The Last Green Valley Establishes Headquarters at Eastern's Historic Church Farm
Will Trzaski | News Editor
The Last Green Valley, a nonprofit organization focused on preserving the natural, historic and cultural resources of eastern Connecticut and south-central Massachusetts, has established its headquarters at Church Farm through a partnership with Eastern Connecticut State University and the ECSU foundation.
Announced Oct. 8, the partnership beings the organization to the historic property in Ashford while maintaining access for Eastern Students and faculty to conduct educational and research activities at the location.
Church Farm encompasses 110 acres of forest, meadows and a man-made pond that provide opportunities for scientific research and field-based learning. The property has served as a research site for Eastern's biology and environmental earth science programs, allowing students to study the natural environment outside the classroom.
One example is SPARCnet, the Salamander Population and Adaptation Research Collaboration Network, a regional research effort led by the U.S. Geological Survey. Eastern students participate in recurring field surveys at Church Farm through courses including ecology, population and community ecology, and vertebrate biology. The university's biology department also documents student volunteer participation in the project.
The property's history extends beyond its current educational role. The farm remained in the Church Family from the early 1800s until Joseph and Dorothy Church Zaring donated the land to the ECSU foundation in 2007. The property's house, built in 1821, and barn, built in 1895, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor encompasses 35 towns across eastern Connecticut and south-central Massachusetts. The nonprofit works to preserve the region's natural and cultural resources while connecting residents and visitors with its history and landscape.
According to the organization's mission statement, approximately 84% of the corridor consists of forest and farmland. Its work includes conservation, community engagement and efforts to sustain the region's heritage for future generations.
The partnership was inspired by Tim White, and Eastern alumnus from the Class of 1981 and a member of the ECSU Foundation Board of Directors. White recognized an opportunity for collaboration among the university, its foundation and the nonprofit.
Eastern President Karim Ismaili said in the university's announcement that the agreement would allow the university's educational and research activities to continue while bringing together organizations with shared interests in education, environmental preservation, and community engagement.
Under the arrangement, The Last Green Valley will maintain an active organizational presence at Church Farm while helping support the property's maintenance, sustainability and public benefit. The partnership also supports the ECSU Foundation's responsibility to manage the property while advancing the university's mission.
The arrangement establishes a new use for Church Farm while preserving its existing educational role. How the partnership develops over time will determine the extent to which the shared property creates additional opportunities for the university, the nonprofit and the surrounding community.
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