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30 The Herndon Farm, Durham County conservation easement purchased by Durham County Herndon Farm is a swath of undeveloped agricultural and forest land in an area experiencing intense urban development. A new regional shopping center is being constructed less than one mile away and several new residential - subdivisions are even closer. This "Century Farm" has been in the same single family ownership since 1780. Its farm management uses excellent natural resource conservation and approved woodland management practices. The farm is in a Durham County Voluntary Agricultural Protection District and is a candidate for the National Register of Historic Places. The Herndon Farm is in diversified agricultural use, has plentiful water supply, good . natural drainage, and accessibility to direct marketing. The farm has about 5,000 feet of frontage on Crooked Creek, which drains into Jordan Lake, a public drinking water supply watershed. It has 6,864 feet of frontage on scenic roads. The beautiful farm consists of rolling pastures, several ponds, and stands of mature pines and hardwoods. Permanent vegetative covers over 90 percent of the farm — livestock grazing pastures, permanent cover crops, contour striperopping, and woodlands. Five acres produce blackberries and blueberries for local groceries and pick -your- own market. The family has accepted a "bargain sale" of the non - agricultural development rights, vastly less than the estimated market value of the land. Directly adjacent properties have recently been sold for $40,0004100,000 per acre! The conservation easement will help the family contend with prospective high estate taxes upon the death of the current owners (widows ages 82 and 85) due to the high land values. But the owners and their family describe the farm as "heaven on earth" and`firmly believe that they are obligated to maintain the stewardship of the farmlands. The family intends to extend conservation easements over much of the whole farm in the next few years, by combination of donation and purchase (by bargain sale).