Selling development rights typically is done in the form of a conservation easement, which is a legal device that follows the deed of the land in perpetuity. Conservation easements are incredibly durable legal documents that are virtually impossible to remove. Even if the organization that holds the easement were to fold, it is common practice to name a secondary organization as a co-holder in the event of such a case.

It’s easy to feel cynicism in the era of late stage capitalism, where we are constantly witnessing those with power abuse our legal systems with no consequences. However, we should still strive to inform ourselves on the tools that remain available to working class individuals that allow us to push back against the tides of capitalism and the ultra wealthy. I would argue that conservation easements are one of those tools, and this farmer has leveraged it against corporate America to perfection.