GARDINER – The Gardiner Town Board passed a resolution at the Town Board meeting on May 11, to raise $50,000 as Gardiner's share of the Open Space Institute's bid to gain an agricultural easement for the Kiernan Farm on Bruynswick Road.

"This was a great step forward in the preservation of open space in Gardiner," said Town Supervisor Joe Katz. "Especially of farmland. And we've done so much on the mountain, but not in the valley."

Marty Kiernan's 140 acre grass fed cattle farm is, in fact, a historic site.

"Gertrude Bruyn purchased the land right next door from the Indians in 1684," says Mr. Kiernan. "Thomas Lloyd, bought a contingent piece of land, which this farm was part of. Soon after, Lloyd sold it, and it ended up with a gent name Tenoudt. Then he married Gertrude Bruyn. They had no children together, but she had three from a prior marriage. When Tenoudt died, this was part of the Jacobus Bruyn estate."

These two "Indian purchases" are unusual says, Mr. Kiernan.

"After the British defeated the Dutch and took over the Hudson Valley, land was deeded or sold in King's Patents.

"This farm has been continually farmed since then, and is the longest farmed location in the valley."

Laura Keslosky, of the Open Space Institute, explained that of the total $880,000 that was needed for this project, $440,000 would come from a grant from the Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.

"It's from the Farm and Ranchland Preservation Program," she said. "It will set up a Conservation Easement, a document that runs with the land, between the owner and the OSI, and set up for the purpose of preserving the land as a farm."

The deal will prevent further subdivision, so this parcel would forever remain 140 acres.

"It sets forth types of uses," said Keslosky, "agriculture and residential, not commercial."

As residential, however, it would be for a single home.

The Gardiner Town Board's resolution did not mention increased taxes. It said the $50,000 would be raised by private donations and other means over a three year period.

"The property will stay on the tax rolls," said Joe Katz.

The Town Board, Joe Katz, Warren Wiegand, Carmine Mele and Rich Koenig (Nadine Lemon was away on business) voted unanimously to approve the resolution.