Read below for an essay excerpted from 50 Remarkable Years, 50 Remarkable People, Wildlands’ 50th anniversary book honoring the partners and volunteers who have made remarkable contributions to land conservation in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Read “The Next Remarkable Chapter,” our series introduction by President Karen Grey.

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A common challenge of land protection is working with siblings tasked with determining the future of family land. Conservation deals frequently stall or even fall apart because of the divergent ideas and expectations of the next generation.

The Bongiovanni brothers eased our apprehension around this issue in 2010 when Wildlands began discussions with them about acquiring their Plymouth farmland for our new headquarters. Shortly after World War II, the property we now call Davis-Douglas Farm was given to their grandfather, Percy Douglas, by the children of his employer, Howland Davis. Two generations subsequently grew up on the farm; Percy raised his seven children, and then his daughter Barbara raised three sons.

With a keen sense of what this iconic property meant to their family and the broader community, David, Rob, and John Bongiovanni listened carefully when Wildlands broached the idea of protecting the land and converting the old farmhouse into offices. Then, something remarkable happened: within one week, Wildlands and the Bongiovanni brothers reached a handshake agreement on a bargain sale of the property. In exchange, the brothers would retain naming rights, with which they chose to honor the relationship between Howland Davis and Percy Douglas, hence creating Davis-Douglas Farm.

The Bongiovanni brothers, and the grace with which they conducted business during the farm transfer, will always be an important part of the Wildlands story.

Purchase 50 Remarkable Years, 50 Remarkable People today: wildlandstrust.org/shop50