Gatherings on the Martin Farm property in blistering heat, (95 degrees), partially offset by a brisk breeze, members of the Martin family, town and county officials, representatives of the Genesee Land Trust and members of the town Farmland and Open Space Committee dedicated a historical marker in Parma commemorating the purchase of an agricultural conservation easement. As Gay Mills, Executive Director of the Genesee Land Trust, stated: “The town did a great job in making this an option. We in the Land Trust want to see this continue to happen. Thanks to the voters in Parma.” Dave Martin, owner of the farm, said: “I’ve been working this farm a long time. My dad bought it in 1920-21. Hopefully, my son will be farming after me. We want farming to continue in New York State. We need farmers to feed the world.”
The Martin Farm was, at one time, the home farm of the Martin family, a family that has been farming in Parma and surrounding properties for generations.
This is the first conservation easement secured under Parma’s Agricultural and Farmland Protection plan, adopted by the town board in April 2009. Preservation of the Martin Farm property was made possible through funding from Monroe County’s Green Space Initiative grant program. The required local matching funds were the subject of a referendum in which town residents voted 3-1 in favor of spending their local tax dollars to begin preserving Parma’s rural and agricultural character.
