Preserving the roots of the Lowcountry: A legacy of land and tradition

Sanders Farm is one of many farms on St. Helena Island, protected forever. Protected and productive farmland connected to rivers and creeks teeming with fish supports the multigenerational way of life on St. Helena.
The Lowcountry boasts some of the most picturesque farmland in the Southeast, particularly in places like St. Helena Island, where sprawling fields border deepwater creeks. These lands have often been passed down through generations of families and protecting them is crucial to preserving both local culture and agricultural practices.
Unfortunately, farmland is being lost faster than ever. If development continues at it’s current pace, South Carolina is projected to lose over 436,000 acres of farmland by 2040. With every acre lost, we lose more than fresh food — we lose a connection to our land and history. It’s a way of life, a family tradition, and a critical part of our local heritage.
Yet, there is hope. Families across our region want to continue their farming legacy, and the Open Land Trust is working with community partners to help them do just that.
The Gullah Farmers’ Cooperative, based on St. Helena Island where 5,000 acres of farmland are protected by the Open Land Trust, is one such example. This cooperative supports Gullah farming traditions across the coastal counties of Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper.
National significance
In 2023, the Open Land Trust, in partnership with the Cooperative, joined forces with the American Farmland Trust to assist local farmers in transferring their properties to the next generation.
“Our farmers, like all farmers, need access to land. Historically, access has been challenging,” says Ashley Walker, Farm Manager at the Cooperative. “Now, with the Open Land Trust’s help, we can better connect landowners with conservation opportunities to sustain farming and Gullah culture. This program will make a difference.”
Access is not the only challenge, as many family farms are lost to development pressure.
There are local heroes who, like the late Mary Olive Pinckney Merrick, decided to safeguard her 145-acre property from sprawling development in Bluffton by entering into a conservation easement with the Open Land Trust.
Conserved farmland offers opportunities for new and next-generation farmers, like Mary’s children, to access quality land without competing with development.
Mary once said, “We decided we wanted to preserve this land as we had inherited it. We didn’t feel it was our privilege to do anything else.”
New and next-generation farmers
Mary’s legacy lives on through her children, who have continued to honor the family’s connection to the land. Her daughters established Three Sisters Farm, and her son opened U Pick Daffodils, which invites local families to select from fields of 100,000 blooming daffodils each spring.
Mary addressed issues around her own land transfer through conservation easements, which we continue to do with families. Our partnership with AFT and the Gullah Cooperative expands the toolbox for landowners.
“It’s an honor to work with local families and farmers to protect their land and continue the traditions passed down through generations,” reflects Kristin Williams, Open Land Trust’s Executive Director. She continues, “Working with partners like the Cooperative and multi-generational families like Mary’s is more than conserving land — it’s about protecting the fabric of our rural communities and ensuring that farming, along with its cultural and historical significance, remains a vital part of the Lowcountry for future generations.”