Why I am Donating My Farm to Farm Land Protection

Yesterday, I walked my farm and woodland with a person from the State Department of Agriculture to establish a "base-line" report of the property as a step in the farm protection donation process. So why am I doing this? Every day I have lived here, I have been spiritually inspired and thankful for my surroundings. I have been physically sustained by my garden and woodlot and the healthy life that comes with just getting on in the country. I have "lifted my eyes unto the hills for help". I would no sooner change my farm or sell it off to developers than I would ask the log church where I attend to put up a gas station on that lot. In our rapidly changing world, we are consuming our heritage, our nurturing land, our clean water, our sweet air. My Dad lived in Levittown for many years and when I would visit him there I was struck by the fact of how desolate and stale it felt seeing thousands upon thousands of crowded houses and dry yards and people in their cars driving madly about from one shopping center to the next having absolutely no contact with the natural world in their daily lives. His ashes and those of my mother rest upon my fields. It's simple really: if you were in heaven would you ask God to change the decor?

Martin, I am interested in learning more about donating land to farm land protection. Can you share some details about this process? Thanks.