From the Courier-Post

Oct. 23, 2007

Groups rally at Woolwich farm

By KRISTY DAVIES
Courier-Post Staff

WOOLWICH - Willard Eastlack hopes to retire one day, but he doesn't want to see his land built on or paved over.

On Monday, his 65-acre farm served as the backdrop for a rally by environmentalists and politicians to urge public support for a Nov. 6 referendum that would provide up to $200 million in state bonds to preserve farmland, wetlands and historic areas.

Eastlack, 60, said he applied to include his property in the farmland preservation program. But his application was rejected, he said, because of a lack of funds.
He said county officials have told him his farm will be considered for preservation when funding is available.

"Morally it's the right thing to do," Eastlack said as he stood outside his home and farm on Route 538. "I don't want to see open space disappear, traffic increase and have it paved over."

Eastlack, a potato farmer, is the last in his family to manage the farm, which is why he feels it's important to preserve it. He said his two married daughters have no interest in running the farm.

At Monday's gathering, several lawmakers, including state Sen. Stephen M. Sweeney, D-Gloucester, who is also the county freeholder director; Democratic Assemblymen Doug Fisher and John Burzichelli; and Woolwich Mayor Joe Chila pleaded for voters to approve the Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007, which will be Question No. 3 on the ballot.

"If this initiative doesn't pass, it will not be a pause," said Chris Jage of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, "it will be a loss."

Several environmental groups have formed the Keep it Green Campaign to help spread the word about the ballot question.

Gloucester County has preserved 12,000 acres of farmland and 2,350 acres of open space in 20 municipalities since the Gloucester County Land Preservation program began in 2006.

"People don't realize how much land is lost," Sweeney said. "Some land may be a farm now, but they already have approval for houses to be built."

Herb Wegner of the Garden State Preservation Trust said it isn't only about preserving farmland, but about preserving the industry itself and the outside industries that support farming in New Jersey.

Open space and farmland also helps to preserve water by keeping areas natural, said Suzanne McCarthy, president of the South Jersey Land and Water Trust board.

"We're at one of the most critical times to preserve land before we have ourselves paved over," said Fisher.

"This is not a partisan issue, it's a generational issue," Burzichelli said. "If we preserve it today it will cost less down the line."

Eastlack and his wife, Patricia, said they will continue to farm the land until they are unable to do it any longer.

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