Your Leelanau Conservancy is still saving farmland under a high threat of conversion to development despite the ongoing pandemic. Two more iconic farms rooted in Leelanau County’s agricultural heritage have […]
Category Archives: Landowner Stories
Bernie Rink’s Boskydel Vineyard Lands Protected
Story by Carolyn Faught, Senior Writer for the Conservancy. (Feature photo by Mark Smith.) Before moving to Leelanau full time in 1987, my husband and I owned a tiny cottage […]
“Highest and Best Use” Philosophy Leads to Protection of 80-Acre Fleese Farm
For years, Cedar businessman Walter Jedena had long admired the Fleese Farm on the corner of French and Hohnke Roads. He had driven by it many times, always intrigued by […]
Living in Harmony with Beavers–Nature’s Ecosystem Engineers
Snow falls softly on the trees surrounding Carol Waters’ tiny cabin near Maple City as we wait for her to answer our knock. I have never met this 82-year-old woman, […]
Gallagher Family Protects Beloved Farmland
John Gallagher Jr. says that he and his family “have been blessed” to own more than 400 acres of breathtakingly gorgeous farmland in Leelanau’s Elmwood Township. Panoramic views from the […]
Moving From the City to the Swamp
Jen Superson and Trevor Smith were living in Brooklyn when a listing popped up on Zillow for a home with 35 acres near Cedar. The listing was so compelling that […]
74 Acres Protected Along Brewery Creek
Richard Swan grew up climbing trees and playing in the pristine stream on the land that has been owned by his family for the last 140 years. As an avid […]
A Natural Wonder: Omena Couple Protects Ecologically Rich 115 Acres
Ralph and Nancy Kalchik have been married for 62 years. They met at Northport High School and other than a few years away at MSU and an army stint for […]
Parker Family Protects Beloved Trout Stream
From our Fall 2018 Newsletter–At 87, Keith Parker shows no signs of slowing down. He’ll drive a combine for eight hours, harvesting corn that feeds his 120 head of beef […]
10 Years Later…What Happens After the Farm is Protected? A Q & A With Steve and Pam Bardenhagen
The back story: In 2008, Gary and Christi Bardenhagen preserved their 184-acre farm, which produces the much-celebrated local strawberries that are sold at area grocers and farmers markets. The farm […]
