(From press releases)

State Rep. Donna Scheuren announced the preservation of more land: A 16-acre fruit farm called Jersey Native in New Hanover Township.

Last week the state Agriculture Land Preservation Board voted to conserve 2,017 acres on 33 farms in 16 counties, protecting them from future residential or commercial development.

Including the farmland that was just selected in New Hanover Townsip, the state’s Farmland Preservation Program has secured 6,597 farms and 656,568 acres in 58 counties from future development across the commonwealth.

“This is more fantastic news for the people of the 147th District,” said Scheuren (R-Harleysville). “With Jersey Native Farm now protected, over 350 acres of farmland have now been preserved since I took office in 2023. Preserving farmland protects our open space and the majestic beauty of our community.”

The Jersey Native preservation will be 100 percent funded by the state of Pennsylvania, at a cost of $287,470.

Scheuren has helped preserve other farms and open space in the district.

In December 2023, she announced a 12-acrea crop and livestock farm on Allentown Road in Franconia Township would be preserved.  It was preserved with $902,031 from the state, $302,400 from Montgomery County and $216,000 from Franconia Township.

Last year, Scheuren congratulated the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania on finalizing a deal with Natural Lands, a conservation organization, to preserve 458 acres of land in Montgomery County operated by the Girl Scouts. The property is the single largest privately owned property in Montgomery County.

agreement, Montgomery County will receive two additional trails to be part of the existing Sunrise Trail and Swamp Creek Greenway to ensure public access to the land.

The total conservation easement cost came to $3.9 million. Of that sum, $2.7 million came from Montgomery County, $500,000 from the state DCNR (Department of Conservation and Natural Resources), $480,733 from New Hanover Township and $79,768 from Upper Frederick Township. Lastly, the remaining balance of $600,000-plus came from combined contributions from The Girl Scouts, Virginia Cretella Mars Foundation and Redekop Family Foundation at Everence.

In April, Scheuren announced three farms had been preserved:

  • The farm of Kirk Grater:  a 40-acre crop farm, located at 11 Smith Road, Schwenksville. A total of $518,836 was invested for this preservation, with $14,156 coming from the state and $504,680 coming from the county.
  • The farm of Gwinn Kent, a 19-acre equine farm, Tranquility Farm, located at 812 Perkiomenville Road, Perkiomenville. A total of $202,729.65 was invested for this preservation, with $8,129.65 coming from the state and $194,600 coming from the county.
  • The farm of Paul and Jacquelyn Wagner, an 84-acre crop farm, located at 855 Perkiomenville Road, Perkiomenville. A total of $568,149.15 was invested for this preservation, with $562,580.70 coming from the state and $5,568.45 coming from the county.

“Protecting open space across the entire district remains one of my biggest priorities,” said Scheuren.