In 2000 the Holland Family placed the 192 acre Iredell County farm on which they live under easement. Later, the Hollands would put their 324 acre cattle farm under easement. Both farms capture the spirit of conservation in the truest sense of the word. Not only have they been permanently preserved for generations to come, but the Holland family has taken the next step in conservation. With the assistance of their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) representative, both farms have been outfitted with the latest in agricultural conservation technology. From fenced out streams to gravity watering wells, the Holland Farm has it all.
NRCS District Conservationist Larry Hendrix remarked, “It truly has been a pleasure to work with the Holland Family in restoring their land to a healthier condition.”
Sitting just six miles above downtown Statesville, the Hollands are very aware of the northward trend of urbanization. “We have huge concerns about green space and tracts of land staying open,” Edie commented. “If you look around this community, you see a lot of farms being developed.”
Bucking the trend of urban sprawl is something the Hollands rightfully take great pride in. LandTrust executive director and Iredell County native Jason Walser observed, “The collective lands jointly protected by the Hollands and The LandTrust represents some of the finest land in our ten county region. Breathtaking views, large stands of old hardwoods serving as outstanding bird and wildlife habitat, miles of major river frontage, and the finest farm soils available make this one of our best protection projects to date.”
The conservation ethic demonstrated by the Holland Family is truly phenomenal. Having made land conservation a family tradition, the Hollands have single-handedly protected 516 acres of prime farmland – the new benchmark of private party conservation for Iredell County.