets, and the sweaters come out of storage. One of Pennsylvania’s most beloved traditions is the corn maze. Corn mazes are an excellent way for the public to support local farms and enjoy […]

continue reading

A Big Win For Lancaster County’s Iconic Landscape & Waterways

August 24, 2022

Today, Lancaster County Commissioners [the Commissioners] voted to approve $2.8 million of American Rescue Plan Act [ARPA] funding to two key partners who are focused on permanently protecting Lancaster County’s landscape, Lancaster Farmland Trust [LFT] and Lancaster Conservancy [the Conservancy]. The projects funded by this one-time investment of ARPA dollars will accelerate the Conservancy’s work […]

continue reading

Annual Report 2020

October 13, 2021

Click Here to View the Annual Report! Well… 2020 was quite a year, wasn’t it? And yet, despite it being troubling times, we continued to see a rise in farmers interested in preservation. You also witnessed that need and stepped up to support it. Together, we preserved 15 farms and 893 acres in 2020. We […]

continue reading

Lancaster Farmland Trust to debut its $7.5 million campaign

June 23, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2021 The “Honoring the Promise” campaign will save 50 family farms   LANCASTER, Pa. – With 50 farms on its waiting list, Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT) knew it had to do something to pick up the pace of preservation before those farms were lost forever. That’s why the nonprofit launched its […]

continue reading

LFT Publishes New Report on Farmland Preservation

June 17, 2021

Lancaster Farmland Trust is pleased to present a comprehensive report on farmland preservation. The report is a compilation of information to show trends and raise awareness and is not intended to be a research paper. Lancaster Farmland Trust hopes this report will re-ignite a conversation about farmland preservation – what we’ve accomplished so far and, […]

continue reading

LFT Awarded New Slate of Conservation Grants

January 26, 2021

Lancaster Farmland Trust is excited to announce that we’ve received funding for three new water conservation projects on Lancaster County farms. The first is a $640,947.00 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) through the Growing Greener Watershed Protection Program. This grant allows LFT to expand the work we have already done (through […]

continue reading

A Message from Lancaster Farmland Trust

June 17, 2020

Issued June 15, 2020   While our beautiful, productive farmland provides its bounty without prejudice, the incidents of the past few weeks have reminded us that inequities in our country and our community have often resulted in the unequal sharing of the bounty. Lancaster Farmland Trust’s mission is to protect farmland to provide food and […]

continue reading

A Day in the Life – Gordon Hoover

April 1, 2020

  Visits are scheduled when possible, but most times, you just show up unannounced due to lack of phone numbers, explains Gordon Hoover. He’s referring to his typical workday as the Agricultural Outreach Coordinator at Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT). As such, Gordon spends most of his days going door to door, or barn door rather, […]

continue reading

A Message from COO Jeff Swinehart

March 27, 2020

Click here to also watch a video message from LFT COO, Jeff Swinehart.   Dear friends, We are living in unprecedented times. Each day greets us with more challenges than the day before and more questions than answers. However, if we look for them, I believe we can also find new opportunities – to connect […]

continue reading

buy LOCAL – a list of farmer’s markets and roadside stands open now

March 26, 2020

Lancaster County is home to many Farmer’s Markets and even more roadside stands full of fresh-from-the-field items. Please be sure to review each vendor’s safety requirements before stopping by. Lancaster Central Market 23 North Market Street, Lancaster, PA The decision to sell at “Market” during this time is on a stand-by-stand basis. Check their Facebook […]

continue reading

Preserve + Conserve – Farmers Opting for Both

February 17, 2020

Levi was already thinking about the rundown house, the leaky barn roof, and the soggy cow pasture when his father sold the farm to him. A capable craftsman, Levi had plans to renovate the house – making room for his wife and their three children – and fixing the leaky barn roof. The soggy pasture, […]

continue reading

Preserved Tastes Better: a taste of Lancaster County

December 6, 2019

Lancaster County’s preserved farms offer beautiful views, clean air and water, and an exceptional quality of life. They also offer fresh foods for our community and our region. Our team rounded up a few of our favorite roadside stands, markets, and shops from our preserved farms. Check out the list below and be sure to […]

continue reading

Preserving the Balmer Farm

September 16, 2019

Kevin is a second-generation dairy farmer. He has concerns about farms like his passing through to the next generation of a family.

continue reading

Protecting Local Foods

July 13, 2019

Three and a half miles north of the center of Lititz, along Pennsylvania Route 501, drivers cross the bridge over Hammer Creek and find themselves driving through the middle of Mervin Weaver’s 70-acre farm.

continue reading

From Field to Classroom

June 14, 2019

Winter is a time when farmers have a bit of a break from the hustle of fieldwork and can make time for some education.

continue reading

New website, same LFT

April 9, 2019

We’re excited to have joined the 21st century with a shiny new website designed, just for us (and you)!

continue reading

stay up to date

Join our newsletter to keep informed about the latest news and events.