Walker Farm

View from Above Inspires Conservation

Bird’s eye view

Flying over the Eastern Shore you can see the Chesapeake Bay to the west and the barrier islands and Atlantic Ocean to the east. Marshes and creeks meander along both coasts full of egrets, blue herons, ospreys, and bald eagles. The narrow strip of land that lies between the two is a patchwork of farm fields, forests, small towns and boat ramps.

Continuing further north or south, urban sprawl swallows up once productive farm land and open space with houses, shopping centers and roads. Jeff Walker knows this well, "Over a 38 year Navy and airline flying career, I watched this change occur from Maine to Miami, on the Florida west coast, the Gulf of Mexico and California coast,” he recollected. “I remember flying into Dulles Airport in 1986 over large farms that are now fully developed urban areas,” Jeff added.

On the land

Jeff and his wife, Lee, are fourth generation owners of their farm near Birdsnest, Virginia. “With the addition of three smaller parcels we now own 160 acres,” explained Jeff. 100 year old pecan trees fill the front yard. Loblolly pines, Nellie Stevens Hollies, and Japanese Cedars shelter the house from winter winds. A nearby irrigation pond is full of turtles, frogs, and small fish.

From the house a farm field stretches west, north and south. On the western property boundary is a grass runway, installed in 1982 for aerial agriculture spraying and now used by Jeff and visiting friends. Over the years the farm transitioned from vegetable to small grain production as labor and marketing conditions became more challenging. Jeff farmed for a few years after his father. “I stopped farming because my airline flying did not provide enough time for me to farm and fly,” explained Jeff. Jeff wanted the farmland to continue producing, so he currently leases the land to a farmer.

Preserving rural character and agricultural vitality

Jeff and Lee decided to ensure that their farm remain as open space. They joined a small group organized and led by the late Harry Holcomb. “Harry had the idea and plans to assist landowners in protecting their property for future generations by starting a local land trust. Thanks to his efforts and leadership, The Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust was formed in 2003,” recalled Jeff. As a result, Lee and Jeff preserved their farm with a conservation easement in 2004. "We believe preserving our farm will contribute to the rural character and agricultural viability of the Eastern Shore in the future,” shared Jeff.

The farm may pass to new hands. But the easement will remain and the farmland will endure. Jeff is certain his ancestors would approve. He reflected, “It gives me great peace of mind to look out over the farm and know that it’ll be there forever as open space.”