Frequently Asked Questions

I would like to visit an OSALT site. When can I drop by, do I need to call first, and how do I get there?

Visits to any OSALT site should be arranged ahead of time. To find out how to make an appointment, check the sites information page, or contact us.

What does OSALT mean by sustainable agriculture?

Agriculture is the intentional attemptg by humans to influence whatgrows where, when..

Agriculture is not a “natural system”. That is not to denigrate agriculture or to intimate that humans should cease managing the growth of plants and animals. It simply means that agriculture is an imposed human system which does not have the unaided checks and balances found in natural systems, so humans must take responsibility for managing the dynamic balance of the system.

Since that introduction 10,000-12,000 years ago we have failed to manage that balance. We have slowly but systematically left behind land which is unsuitable or highly marginal for use in agriculture. We know many methods of producing food, fiber and building materials which degrade and deplete the land. This is the opposite of sustainability.

Sustainable agriculture is a system of agriculture which, over many generations, does not degrade the soil, air or water. We do not yet know how to produce our agricultural products in ways that do not. But we do know methods which are less destructive to land and natural systems. OSALT’s work is to help find agricultural methods which move us closer to sustainability.

What do you mean by “environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically practical”
Environmentally sound agriculture is agriculture which, over many generations, does not degrade the soil, air or water.

Socially equitable agriculture does not exploit those who produce, process, distribute or sell agricultural products. This exploitation is at the heart of current agricultural practices which are all focused on providing low-cost food.

Economically sound agriculture takes into account the basic fact that a farmer attempting to use more ecologically sound and socially equitable methods who does not make enough money to pay for the mortgage and other necessities of life will not farm for long.

Why do you list economics as one of the criteria? Isn’t that just an excuse to justify whatever exploitation of resources you care to do?

Economics can be used to justify anything. That doesn’t mean they should never be considered, just that economic factors should be examined very carefully. See the answer above.

Who would want to give their land to OSALT?

OSALT can assure donors that any land donated to OSALT will be held in perpetuity as agricultural land, and used for research and education into sustainable agriculture.

So, a person who has land which they want to make sure stays in agriculture, but who has no one they feel they can pass it on to, or sell to, and feel sure it will stay in agricultural use, may find it best to donate it to the Trust.

Since there can be a substantial tax benefit to donating land to OSALT, others may wish to donate land they have no need for, as a beneficent gesture and to gain the tax advantages.

Two notes: 1) Donors can donate land to the Trust and remain on that land for the remainder of their lives. 2) While OSALT has as a basic principle that it will not sell land, there are two exceptions: if the donor gives property to OSALT with the clear desire that OSALT sell the property to raise money for other OSALT purposes, or if some branch of government legally forces the sale of property (in which case OSALT has no choice).

My land is my kids inheritance. But if I give them the land when I die, they’ll just sell it to some developer, which I don’t want - I want my land kept in agricultural use. Can OSALT help?

Depending on your particular situation, there are several ways to donate land to OSALT and still have the value of the land go to your children on your death. OSALT is happy to discuss these possibilities with you and your financial planner.

Would OSALT like to buy my land?

Until the endowment is large enough to generate adequate income for land purchase, OSALT has no money to purchase land. However, it is possible to organize a fundraising campaign to purchase a particular property. There are some important things potential donors should know, though. Contact OSALT for more information.

Why not use a “conservation easement” instead of giving away my land?

Conservation easements are a popular way to lower the market value of your land while keeping the right to live on it or to sell it. If your main concern is to lower taxes, a conservation easement is probably a good solution. If your goal is to be certain that the land will stay in agricultural use, a conservation easement may not do it. First, conservation easements usually simply transfer the development rights for the property to someone else, with the understanding they they will never develop the land. There is some debate about how binding and for how long, in future political climates, these easements will be effective. OSALT does not hold conservation easements.

There is also the problem of policing: what if some future owner decides to develop it and the organization holding the easement doesn’t (or can’t afford to) enforce the restriction? If you think that’s far-fetched, understand that more and more government bodies are accepting conservation easements. How well, and how evenly, do you feel the government enforces existing building restrictions? Who has the resources to take them to court?

On the other hand, one of OSALT’s three main purposes is to protect agricultural lands and to keep them in production, In addition, OSALT needs those lands to conduct research. And having land available for future generations of growers is critical to OSALT’s central purposes, If that weren’t enough reason for OSALT to keep every parcel of its land, while most of the research anticipated by OSALT will yield useable results in a few years, much of it will take many decades, if not centuries, to conclude. It is almost never possible to switch a research project from one parcel of land to another without having to start all over. OSALT would be defeating its own purposes to sell land.

Why not give my land to a national conservation organization like The Nature Conservancy?

The Nature Conservancy is an excellent organization. They have protected a great deal of land throughout the world. They are one of many similar organizations who do great work in protecting land and preserving ecological systems.

But their mission is not the same as OSALT’s. Generally, their mission is the preservation of ecologically or biologically critical lands. This means that they will sometimes sell properties they feel are less important to protect in order to raise money to purchase other property which they feel is more critical. There is nothing deceptive in this - they tell potential donors what their priorities are. It’s just that their purpose is not the protection and use of agricultural lands. If you give your land to one of these organizations , expecting them to protect and honor it, you may later find they have sold it. If protecting your particular piece of land is not as important to you as simply helping a good organization protect critical habitat, this will not be a problem for you.

The purpose of OSALT IS the protection of agricultural lands and their active use in research and education for developing the sustainable production and distribution of food, fiber and building materials. If you want your land to stay in agriculture, as far as we know, OSALT is the only organization that will promise to keep your land, never to sell it.

I want to become a farmer/rancher/forester. Can OSALT teach me how?

OSALT offers many classes which deal with the specifics of growing commercially. If you have some experience growing crops or raising animals and simply want to know more about the other aspects of starting and/or running a commercial agriculture operations you should look into our “Successful Small Farming” course. Taught once each Winter, this eight day series usually runs eight Saturdays in a row. For more information take a look at the short description on this web site at Education, then send us an e-mail to get on the notification list for the next series.

How do I become a grower/researcher?

When OSALT has land available we will post it on this web site. If you want to be notified, send an e-mail  to that effect. Include an e-mail address that will be good for the longest possible time.

How can I get on some OSALT land?

Only grower/researchers live on OSALT properties. See the response to ”How do I become a grower/researcher?”

Can I come by and talk to you about how to become a farmer/rancher/forester?

OSALT offers classes (see the response to “I want to become a farmer/rancher/forester. Can OSALT teach me how?”) and, if you have the proper experience, you may want to become a grower/researcher (see the response to “How do I become a grower/researcher?”). And please see the answer to “I would like to visit an OSALT site. When can I drop by, do I need to call first, and how do I get there?”