For some people, their connection to the land is like a human relationship. Their loyalty to a piece of property and their desire to protect it are heartfelt – similar to a member of the family, they feel a sense of duty for its care.
Others see conservation as an extension of their faith. Making wise choices about land stewardship can express love for their Creator and respect for all Creation.
Paul and Rosemary Trible have created a noteworthy legacy through Gascony, their historic Northumberland County home. Because they loved the natural beauty of the farmland and wild places along Mill Creek and the Chesapeake Bay, Paul and Rosemary decided it should be protected from division and development that could undo everything their family had worked to safeguard and restore.
They have placed more than 900 acres in conservation easements, with 291 of those acres held by Northern Neck Land Conservatory. Altogether, they permanently protect over three miles of waterfront, ensuring scenic views from both the water and the surrounding fields, while supporting water quality and flooding resilience.
“When I’m here, I feel the presence of Mom and Dad, whom I loved. Our hope and intention are to protect this land and find ways to pass it on to our son and daughter and their children,” says the former U.S. Congressman and Senator who retired in 2022 after 27 years as President of Christopher Newport University.
Like many people, the Trible’s created a trust document to record their wishes for their family at Gascony and theirs is unique. In part, it reads:
[This] land captures the wonder and beauty of God, [it] provides a measure of security for family and makes us freer to chase our dreams. [It] should remind us how blessed and privileged we are, and thereby admonishes us to remember that to whom much is given, much is required.
…Always enjoy the beauty, serenity and safety that Gascony provides… Come home often and come as a family. Be careful stewards of the land.
“Our grandchildren have been baptized on the property, overlooking the Bay,” says Trible. “In each instance, in the middle of the service an eagle has flown over us. For the last, it flew so low over our heads that the priest became silent, and we were all speechless. It felt like we could have reached up and touched it. Like God was smiling on us in a beautiful and dramatic way.”
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