Blog
Historic Case House Becomes a Home
By Julia G. King
The Peconic Land Trust is pleased to announce that the Historic Case House at Cleo’s Corner in Southold is now home to a farming family. Following a request for proposals this Fall, the house has been rented to Leslie and Priscilla Howard of Priscilla’s Farm. They will also be farming the adjacent 5-acres of farmland.
Leslie and Priscilla have been farmers in the Trust’s Farms for the Future Initiative since 2018. They started with a one-acre lease on farmland across the street at the Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm incubator fields. Over the years, they increased the amount of land they leased, and the flowers, fruits, and veggies grown. Priscilla’s Farm runs a weekly CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership and sells produce at two local farmer’s markets.
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With the 5-year lease on the farmland and house, Leslie and Priscilla look to put in more perennial crops like asparagus, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries. They will continue to grow all the vegetables they are known for but will be able to increase the quantity and variety at their market stands and in their CSA. Another benefit will be their ability to rotate land in and out of production, which they couldn’t do with the three acres in the incubator fields. Crop rotation will make the soil healthier and prevent plant disease.
The Trust is glad to see the house used for affordable agricultural housing. None of this would have been possible without you, the friends, neighbors, preservationists, housing advocates, and history buffs who generously donated to make this project a reality. Because of you, this historic home has been lovingly restored and will remain part of our cherished agricultural landscape here in Southold.
