The Delaware Highlands Conservancy (DHC) hosted an open house on Segar Road in Kauneonga Lake on April 23, for a ribbon cutting for the new organization’s office, which is located in a house owned by Lou and Nancy Barr.

The Barrs, who spend most of their time in Alaska, completed a conservation easement on the 119-acre property in 2009, and were looking for a way to have their land be more useful to the community.

According to Sue Currier, executive director of DHC, the organization was looking for a way to offer a wider array of programs, such as on how to manage a forest or an apple orchard or how to create a garden.

The Barrs offered to share their house with the DHC, and Currier called it a “perfect” arrangement. According to the DHC newsletter, Lou believes the presence of the conservancy on his property will set an example for other landowners who may decide to similarly protect their properties.

Melinda Meddaugh, the New York Land Protection Coordinator for DHC, is quoted as saying, “Being able to have programs right on the property means people can see first hand why it’s such a great thing for the whole community when landowners choose to protect their land.