Flowe Property Conserved in Cabarrus County
“Despite his artistic pretentions, his sophistication, and many accomplishments, man owes his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.” – Anonymous
In North Carolina, agriculture and agribusiness account for one-sixth of the state’s economy and employees, and more than 17 percent, or $84 billion, of the $482 billion gross state product. It is no wonder then, that we view farmland preservation as important to the future of our state. Recognizing that importance, The LandTrust for Central North Carolina ensures farmland preservation continues in the central Piedmont by working with local farmers to protect these special properties. In December, one such farm was added to that list.
Often, we inseparably hitch our lives to a special place that becomes more like family than a spot on a map. Memories attach to that place, etching that sense of belonging in our hearts. For Jim Flowe, his special place is a 52-acre family farm in Cabarrus County. Many years before him, his grandparents, Justin and Audie Flowe, ran a successful dairy farm on this property. They also raised a family there. Jim’s daddy, aunt, and uncle were all born in the stately 1920s-built home still located on the farm. It is that very same house that became Jim’s childhood home. Today, Jim’s son farms his great-grandfather’s land that he, himself worked nearly a century ago. Four generations of Flowe’s have called the same beloved land their home and, on December 21, 2016, Jim took steps to continue their legacy and placed the 52 acres under easement, protecting it forever.
Jim states that his granddaddy always wanted his farm to remain a farm and that he would be proud that his family fullfilled that wish by placing the property under easement. For Jim, he says protecting his farm was a “win-win situation” for him and his family. The land remains undeveloped, but it is those memories forged in the fields and pine stands that conjure strong sentimental value. “It makes [me] feel proud to know that for generations to come there will be no housing developments and no supermarkets. There won’t be anything but beef cattle, row crops, and pine trees.”
Inevitably, the world shifts and changes at a pace that often is hard to comprehend. We often lose those special places that hold not only our memories, but are crucial to our way of life. We at The LandTrust would like to thank Jim Flowe and his family for protecting their special place and for conserving a little piece of the Piedmont for generations to come.