The first plantation in Virginia was Shirley Plantation, established in 1613. This was the lunch stop for the Conservation in Action Tour. Tourism and education play a big part in the family business today.

Greeting us was Charles Carter who owns and serves as executive director for Shirley Plantation. He says they’ve been there for 11 generations! He says they’ve been able to do this through adaptation and diversification. Tobacco was produced on the farm from the beginning. Family members have been involved in everything from farming to government and they were even in the ice business. Recently he says they’ve built a marine terminal and they’re taking dredge material from the local rivers and placing it in old mines and on farmland to restore it. He says this has been working well. Charles Carter Presentation

Conservation In Action Tour 2010 Photo Album

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