'Buck - for Conservation' campaign begins today

Middletown — The Orange County Land Trust is launching a new fundraising campaign, “Buck — for Conservation,” to provide funds for open space and farmland protection projects throughout Orange County. Beginning today, April 22 patrons at nine participating Orange County estaurants in will have the option of adding an extra dollar to their bill to support land conservation efforts and the protection of Orange County farmland. Participating restaurants are Loughran’s Restaurant and Irish Pub in Salisbury Mills, Catherine’s in Goshen, three Cosimo’s Restaurants in Middletown, Newburgh and Woodbury, John’s Harvest Inn in Middletown, Landmark Inn in Warwick, Nina’s in Middletown, and Taco Hombre in Warwick. “These restaurants believe, as we do, in protecting the quality of life here in Orange County and supporting our local foods and our local farms,” said Jim Delaune, executive director of the Orange County Land Trust. “This is an opportunity where we all can work together - our restaurants and our residents and the Land Trust- so that we may continue to protect the natural areas and working farms that help Orange County remain a great place to live and work.” Collaborating with local restaurants that use local produce when in season and available was a natural fit for the land trust, which works with local farmers and other landowners to protect their land from development. “Although a dollar may not seem like a lot at first,” said Delaune, “added together our combined dollars can really go a long way in protecting what we all love about living in Orange County- the fact that we still have green countryside and working farms to wake up to everyday and that these farms contribute so much to our local economy and to our health, too.” For more information, and for volunteer opportunities and ways of giving to the Orange County Land Trust, visit www.oclt.org or call 343-0840.