FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 13, 2010

CONTACT:

Clem Clay, The Trust for Public Land, 413-253-6686, Clem.Clay@tpl.org

Wayne Feiden, City of Northampton, 413-587-1265, wfeiden@northamptonma.gov

Lilly Lombard, Grow Food Northampton, 413-584-0081,

info@growfoodnorthampton.com

Allard, Bean Farms Conserved

The Trust for Public Land purchases farms; City and State take ownership;

Grow Food Northampton continues fundraising to own and manage portion

of farms

NORTHAMPTON, MASS. (Dec. 13) The Trust for Public Land announced the
successful purchase and permanent protection of two farm properties along the Mill
River in the Florence section of Northampton, Mass., concluding more than a year of
efforts to conserve the Allard and Bean properties and clearing a path to a final set
of transactions in early 2011.

In a series of real estate transactions on December 1 and December 13, The Trust
for Public Land (TPL), a national conservation organization, partnered with local and
state governments to achieve permanent protection of 181 acres in the Florence
section of Northampton. TPL purchased the 44-acre Bean Farm and the 136-acre
Allard Farm, sold 35 acres of floodplain forest for a new greenway and 24 acres on
Meadow Street for new recreation fields to the City of Northampton, and conveyed
an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) on the remaining 121 acres so that
they will remain farmland forever.

"This is a remarkable win-win-win for the City of Northampton to protect and

enhance outstanding agricultural, recreational, and environmental benefits, and to
help farmers produce food locally for our citizens," said Clem Clay, TPL's
Connecticut River program director. "TPL is proud to have played our part in
conserving this Connecticut River valley gem and we thank the City of
Northampton, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Bean and Goulet families,
and the engaged citizenry whose persistence is paying off in the fulfillment of an
ambitious vision."

The conservation of the two farms stems from a 2009 City-brokered agreement to
purchase the Bean Farm at a price of $910,000 for recreational and/or agricultural
conservation. The Bean Farm Task Force was created to resolve heated local
debates over the optimal use of that farm for public benefit. It was expanded and
renamed the Bean-Allard Farm Task Force after TPL negotiated a purchase
agreement with the Goulet family in January, also making the abutting 136-acre
Allard Farm available for conservation at a price of $1,550,000. The conveyances
reflect a widely supported compromise to balance continued local farming with
expanded recreational fields and protection of important ecological resources.

Ten percent of the funding for the $1,135,000 APR came from the Northampton's
Community Preservation Committee, and the remainder was secured from the
Agricultural Preservation Restriction program of the Massachusetts Department of
Agricultural Resources. MDAR expects half of the APR investment to be reimbursed
by the federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program through a cooperative
agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources
Conservation Service.

"Under the leadership of Governor Patrick, Massachusetts has preserved more than
72,000 acres as farmland, parks, and wildlife habitat," said Energy and
Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles. "This achievement was made possible
in partnership with local officials, community groups and land trusts like The Trust
for Public Land, who work with us each day to preserve open space and protect our
natural resources for future generations."

"State investments in the permanent protection of agricultural land preserves our

working landscapes and the farm businesses that generate $500 million in sales
annually," said Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Scott Soares.
"We are proud to be a strong partner with The Trust for Public Land, Grow Food
Northampton and the city of Northampton, and applaud their commitment to this
project."

The city's proposed Florence Fields-the athletic fields complex, including five multi-
sport fields and two baseball diamonds-would be adjacent to protected farmland on
the north side of Meadow Street. Funding to acquire the recreation land came from
Northampton's Community Preservation Committee and a grant from the
Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services that also funds a detailed design of
the ball field complex.
The final piece of the puzzle is the acquisition for the Northampton Conservation
Commission of all of the forested land along the Mill River, funded entirely by the
Northampton Community Preservation Committee. This land adds to the Mill River
Greenway, which consists of a number of parcels along the Mill River from Leeds to
Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, including two parcels donated by the Bean family last
spring as part of their commitments to the City. The public will enjoy access to
riverside trails and fishing, and may access the greenway from the Florence Fields
complex, thanks to a public right of way across a thin strip of the farmland.

"This collaborative effort adds one mile to the Mill River Greenway, protects the
largest remaining unprotected farmland outside of the meadows, adds desperately
needed recreation opportunities at Florence Fields, and provides additional
community gardens. In terms of meeting agriculture, open space and recreation
needs, it doesn't get any better than this," said Wayne Feiden, Northampton's
Director of Planning and Development.

This series of transactions leaves TPL holding only the APR-protected farmland,
which it must sell to a farmer or farming organization. In September, TPL signed a
sale agreement with the local non-profit Grow Food Northampton (GFN) to purchase
up to all four of the assessor's parcels that make up the 121-acre APR. GFN's plan is
to lease the land to organic farmers and gardeners who will grow food for local
consumption. GFN has raised $565,000 in pledges, grants, and donations, out of a
total campaign budget of $670,500, leaving it well positioned to purchase at least
three parcels, and with strong potential to purchase all four parcels at a cost of
$585,000. Until December 31st, all donations to Grow Food Northampton up to
$10,000 will be matched 2:1 by Easthampton Savings Bank and an anonymous
individual.

"A year ago, we couldn't have imagined a better outcome for this land," said Lilly
Lombard of Grow Food Northampton. "I am honored to have worked with so many
dedicated individuals and agencies in the preservation of this precious resource."

The lands have roots in history too. Sojourner Truth, then a member of the local
Northampton Association of Education and Industry, farmed the land in the 19th
century. The City is planning to install interpretive signs and considering nominating
the property to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to
conserving land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and natural areas. Since its
founding in 1972, TPL has helped to protect more than 2.8 million acres nationwide,
including nearly 13,000 acres in Massachusetts. TPL depends on the support and
generosity of individuals, foundations, and businesses to achieve its land for people
mission. Learn more: tpl.org/massachusetts

The City of Northampton's open space objectives, identified in its Open Space,
Recreation and MultiUse Trail Plan, include permanently preserving prime farmland
and a viable farming economy, preserving a greenway along the Mill River from
Leeds to Downtown Northampton, meeting the recreation needs of the community,
and preserving sensitive land from inappropriate development that will damage the
environment and Northampton's tax base. Visit www.NorthamptonMA.gov/opd/

Grow Food Northampton's mission is to promote food security by advancing

sustainable agriculture in the Northampton, Massachusetts area. Learn more about
the Northampton Community Farm: growfoodnorthampton.com