Lunenburg County property to be sold to ecologically-sound buyers

A Nova Scotia couple isselling a unique cluster of properties in LunenburgCounty, but only to buyers who share their commitment to ecology and community-minded development.

Jim and Margaret Drescher, a Buddhist couple from Halifax, bought the farmfrom the Wentzell family in 1990.

It's a forested property along the LaHave river where it emerges from Wentzell Lake.They initially set up a sustainable forestry business, selectively logging with horses.

"We're continuing in the same way the Wentzells logged here for 150 years before we came," said Jim Drescher.

The family established organic gardens, built rental cabins in the woodsand eventually constructed a solar-heated conference centre with overnight accommodations for 20 people.

"The people that come here eat the food that grows hereand they buy furniture for their homes from the woodshop that the wood was harvested from the forest here," he said."People that live here enjoy one another and they enjoy the place."

Drescher says after more than 25 years, it's time to step back from the operation.

"We're getting a little long in the tooth. I'm 73-years-old, and Margaret is 68-years-old. And it's time for younger, stronger, smarter people to come in here and take this on," he said.

'Forest Families'

The divestment process is already underway.

The Dreschershavesold the 60-hectare woodlot to a group of 10 local families.The "Forest Families"group is committed to conserving the forestwhich still contains large original-growth trees.

In turn, thatgroup has leased the property to the Windhorse Educational Foundationfor 99 years.

"In general, I would say our intention is to offer an opportunity for people to connect with nature. For their own benefit, and for the benefit of the natural world as well," he said.

Three more properties are currently for sale:

• The "Downtown,"a cluster of buildings on about two hectares of land. It includes an office, a garage, a barn, horse paddock, a sauna and aparking lot.It is listed at $300,000
• Juniper Lodge is a solar and wood-heated conference centre set on about two hectares of land.It has multiple kitchens and can sleep up to 20 guests. There is also acabin-rental business. It's listed as$750,000
• The farmhouse and surrounding land where Jim and Margaret Drescher live. They hope it could become a B and B, or a farm-to-table restaurant. It's listed at$550,000

'Who's interested in stepping up?'

Drescher says these prices are "ballpark" evaluations, open for discussion.

He says his family is most concerned that a buyer or buyers would share common values of respect for the natural environment, community, andlocal economic development.

But there are also intangible concerns, he says.

"Is this going to connect people more directlyto the natural energy of this place? Or is it going to tend to separate us?"

Drescher says he's hoping to complete the transfer by next February.

"We're stepping back Who's interested in stepping up? The invitation is now out there," he said.

Meanwhile, the couple plans to build a new energy-efficient dwelling nearby.

"Why leave the best place we've ever lived?" he said.