Aquidneck Island Land Trust Secures 13 Acres of Historic Vineyard
A piece of Rhode Island’s agricultural heritage is now protected for future generations. The Aquidneck Island Land Trust has successfully conserved 13 acres of Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth, safeguarding it as open space and farmland.
The conservation easement, announced on February 11, is a team effort according to the Aquidneck Island Land Trust, as The Rhode Island Agricultural Land Preservation Commission and vineyard owners Bill and Nancy Wilson partnered with the Land Trust. A significant grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service helped make it happen.
Bill and Nancy Wilson, who own Greenvale Vineyards, are thrilled with the outcome.
“We are so pleased to have established this portion of our farm to be forever farmed and remain open space. Open space and farming are critical to the Island’s future and an important component of our mission at Greenvale,” said the Wilsons. “After we purchased the land in 2003 to keep it a farm, we learned that the land was used by Aaron Lopez as a vineyard in the 1760’s. It is amazing to think that we are growing grapes on the same land 255 years later! Thank you to the Land Trust, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service for their support!”
The protected land sits along Wapping Road and has a rich history of farming. It’s part of a larger vineyard stretching to the Sakonnet River and connects to other protected areas in the Sakonnet Greenway.
Terry Sullivan, who heads the Aquidneck Island Land Trust, points out the importance of this move.
“We have some of the best farming soils in the state here on Aquidneck Island, yet our farms are under tremendous development pressure. The state has lost 80% of its farmland since the 1940s.” said Sullivan. “Our island’s working farms are essential to our economy and community. We are thrilled to work with our partners and the Wilsons to save this important tract of farmland on scenic Wapping Road.”
Interestingly, the Wilsons discovered their land has a viticultural past dating back to the 1760s, when Aaron Lopez used it as a vineyard.
Terry Gray from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management emphasizes the long-term impact, saying, “”The conservation easement on this 13-acre property guarantees that it will remain protected open space for generations to come. The DEM is dedicated to supporting Rhode Island’s working farms, especially one with such a rich history as Greenvale Vineyards. Working farms are disappearing across the country, so it’s vital that Rhode Island acknowledges and supports the essential role these farms play in our economy”.
Since its start in 1990, the Aquidneck Island Land Trust has been busy. They’ve now conserved 102 properties, totaling 2,854 acres. That’s 12% of Aquidneck Island’s total area – a significant chunk of land saved from development.
