 Meet Toby Lloyd: Easement Owner and Advocate for Agricultural Stewardship
Toby Lloyd, a Maryland farmer and dedicated conservationist, has served on the board of the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) for nearly nine years. He owns and operates East Fork Farm in Kent County, a 130-acre property under conservation easement, which includes 124 acres of productive farmland, three acres of forest, and six acres of wetlands along Langford Creek. Adjacent to East Fork, Lloyd also owns Hilltop Farm, a 110-acre property in the process of being placed under easement protection.
Since acquiring the properties, Lloyd has worked closely with the Maryland Department of Agriculture on restoration efforts, including maintaining waterways and pond dams. On his own initiative, he has established conservation areas across the farm: leaving corn for waterfowl, planting wildflowers for pollinators, and planting switchgrass around runoff ponds to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment—while also creating nesting habitat for birds.
Through these projects, Lloyd demonstrates how conservation and agriculture can coexist. “I envision the land kind of like a patch in a quilt,” he explained. “Within that quilt is a patchwork of cropland and habitat. Some areas support wildlife; others improve water quality. Each piece plays a role.”
The Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants Program is Accepting Applications
Applications are now being accepted for the Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants program. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2025.
This year’s grants program include: community stewardship grants for volunteer groups, nonprofits, local governments, and schools; assistance, leadership, and capacity building grants for Maryland’s land trusts; and grants for nonprofits to implement forestry projects on agricultural land. About $357,000 is available for this year’s grant round.
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