MOHONK – "It's rare that you have the opportunity to protect 857 acres of prime Ulster County farmland in one fell swoop." So said Bob Anderberg of the Open Space Institute after news had been released of an historic agreement between OSI and the Smiley Brothers Incorporated (SBI), the family business that owns and operates the majestic Mohonk Mountain House.

The land in question lies at the base of the Shawangunk Ridge, on the eastern side. There are hundreds of acres of open fields, forested hillsides, and parts of the original system of carriage roads that were built for the Mohonk Mountain House in Victorian times.

"The primary goal was to protect this landscape, which is one of the most beautiful in the region," said Bert Smiley. "Our objectives were firstly, to retain open space for recreational use by the public; secondly, for education, as a historical site; thirdly, for environmental research, and to continue sustainable farming at Brook Farm."

"The family wanted to be sure that this property was never developed," Smiley added. "We felt that at this time, OSI and eventually Mohonk Preserve, who will manage the land, would be in a stronger position to ensure this than SBI."

Anderberg said, "I think the Smiley family always thought that preservation of the land was of the utmost importance. But, this was a good time to carry out their legacy. The Smileys have been wonderful stewards of the property for more than a hundred years. They felt comfortable that OSI would also be a good steward, and OSI is really honored that they chose us to help carry out their legacy."

Bert Smiley explained that this land once consisted of three farms. "They were Brook Farm, Pine Farm and Kleinkill Farm. In the early days, they grew food for the mountain house, but they mostly grew hay, which was the fuel for the transportation system in those days."

Today, the Brook Farm continues, with a Community Supported Agriculture project that has more than 150 members. The farms' production of food for Mohonk Mountain House lasted up until World War II.

OSI's purchase of this large parcel of land continues their efforts of protecting the Shawangunk ridgeline, all the way from Port Jervis to Rosendale. OSI has contributed enormously to the efforts that produced Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Mohonk Preserve, Sam's Point Preserve, as well as helping to keep many farms, in active use and therefore as open space, in the Wallkill and Rondout Valleys, on either side of the Shawangunks.

Executive Director of Mohonk Preserve Glenn Hoagland said, "First, we're tremendously excited by this news. The preservation of this unique and beautiful foothills landscape is of enormous biological importance and is also hugely significant in cultural history terms, too. The Smiley Family's 140 years stewardship of the land will now be continued. They have done tremendous preservation work and we hope, when things are completed, to be able to carry it on."

"Over the next three to five years, we will fund raise to be able to buy the property from OSI. No major changes to the use of the land are contemplated, we would opt for what we call 'mixed use' conservation. That would mean a combination of public use of the lands, where possible, scientific research, educational work with schools and colleges, and the continuation of the present day sustainable farming at Brook Farm."