Sam and Eleanor Morris the pioneers of Chester County conservation

By: Bill Rettew, Daily Local News Article

I recently interviewed a politician who referred to Crebilly Farm in Westtown as “barren.”

Although I’ve only viewed Crebilly Farm from the road, I know what I see, and the place is gorgeous and anything but barren. What in the world was that guy thinking?

Though no crops will be grown here, Crebilly certainly deserves preservation as a park. Many are hard at work with that in mind.

But, there are so many extra special farms in Chester County worth saving from bulldozers. One of the beautiful farms preserved is Lundale Farm.

I recently had the opportunity to visit and tour the 560-acre farm in South Coventry Township. Wow!! Is an understatement. Nothing barren about this place, either. Viewing this productive, rolling farmland is a joy. Seeing this place up close lets us know what we’ve lost to urban sprawl.

Part of the preserved property was the dairy farm of Sam and Eleanor Morris. Sam was a longtime state representative and was known as the “Father of Agricultural Land Preservation in the United States.” Both Sam and Eleanor were described as “conservationists” when few Chester County residents knew just exactly what that meant. They donated a conservation easement for land preservation in 1976.

Sam was a mover behind some of the state’s conservation programs. Eleanor outlived her husband and was an outspoken advocate of conservation throughout the county. She was “not a gadfly” at public meetings and “she knew what she was talking about,” according to Lamb McErlane attorney and preservationist Vince Pompo, the president of the board of Lundale Farm, Inc. the non-profit that owns the farm.

The couple donated the land with trail access from both the French Creek and Horseshoe trails, which criss-cross the farm. Now Lundale farmers grow crops organically and sustainably on the protected and preserved land.

The non-profit property partners with the French and Pickering Creek Trust which holds a conservation easement over the entire property. The National Trust for Historic Places has an easement over several historic buildings on the property.

A springhouse, which was the first building built on the property, likely housed the farm’s first residents until a house was built in in the 1790s. Farmers now live in five homes on the property.

Horseshoe Ranch raises poultry on the property. Pasture Song Farm keeps free range chickens and grows flowers. The woman-run Kneehigh Farm grows organic vegetables.

A Community Supported Agriculture, or a CSA, also works the land. I toured the fledgling French Creek Organic Cider Orchards that sits on about 10 acres. All those young trees! Hay is also grown at the farm.

“If you know you can sell your commodity at a price that can exceed costs, you can make a living at doing this,” Pompo said. “It’s a marvelous way to save open space.”

Becki Patterson is executive director of Lundale Farm and said its mission is to continue with sustainable, regenerative farming.

“Using sustainable and organic methods gives back to the soil,” she said. “It’s healthy, instead of just raising soy and corn and treating with chemicals.

“It’s an ecological wonderland for the community.”

Education is big at the farm. School children take part in the “Do I look like a farmer?” program.

“We are breaking stereotypes,” Patterson said. “There are no overalls and there are women farmers.

“Kids learn about seasonal foods, the importance of supporting local growers and get to know that food doesn’t just come from the supermarket.”

Pompo is pleased that not all farmers at the property come from farming families, with several who specifically chose the farming industry.

“All of our farmers are relatively young and are raising their families here,” Pompo said, “We are growing families.

“It’s a great way to grow up!”

I grew up in a subdivision that once was a farm. On two sides of our development were corn fields, a woods was at one side and in front was a real, honest-to-goodness pumpkin patch.

It’s all been developed.

We need open space to escape to. Yes, we need houses and Chester County is suffering from its own desirability.

So many people skipped dinner and stayed up late to join in the fight to save Crebilly. Those are real conservationists. Lundale is a perfect example of the benefits of preserving what’s left of our iconic Chester County farms.

Thank you Sam and Eleanor Morris for leading the way.

Bill Rettew is a weekly columnist and Chester County native. He’d rather walk on dirt than concrete. The best way to reach him is at brettew@dailylocal.com

Vince is a partner and chairman of the Firm’s Municipal Law Department and the Environmental Law Practice Group. His practice areas include municipal, land use and environmental law. He also serves as township solicitor for a number of Chester County municipalities. Vince is president of the Board of Directors of Lundale Farm, Inc.

Click here to read the article in the Daily Local News online.