Thousand Islands Land Trust

An organization that keeps development in its place

As Will Rogers put it, they ain’t making any more land. Which is why organizations such as the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) are aiming to conserve it in places that would be threatened with development otherwise. TILT, established in 1985, protects more than 8,200 acres both by purchasing real estate and accepting conservation easements from property owners. (Those easements allow owners to hold onto their land, but limits their development rights.) TILT holdings include over 40 miles of trails open year-round to the public.

At a glance

The Zenda Community Garden, at TILT’s Zenda Farm Preserve, provides 8,000 square feet of farming space to members (just $25 a family.)
Take a trek with the land trust: TILT offers trail maintenance days, photo tours and more on preserved properties.
Accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2009, which means it meets a strict set of national land-protection standards.