For Cynthia Potter Johnson, the Potter Farm is more than just a stretch of land, it’s the living pulse of her family’s heritage.

It’s where she was raised.

This 90-acre farm on Oak Hill Road in Concord has been in the Potter family for at least two centuries, nurturing generations who have cherished its soil.

“It brings up fond memories,” said Johnson, her voice cracking with emotion as she reflected on the farm that shaped her youth.“It was calm. It was that point in my life – my carefree days.”

Although she now resides in Keene, Johnson’s connection to the farm remains unbroken.

Determined to protect the land from development, she made a decision that honors both her ancestors and future generations.

Johnson has ensured the farm’s preservation by conserving the entire parcel with the Five Rivers Conservation Trust, a move that will keep the land untouched for generations to come.

But her strongest motivation was not environmental conservation, but to preserve the Potter name — a name her father held with immense pride.

“My father was very proud of being a Potter,” said Johnson. ” I know conservation is excellent, especially in this day and age, but for me, it was more keeping the name there.”

The conserved land includes 56 acres of forest dedicated to maple sugaring and timber, while 27 additional acres adjacent to Turtle Pond consist of open fields for growing hay and produce.

Dave Potter, Johnson’s nephew, now tends to the farm and lives on the property, cultivating vegetables and berries that are sold at the Potter farm stand. His extensive gardens produce an array of fresh vegetables, from cucumbers to pumpkins, and he also crafts maple sugar products, including bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup.

The effort to conserve Potter Farm has been a long-term project spearheaded by Five Rivers, involving years of fundraising and the finalization of the conservation easement purchase.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Agricultural Land Easement Program and the City of Concord each contributed 50% of the easement’s purchase price. Moreover, the City of Concord funded the survey and necessary appraisals, both critical components of the project.

“Conserving Potter Farm has been a long time in coming through the efforts of many individuals,” said Liz Short, executive director of Five Rivers Trust in an email statement. “Through it all, Cynthia was really the driving force that got us across the finish line. Her vision and determination to see her family’s farm permanently protected underlies everything we’ve done.”

Johnson doesn’t visit the farm often. But every walk she takes there still evokes a profound emotional response.

“It’s mainly because of my father,” said Johnson reflecting on her decision to donate the land for conservation.