The Charlestown Land Trust is proud to announce the expansion of protected land at the historic Amos Greene Farm in Charlestown, RI. Thanks to the incredible generosity of landowners Carla and Russ Ricci, an additional 46.826 acres have been placed under conservation easement, bringing the total protected area on the Amos Greene Farm to 87 acres and increasing the Charlestown Land Trust’s total protected acreage to almost 700 acres.
A conservation easement is a legal agreement that permanently limits land use to protect its conservation value, while allowing the landowner to retain ownership. This conservation easement marks a significant milestone in Carla and Russ’s 50-year journey of land stewardship. The Riccis began acquiring the property in 1971, by which time it had been neglected and fallen into disrepair. “I immediately fell in love with both the history and the challenge of it,” Carla Ricci recalls.
Over five decades, the Ricci family has painstakingly restored the property, transforming it into a thriving landscape of woods, pasture, and farmland. Today, portions of the land are even leased to local farmers, contributing to the area’s agricultural economy. With the help of the Charlestown Historical Society and Town Council records, the family continues to investigate the land’s rich history, which includes a 1750s farm established by Amos Greene.
The Ricci family’s decision to place the additional acreage under conservation stemmed from Carla’s observations of other historic properties being lost to development. “I decided to do this so that it would be here for the future,” she explains. “There is no guarantee that it would be, unless we protected it.”
This conservation effort not only preserves a piece of Charlestown’s agricultural heritage but also safeguards valuable ecological resources. The protected land will continue to provide habitat for local flora and fauna and will maintain the area’s rural character.
CLT is deeply grateful to the Ricci family, as well as to former CLT Executive Director turned Board Member, Angela Brunetti, and Karen Jarret, the preceding Executive Director, for bringing this project to fruition. This conservation easement underscores CLT’s commitment to its mission of preserving and protecting Charlestown’s distinctive character through the acquisition and management of open space.
For more information about this project or CLT’s conservation efforts, please visit our website at charlestownlandtrust.org. If you are interested in protecting your own property through a conservation easement, CLT encourages you to reach out to our office at [email protected] and explore the possibilities for preserving Charlestown’s natural beauty and ecological integrity for generations to come.
Carla Ricci at the conservation easement signing, with friends, family, and members of the CLT Board.
Although Amos Greene Farm is privately owned, Carla and Russ Ricci generously host community events to allow others to enjoy the space. Charlestown Land Trust is hosting a guided bird walk at the Amos Greene Farm on Sunday, September 29th at 8am, led by Conservation Biologist Paul Miller. This event is free, but space is limited. Please RSVP to secure your spot and experience the beauty and biodiversity of this remarkable property.
Charlestown Land Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of open space in Charlestown. We rely on membership contributions to protect land like Amos Greene Farm. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our current members for their commitment to conservation. If you’re not yet a member, we invite you to join today and be part of our efforts to preserve Charlestown’s natural heritage!