39.0°,
Fair Farmland to stay put
Posted
The farm's owner, Philip Mark Jr., sold the 2.5-acre property to Nassau County for $2.1 million in December. The purchase was funded by a two-part, $150 million Environmental Bond Act passed by voters in 2004 and 2006.
"I think it was a good thing that the owner of the property felt that he would prefer to look at the open space rather than see 18 homes built," said County Legislator Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow). "This is the only piece of property that has not been touched by anybody."
"Why shouldn't East Meadow see something out of that bond?" Gonsalves added. "We voted for it."
The Mark family property is one of only five remaining farms in Nassau County. It is commonly referred to as Fruggie's Farm or Friendly Farm, for two of the property's most recent tenants.
Mark, a chemistry professor at Nassau Community College for 35 years and the chairman of the department, still lives next door to the farm, in the brick house on Luddington Road in which he grew up.
"I always liked open space," Mark said. "It's almost like the country. You look out and see the crops growing. It's nice in the spring to see a revitalization, seeing the plants grow and seeing them develop."
In the early days of East Meadow, the town lived up to its name: The landscape was mostly open space, and agriculture dominated the economy. The space began disappearing rapidly in the mid-20th century, as more farmers sold their land to developers. But no matter how high the offer, the Mark family never sold out. Even after the death of Mark's father, Philip Mark Sr., in 1983, he hung onto the farm with his mother, Louise.
When the county approached Mark about purchasing the farm as part of its initiative to preserve remaining open space, he was all ears. Although several developers made bids for the property for more money than the county was offering, Mark decided to preserve the land rather than see it developed.
"I wanted to keep it as farmland," he said, adding that if it were developed, "I'd look out the window of my house and there would be a house right next door."
Mark's father was a shoemaker from Germany who immigrated to the U.S. in 1928. He spent several years trying to make a living with a shoe repair store in Franklin Square, and then, after working at several other jobs, he saved enough money to buy the East Meadow farmland. The only experience he had that was even remotely related to agricultural was his work as a florist - which served him well throughout his life, as he grew carnations, chrysanthemums and other flowers.
The farm served many purposes. Fresh flowers were grown year-round in its greenhouses. The fields generated fruits and vegetables, which were sold at a roadside stand. In warmer weather, part of the farm was used as a ballfield by local children. Most important for Mark, the farm serves as a symbol of the times he spent with his parents working in the garden and in the greenhouses.
He recalls waking up as a youngster with his parents at 4 a.m. on summer days to ensure that the important outdoor work was finished before the sun reached its scorching peak. Despite the often grueling work, Mark said, he enjoyed bonding with his parents. "My mother, father and I, we would all work together," he said. "Those were very nice memories. You don't appreciate while you are actually doing [the work]. Not until later on."
In Mark's youth, the farm was surrounded by a dairy farm, a vegetable farm and woods in which people hunted pheasant. Before the properties were split into 2.5-acre lots, the area was one sprawling farm, known as Barnum Woods, which is how the neighborhood and the nearby elementary school got their names.
Even after his father died and the farm was mostly supervised by the Deriso family, which ran a roadside business on the property for nearly 30 years, Mark always maintained a large garden with his mother, and sometimes helped his tenants in the fields. To this day he grows vegetables and flowers in his backyard, and the Friendly Farm stand still sells vegetables - including tomatoes and corn - as well as pumpkins.
Joseph Danenza, a community leader in Barnum Woods, said that homeowners have expressed concern over the future of the property. "Whenever I'd go to talk about concerns in the community about overdevelopment, I was asked if I knew anything about the farm," Danenza said. "I think we garnered a lot of support."
Gonsalves said that the county is still deciding how to best utilize the property. One idea is to create a community garden, which would encourage residents to grow their own fruits and vegetables. Gonsalves said she plans to speak with members of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, who could set up a community agricultural resource center.
Danenza, who has advocated against overdevelopment in the neighborhood, said he hopes the county is able to preserve the land in some form. For the time being, the new owner will add new fencing, clean up debris and paint the house. With the bond money, the county plans to acquire and preserve additional open space, including more farmland.
"As part of my Healthy Nassau initiative, I am committed to preserving natural open spaces, which are crucial to preserving our quality of life," said County Executive Thomas Suozzi. "I am delighted that [the farm] can continue to operate on this parcel of green, fertile land, right in the heart of our county."
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
"I think it was a good thing that the owner of the property felt that he would prefer to look at the open space rather than see 18 homes built," said County Legislator Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow). "This is the only piece of property that has not been touched by anybody."
"Why shouldn't East Meadow see something out of that bond?" Gonsalves added. "We voted for it."
The Mark family property is one of only five remaining farms in Nassau County. It is commonly referred to as Fruggie's Farm or Friendly Farm, for two of the property's most recent tenants.
Mark, a chemistry professor at Nassau Community College for 35 years and the chairman of the department, still lives next door to the farm, in the brick house on Luddington Road in which he grew up.
In the early days of East Meadow, the town lived up to its name: The landscape was mostly open space, and agriculture dominated the economy. The space began disappearing rapidly in the mid-20th century, as more farmers sold their land to developers. But no matter how high the offer, the Mark family never sold out. Even after the death of Mark's father, Philip Mark Sr., in 1983, he hung onto the farm with his mother, Louise.
When the county approached Mark about purchasing the farm as part of its initiative to preserve remaining open space, he was all ears. Although several developers made bids for the property for more money than the county was offering, Mark decided to preserve the land rather than see it developed.
"I wanted to keep it as farmland," he said, adding that if it were developed, "I'd look out the window of my house and there would be a house right next door."
Mark's father was a shoemaker from Germany who immigrated to the U.S. in 1928. He spent several years trying to make a living with a shoe repair store in Franklin Square, and then, after working at several other jobs, he saved enough money to buy the East Meadow farmland. The only experience he had that was even remotely related to agricultural was his work as a florist - which served him well throughout his life, as he grew carnations, chrysanthemums and other flowers.
The farm served many purposes. Fresh flowers were grown year-round in its greenhouses. The fields generated fruits and vegetables, which were sold at a roadside stand. In warmer weather, part of the farm was used as a ballfield by local children. Most important for Mark, the farm serves as a symbol of the times he spent with his parents working in the garden and in the greenhouses.
He recalls waking up as a youngster with his parents at 4 a.m. on summer days to ensure that the important outdoor work was finished before the sun reached its scorching peak. Despite the often grueling work, Mark said, he enjoyed bonding with his parents. "My mother, father and I, we would all work together," he said. "Those were very nice memories. You don't appreciate while you are actually doing [the work]. Not until later on."
In Mark's youth, the farm was surrounded by a dairy farm, a vegetable farm and woods in which people hunted pheasant. Before the properties were split into 2.5-acre lots, the area was one sprawling farm, known as Barnum Woods, which is how the neighborhood and the nearby elementary school got their names.
Even after his father died and the farm was mostly supervised by the Deriso family, which ran a roadside business on the property for nearly 30 years, Mark always maintained a large garden with his mother, and sometimes helped his tenants in the fields. To this day he grows vegetables and flowers in his backyard, and the Friendly Farm stand still sells vegetables - including tomatoes and corn - as well as pumpkins.
Joseph Danenza, a community leader in Barnum Woods, said that homeowners have expressed concern over the future of the property. "Whenever I'd go to talk about concerns in the community about overdevelopment, I was asked if I knew anything about the farm," Danenza said. "I think we garnered a lot of support."
Gonsalves said that the county is still deciding how to best utilize the property. One idea is to create a community garden, which would encourage residents to grow their own fruits and vegetables. Gonsalves said she plans to speak with members of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, who could set up a community agricultural resource center.
Danenza, who has advocated against overdevelopment in the neighborhood, said he hopes the county is able to preserve the land in some form. For the time being, the new owner will add new fencing, clean up debris and paint the house. With the bond money, the county plans to acquire and preserve additional open space, including more farmland.
"As part of my Healthy Nassau initiative, I am committed to preserving natural open spaces, which are crucial to preserving our quality of life," said County Executive Thomas Suozzi. "I am delighted that [the farm] can continue to operate on this parcel of green, fertile land, right in the heart of our county."
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
Report an inappropriate comment
Comments