A Community Committed to Preservation

Silver Spring Township in Cumberland County has taken a remarkable, forward-looking approach to land preservation. Thanks to a voter-approved referendum in 2013, a portion of the township’s earned income tax is dedicated exclusively to conserving farmland, forests, and open spaces. This funding enables the township to plan for the future of its community and actively support farmers who are ready to preserve their land.

When a landowner expresses interest, a township representative reaches out to a trusted partner – often Lancaster Farmland Trust, Natural Lands, or the Cumberland County Agricultural Land Preservation Board. Together, we meet with the farmer to discuss their goals and begin the preservation process. Silver Spring Township covers the costs of the easement, surveys, legal work, and staff time, and even provides stewardship funding to ensure each preserved farm is cared for forever.

This partnership model is powerful and now generates $1 million annually with the average household contribution being $120. It removes barriers for farmers, directs municipal resources toward lasting community benefit, and allows organizations like LFT to put our expertise to work to preserve more farmland. This approach in Silver Spring Township was made possible by a community dedicated to protecting local land so much that they initiated and passed a referendum.

As locals in Lancaster continue to worry about the future of land in their townships, approaches like this are a unique way to champion farmland preservation and support the protection of agriculture in our communities. With more resources funneled to land protection, LFT could preserve even more farms throughout Lancaster County – ensuring that farmland, clean water, and open space remain central to the community’s future.