Lindale Farm ~ 107 acres, Guilford County

Frances Austin.  Donation of Conservation Easement.

“My legacy to my children and my community is to leave this one small piece of land.”  ~ Frances Austin

Situated on the Deep River in the city limits of High Point, Lindale Farm was attractive for development and Frances Austin knew that estate taxes would make it difficult to pass the farm onto her children.  She was looking for a flexible tool that would enable her children to inherit the land and by so doing preserve the memories she and they shared of hiking in the woods, fishing in the pond, and working the family’s dairy herd.  She approached the founders of PLC in 1990 and after countless discussions and meetings, donated a conservation easement to PLC in December of 1995.  The donation of this easement was an historic moment for PLC as it was PLC’s first conservation easement.  In 2004, when Frances passed away her dream of having her children be able to continue to own the farm that had been in the family since the early 1900s was achieved because she had donated a conservation easement almost a decade before.  PLC is honored to have played a role in helping Frances make her dream of leaving a natural legacy a reality.

This project addresses all four project themes – farmland, natural heritage, water resources, and urban natural areas -- on which PLC focuses.  Through the terms of the easement the agricultural soils are protected as is the wildlife habitat provided by its open fields and forested slopes along the Deep River.  Also, the easement sets limits on subdivision of the property as well as prohibits non-agricultural development so the open space character is also protected. 

Project funding provided by the landowner and PLC.

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