Cultivating conservation: Waterloo Farm balances healthy crops with environmental focus
EAST NEW MARKET, Md. – Tucked away on a back road in East New Market, you’ll find Waterloo Farm. Thursday, the scenic spot served as an example for lawmakers of how farming and conservation can be balanced.
Farming With a Focus
27 years ago, Skip and Barbara Watson purchased Waterloo Farm. Their vision: produce grain like soybeans, sorghum, and corn, while creating a rich habitat for native flora and fauna.
“I bought this property, and wanted to turn it into a conservation area, hunting preserve, and preserve the land eventually. We have done that,” Skip told 47 ABC WMDT.
Over the years, Skip and Barbara have installed 13 impoundment ponds on the property, and put a special focus on the wildlife and plants that live there; giving way to blooming biodiversity.
“We have frogs, we have all sorts of bird life,” said Barbara. “The house was built in 1842. So, a lot of them are original trees. A lot of them look like ghost trees. We have, like, a nursing home for old trees. There’s also mulberry trees here that were planted by the colonials. And, we try to keep a diversity for the wildlife.”
Creating Conservation
In 2019, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) identified the Watsons’ farm for conservation under the U.S. Navy’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program; also, as a match to a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant. That eventually led to the Watsons obtaining a land easement in 2021, allowing them to preserve the property forever.
Meanwhile in 2020, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen helped to bring the Chesapeake WILD Program into law. “The monies are being put to really good work, protecting ecosystems, protecting wildlife. We’ve gone from a starting point of about $3.5 million last year. We’re seeking about $8.5 million this year,” Sen. Van Hollen said.
Setting an Example
Thursday, the Watsons gave Sen. Van Hollen of Maryland an up close look at those efforts.
“It’s a great example of how you can farm, and that can coexist with very good conservation practices,” Sen. Van Hollen remarked. “My big takeaway is how we can work together – farmers and others – to make sure that we can protect the treasure that is the Chesapeake Bay.”
And, while the Waterloo Farm is not officially a part of the Chesapeake WILD Program, the Watsons’ efforts will be used as a model for projects that are part of the program across Dorchester County. The ESLC will be leaders in those future efforts, with a grant from the Chesapeake WILD Program.
“The Watsons had the foresight to say, ‘We want to protect this beautiful property, and see it as a farm, see it as waterfowl habitat. We want water quality protection, and we don’t want to see it as houses,’” said Director of Land Conservation for ESLC, David Satterfield. “We will be promoting conservation that is somewhat focused on wildlife habitat; specifically, thinking about the future of wildlife habitat, and where things are going to move as Dorchester County continues to deal with sea level rise challenges.”
Cultivating Positive Change
Sen. Van Hollen says he’s already thinking about how even more farmers, like the Watsons, can get involved, and make a big impact.
“There are lots of landowners here on the Eastern Shore that want to put their land into these programs, to protect their land, to protect the Bay. I’m glad we launched the WILD program. Now, we need to get even more resources,” said Sen. Van Hollen. “By protecting wetlands, you can also create those buffer zones that both protect the Bay from pollutants running off; but also, present more fast erosion.”
“We all have to take a step,”
Until then, Skip encourages other farmers to do their part: incorporate ponds, lift up combines a bit more to protect nesting bugs, think twice about which chemicals are being used, and install natural plant perimeters and buffers. Skip, and avid hunter, also hopes that others set a good example for young ones just learning how to responsibly hunt. He says hunting is a huge help when it comes to conservation.
Meanwhile, the Watsons say this recognition feels like an earmark of their life’s work. “It just fulfills our goals of what we wanted to do. It reinforces it,” said Barbara. “We all have to take a step, do the best we can, and keep it as natural as we can for the future, and our children.”
But, they know that their example is only the beginning. “If we could see some more land put in preservation through this, that would be just wonderful,” Skip added.
