Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is excited to announce closing on a new conservation easement in Kent County. The easement, completed in conjunction with the U.S. Army and the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), protects an additional 191.668 acres of agricultural land with scenic value along MD-297 (Worton Road).

The grantors, Ed and Marian Fry, have now protected more than 750 acres of agricultural land via three conservation easements for their family-owned and operated Fair Hill Farm, an innovative dairy operation. When asked about their experience protecting their farm, Marian stated “we are so pleased to work with the Trust and the Conservancy to protect our farm, and delighted that these two organizations are working together to protect land in Kent County”.

This easement is number 296 for ESLC, which is on track to close its 300^th by the end of the calendar year.

Ed and Marian’s dedication to preserving and enhancing farmland, as well as to innovative, sustainable farm practices, is a prime example of conservation at work on the Eastern Shore. Eastern Shore Land Conservancy would like to thank the U.S. Army’s Compatible Use Buffer Program, which provided financial support for the completion of this project.

On Monday, June 24, Structural Preservation Systems began long-awaited renovations to the two street-facing smokestacks of the former Phillips Packing Company’s ‘Factory F’ – the most visible reminder of the canning operation that once employed thousands in Cambridge. Soon to be known as The Packing House, this 60,000 square foot warehouse has sat vacant and deteriorating for decades.

A revitalization project spearheaded by Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) and Baltimore’s Cross Street Partners, The Packing House will become an active, mixed use facility for office and food related innovation. The revitalization project aims to support and grow regional economic opportunities connected to agriculture, aquaculture, environmental technologies, and tourism – all of which make up the leading industries of the Eastern Shore.

“We are elated to share the start of the smokestack restoration,” shares ESLC’s Katie Parks. “Through funding support from the Department of Housing and Community Development, Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Cross Street Partners, and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, the long-awaited restoration ensures that this historic viewshed will be preserved.”

The repair and stabilization of the iconic 90’ smokestacks, scheduled to take approximately 80 days to complete, is “Phase 1” of the renovation project. Due to the fragile condition of the smokestacks, the project’s development team selected Structural Preservation Systems to complete the restoration – a firm recognized as the industry leader in developing innovative repair solutions for historical structures and the most challenging problems.

To remain up to date with the progress of The Packing House revitalization project, or for more information about the Phillips Packing Company and its historical significance within the Cambridge community, please visit thepackinghousecambridge.com.

NOTE:  Due to safety concerns please stay outside of the marked area. There will be a future press conference scheduled. In the meantime, do not hesitate to send any questions to the contacts above.

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit land conservation organization committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. More at www.eslc.org.

Want to get outside? Here it is – a fun and festive family-friendly event held on the permanently preserved Leigh Family Farm in Betterton, MD. Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s (ESLC) event aims to get anyone who loves the outdoors to join them on this Kent County waterfront property, complete with hiking trails, live music, birding walks, and views of the Chesapeake Bay.

LANDJAM will take place on Saturday, June 1st from 1 – 5pm. Tickets are priced for everyone to join in the fun – $25 for a family (up to 5), or $10 for an individual. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time online at www.eslc.org/events. The event is rain or shine.

To help celebrate a beautiful day on the farm, guests will be treated to live music by two of the Shore’s finest bands – the toe-tapping hillbilly boogie of The High and Wides; and the funk, jam rock, and soulful blues of Black Dog Alley. This celebration of the land will offer local foods, drinks, and wares, available for purchase from a variety of vendors marketing the bounties of their craft.

Fans of craft beer will enjoy Dogfishhead Brewing and Patriot Acres brews, while a selection of wines from Crow Vineyard will also be available for sale.

Many activities for land-lovers, such as guided birding walks, educational activities, truck tours of the farm, games, and much more will be offered to enhance appreciation of conservation, restoration, and ecology.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is a key artery that moves people and goods throughout the state, keeping Maryland’s heart pumping. Unfortunately, increased traffic has clogged that artery and continues to hurt Marylanders from the perspectives of business, quality of life, and more. From beach travelers to daily commuters, all would benefit from a suite of solutions reducing traffic congestion as soon as possible. Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) believes that now is the time to have that conversation.

Held on Thursday, April 18^th from 9am to 4pm and (fittingly) hosted at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club with the bridge as a backdrop, ESLC’s 19th Annual Planning Conference – Congestion Ahead: Rerouting… – will stimulate conversation around ways to reduce traffic congestion today. Through interactive panel discussions and keynote speakers, guests will leave with a better understanding of this regional issue and the possible solutions for traffic congestion.

Tickets for the affair are $55 ($25 students) and are available for purchase at www.eslc.org. Attendees will be treated to a delicious, locally sourced buffet, as well as a mindfulness session entitled “Meditation for Road Rage Relief”, courtesy of Easton’s Ebbtide Wellness.

“We encourage planners, commuters, and any resident concerned about this pressing issue to not sit on the sidelines while decisions regarding the future of transportation affecting the Chesapeake Bay region are being decided,” says ESLC’s Director of Communications David Ferraris. “This is your opportunity to learn more about all of the traffic mitigation concepts on the table – from high-speed toll lanes and potential mass transit options to creating tech-friendly workspaces where commuters can work remotely – there are solutions that can be incorporated now and we intend to focus on them.”

Speakers and panelists include regional decision makers from organizations such as Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Department of Commerce, Maryland Transit Administration, American Farmland Trust, engineering/infrastructure firm AECOM, and others.

The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) has released a new report to assist local governments plan for the impacts of sea level rise. Titled “Mainstreaming Sea Level Rise Preparedness in Local Planning and Policy on Maryland’s Eastern Shore,” the report is centered on sea level rise projections for the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in the years 2050 and 2100.

The report is available to view and download at www.eslc.org/resilience.

The sea level rise report was written on behalf of the Eastern Shore Climate Adaptation Partnership (ESCAP) – a regional workgroup of local government staff, partners from the State of Maryland, academic institutions, and nonprofits. The ESCAP assists communities in reducing climate vulnerabilities and risks; collects and shares information among communities and decision makers; and educates members, residents, and elected leaders on risks and adaptation strategies. It also serves to raise the visibility and voice of the Eastern Shore and rural regions in conversations about adaptation and resilience.

“This report is important for communities here on the Eastern Shore,” said Jim Bass, ESLC’s Coastal Resilience Specialist. “It describes hazards we need to adapt to, and it gives us a framework to plan for that adaptation.”

Mapping for the project was conducted by the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative (ESRGC) at Salisbury University. ESRGC developed maps to illustrate sea level rise and the impacts of flooding on Eastern Shore communities, including the estimated number of buildings flooded and the economic impact of flood damage.

The University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center used this information, along with best practices from communities nationwide, to develop recommendations for local governments to consider in their capital improvement planning. The goal of these recommendations is to keep tax-funded projects protected in the face of sea level rise.

Additionally, the Georgetown Climate Center used data from ESRGC, best practices, and stakeholder input to develop policy recommendations and model language for local governments to reference when rewriting codes and ordinances related to planned construction in floodplains and vulnerable coastal communities.

For more information regarding this study, ESCAP, or ESLC’s coastal resilience program, please contact ESLC Coastal Resilience Specialist Jim Bass at jbass@eslc.org or 410.690.4603 x156.

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit land conservation organization committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. More at www.eslc.org.

As a part of Preservation Maryland’s strategic efforts to save threatened historic places, the organization recently announced its fourth class of Six-to-Fix projects from around the state. The Phillips Packing House revitalization project, spearheaded by Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and Baltimore’s Cross Street Partners, is among them.

The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is tackling an ambitious project to rehabilitate and reuse the historic Phillips Packing Plant. Preservation Maryland will support the effort by identifying funding to support the critical repair of the iconic smokestacks and increasing public awareness of this important preservation project on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Preservation Maryland will host a fundraiser known as Phoenix Rising in support of these projects and the organization’s work across the state on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, also the location of an on-going preservation partnership with the Museum to save the WWII crane on their property.

The Six-to-Fix program, which continues to evolve and expand since its launch in 2015, now represents a diverse portfolio of projects from around the state where Preservation Maryland has assisted in supporting efforts to preserve threatened historic resources. From cultural landscapes on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to a WWII-era crane in Baltimore’s harbor, the program has succeeded in advancing preservation at dozens of sites around the state.

Previous year’s projects are also quickly becoming a repository of best practices and case studies for community preservation – providing local preservation groups around the state with opportunities to learn from their peers. A complete list of all 24 previous and current projects is maintained at sixtofix.org.

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit land conservation organization committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. More at www.eslc.org.

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) has announced that its annual gala, Party to Preserve, will be held on Saturday, October 27th from 4pm to 7pm at Chateau Bu-De Vineyard & Winery, Bohemia Manor Farm. Located on the Bohemia River in Chesapeake City, the 440-acre farm is truly one of the most beautiful spots in Cecil County with simultaneous water and vineyard views. Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.eslc.org or by calling ESLC directly at 410.690.4603, ext. 0.

Keeping with tradition, the event will be held on an Eastern Shore property in one of six counties (Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot) that has also been (at least partially) preserved under a conservation easement. Of interest to history buffs, the farm is also the historic property of Bohemian explorer, merchant, and cartographer Augustine Herrman, who hundreds of years ago produced a map of the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay in exchange for permission to establish the plantation. The remains of his original structure still stands in close proximity to the winery.

ESLC will also be celebrating and educating attendees about its newest initiative during the event. A Delmarva Oasis is the Conservancy’s most comprehensive initiative in its 28-year existence with a goal of protecting 50% of the Delmarva Peninsula by 2030. The proposal, which seeks to include the support and partnership of multiple conservation-based organizations and the local governments of three states, is a beginning of a discussion about the end game for conservation.

Party to Preserve ticket sales are already underway and selling steadily. Guests will enjoy sunset views over the Bohemia River and groove to the “straight-ahead, uncompromising cocktail music” of the Van Williamson Trio. Of course, the wine will be plentiful as will the delicious, locally sourced cuisine. ESLC will have shuttle service available for guests with pickup and drop-off in Easton and Chestertown.

Event sponsorships opportunities are still available. Please contact ESLC’s Manager of Outreach & Engagement, Julia Babbitt Williams, at jbabbitt@eslc.org or 410.690.4603 x171.