Village of Folsom, LA

F. AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Folsom’s abundant resources are a key part of the community,
particularly with regard to the economy, recreation and the overall
quality of life. The land in Folsom was first farmed because of the
excellent soil and water quality. With the arrival of the railroad,
lumber, tar, and turpentine became locally exported products. This
was then replaced by tung nut farming and finally, the growth of
the local plant nurseries. Horse farms compliment the nursery
economy in Folsom and these two industries are what Folsom is
known for today. From the abundant equestrian centers to
Magnolia Park, the Village has many notable agricultural, natural
and cultural features that require land use strategies to maintain.
Goal: The Village of Folsom will encourage and support a
natural environment that: preserves the Village’s diverse
environmental and natural resources, including its
waterways, woodlands and opens spaces; protects
Folsom’s natural and historic charm through retaining the
traditional rural character of the Village; maintains and
enhances access to parks, open space, and a wide range of
recreational programs and facilities that help preserve
Folsom’s quality of life; and preserves and enhances
Folsom’s community character, including the distinct
identities of the Village’s neighborhoods, districts and
corridors, while directing growth and development.
Note: A complete atlas of Agricultural and Natural Resources Maps
corresponding to the following descriptions in this section can be
found in Appendix E of this document.
Agriculture and Equestrian Resources
The equine and horticultural industries are dynamic and vibrant
sectors of the Village economy. Folsom is well known for its
flourishing plant nurseries and beautiful horse farms. Lesser known
are the exotic animal farms such as emu and ostrich that dot the
landscape in the Village and the surrounding areas. However, just
like natural environments these resources are gradually being lost
to suburban development. In fact, the Equine Land Conservation
Resource, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving land in
Folsom for horse-related activities, identifies the loss of open land
as the greatest threat to the future of all equestrian sport,
recreation and industry. Appendix E – Map 11: Folsom Agricultural
Land Uses shows current agricultural and equine uses, which
amount to roughly 17.93 percent of the total land use in the Village.
Beyond this, in the Folsom/St. Tammany annexation area, there are
an additional approximately 170 acres of agricultural and 135 acres
of equine land that has the potential to be lost without preservation
strategies.
Beyond the obvious contribution to the equine and horticultural
industries, the conservation of these areas provides additional
benefits to the economy and quality of life in the Village. Annually
Folsom hosts the GALA (Gallop Around Louisiana) horse shows, as
well as other equestrian events that bring visitors from across the
region and state. Local horse farms have contributed greatly to
Folsom’s economy, employing local residents and becoming known
for their fine training and rehabilitation. Folsom also continues to
be the center of the nursery businesses in Louisiana. Folsom has
hosted the South East Louisiana Nursery Association meetings
twice, and is a destination for landscapers and gardeners across the
region.
Village of Folsom, LA
Comprehensive Master Plan
62