Home / Environment / 99-Year-Old's Farm Becomes Wildlife Haven
99-Year-Old's Farm Becomes Wildlife Haven
30 Oct
Summary
- A 400-acre farm is being restored to support native wildlife and plants.
- The land was inherited by NICHES Land Trust according to the owner's will.
- Restoration efforts began in 2024 with invasive species removal and prescribed burns.
Lois Lynn Lowe Farris, who passed away in November 2021 at the age of 99, left a remarkable conservation legacy. Her 400-acre family farm in White County, Indiana, has been entrusted to NICHES Land Trust to be restored according to a plan she developed in 2005.
Farris, whose family has farmed in the Monon region since the 1830s, prioritized preserving her family land, heritage, and wildlife habitat. The restoration project, a major initiative for NICHES, aims to transform the agricultural land into prairie, savanna, and wetland habitats.
Restoration efforts commenced in 2024, with teams partnering with various conservation groups to map and remove invasive plants. Techniques such as forestry mulching, prescribed burning, and shrub removal were applied to 175 acres, with further plans to restore cultivated fields and enhance water systems.
This initiative exemplifies how planned bequests can facilitate ecosystem repair. Farris's vision ensures the land's natural essence is restored, serving as a model for land trusts, governmental agencies, and scientists collaborating on landscape stewardship.
