Franklin Land Trust Preserves Picturesque Western Mass
By Melissa Karen Sances
COMMUNITY CORNER SPONSORED BY GREENFIELD SAVINGS BANK
Published In Northampton Living | August 2026
Sebastian LaMontagne grew up in Ashfield, mesmerized by the beauty of the land. Now the Development & Communications Coordinator at Franklin Land Trust (FLT) in Shelburne Falls, LaMontagne has learned that the “gorgeous landscapes around us” aren’t a given.
“As a kid I was like, ‘How has it remained so perfect?’” he said. “And it’s because so much work has gone into it.”
Since 1987, FLT has helped farmers and landowners protect their land from unwanted development, crafting conservation plans for hundreds of families in western Mass.
“I don’t think it’s ever been a struggle to find people who want to conserve their land, it’s just been about us building our capacity to respond to the need,” said LaMontagne.
What started out as a two-person, all-volunteer organization was incorporated as a nonprofit that now has nine full-time staff members and close to 200 volunteers. As they approach their 40th anniversary, FLT has worked on nearly 500 projects and conserved more than 37,000 acres in the community.
Landholding as Storytelling
For the landowners who approach FLT, their stories are rooted in the earth. Their memories and hopes have been poured into the land they’ve tended to for a lifetime.
FLT honors each landowner’s unique history by helping them look to the future.
“We have an obligation to monitor that property in perpetuity,” explained Deputy Director Alain Peteroy, who has been with the organization for almost 20 years. An urgent issue for all the local land trusts, she said, is the “generational transfer” underway, as the average age of farmers and big landowners approaches 70 and 80. “Those are the folks trying to figure out what to do now.”
For the past two years, FLT’s Lands for H.O.P.E. Initiative has provided on-the-ground demonstrations to show landowners how they can manage their property sustainably. The acronym stands for Habitat, Outreach, Protection and Education.
Ultimately, said LaMontagne, “We’re continuing the intention and love that landowners have put into stewarding their land and honoring their legacy.”
D2R2: A Scenic ‘Gravel Grinder’
FLT’s biggest fundraiser, D2R2, is a Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnee through the Hilltowns of Franklin County. The scenic “gravel grinder” will take place on August 22 and will be centered at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, where campers can take part in a Friday night pre-ride party and have access to bathrooms, showers and water stations for the weekend.
Now in its 21st year, the randonee features eight routes that span up to 180 kilometers. More than 1,500 bikers are expected this summer.
“We stagger the rides at 5 and 6 in the morning as the sun is rising,” said Peteroy, who noted that all bikers will pass through picturesque FLT land, driving home the importance of conservation. Registration is open until August 9 at bikereg.com/d2r2, and FLT would welcome any volunteers.
“D2R2 has been a way to reach a wider community, from urban areas like Boston and New York, to 43 states and nine countries,” said LaMontagne. “These folks build a relationship with this region and many support us beyond their registrations by giving to FLT.
“With their help, we make sure that the land will always be available, preserving the character of this region that people love so much.”
To learn more, visit franklinlandtrust.org.
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