Quiet Crusader Donates Easement on Farm

Self described as a “farming soldier,” Joe Seidel is on a mission to protect land.
Three years ago, after more than 20 years of military service in the U.S. Army, Joe and his wife, Gail, returned to semi-retire on Joe’s 250-acre family farm near Charlevoix. Upon their arrival, they discovered that the farm was included in a proposed development extending from the brand new high school built off of Marion Center Road.

“I knew I had to come up with my own plan if I wanted to save our farmland,” Joe said. “Land conservation became my plan.”

One of Joe’s most immediate tactics was to help his neighbors, the Martincheks, understand what might be possible for their land which was first in line for development if a controversial sewer expansion from the site of the new Charlevoix High School became a reality. One day, Joe printed out a page from the Conservancy’s web site, walked out to where Joe Martinchek was plowing a field and handed him the page.

Joe and Gail Seidel with daughter Amanda.

Joe Martinchek contacted the Conservancy staff to learn more. Soon, as the local township and many landowners expressed clear intentions to keep the area in rural agriculture rather than growing sprawl, a natural partnership took shape.
Last spring, the Martincheks finalized the sale of development rights from their 225-acre farm to the Little Traverse Conservancy.
“We not only have Joe Seidel to thank for instigating this land conservation, but the Seidels also put forth a challenge grant to inspire fundraising for that project,” said Ty Ratliff, land protection specialist for the Conservancy. “Joe is a quiet crusader. He is modest, straightforward, and community oriented. When we first met to go over conservation options for his own land, he shook my hand and said, ‘My land will one day be forever preserved. I assure you of that.’”

And not missing a beat, this fall Joe and Gail Seidel donated a conservation easement on their own 250-acre property which lies immediately east of the Martinchek property. In their conservation easement, the Seidels have retained no division or development rights for the future, a tremendous gesture considering the size and development potential of the land.

When asked where his land ethic came from, Joe Seidel notes that his parents, Francis and Isabelle Seidel moved to Charlevoix in 1954, when they purchased 180 acres to begin to make a living by farming. Through dairy and mixed crops, the Seidels worked the land for several years. Joe was also an eagle scout as a young man.

“Gail and I had hoped, and still hope to get involved in some form of ‘value-added’ agriculture,” said Joe. He jokingly added, “I’ve noticed that we have a lot more frogs around here than we used to, which is a result of changes in the water table affected by the development higher in the watershed. Maybe we’ll become frog farmers!”.