Farmlands in Transition
Supporting Farmers and the Land
update Spring 2022
Champlain Valley farmland protected by Adirondack Land Trust conservation easement.
C Photo © Bill Brown
arly Summers, agriculture issue leader for Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) in Essex County, recently wrote in a column for a local newspaper, “I was talking about farmland transition and succession planning with a group of farmers and one asked, ‘Why would a farmer need support selling farmland? Selling land is easy— people do it all the time!’ It’s a great question, and even though it seems simple, there are many reasons why it’s important to support farmers in the monumental task of solidifying what will happen to their land and business in the future. Every single farm faces this situation, yet most have not made plans for it.” Two thousand acres of farmland are built on or converted to other uses every day in the U.S., according to American Farmland Trust. A 2017 agriculture census found that half of Essex County’s farmers are at retirement age. With an
estimated 196 farms covering more than 49,000 acres in this northern New York county alone, the future of a lot of land is uncertain. A 2019 survey of Essex County farmland owners found 67% of respondents have not begun succession planning. Let’s go back to the farmer’s question. Selling land for development is one option, but support for farmland transition can achieve other goals: • Keeping land in agriculture • Financial security for retiring farmers • A stable start for new farmers Even transferring land within a family can be challenging. Without careful planning, estate taxes can force the breakup of a farm. That’s why we’re working with Carly and CCE to ease farmer access to professional services to navigate the tax, legal, business, real estate and interpersonal issues of succession
planning. Funding is provided by a New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets grant. The Adirondack Land Trust has protected 6,377 acres of farmland at 20 sites. We are currently working with three farmers on conservation easements that will help keep their lands in agriculture as well as improve water quality in nearby streams. We’re also exploring new ways to help farmers at all stages. As farming changes and real estate costs rise, young farmers struggle to overcome barriers to land ownership, whether new to farming or continuing a family farm. One step we’ve taken is adding a new position, and we’re delighted to introduce Aaron Thomas, farmland and stewardship specialist, on Page 6. We are grateful to Carly and CCE for their partnership, and to farmers, who take on challenges to feed the rest of us.
BOARD of Directors Bill Paternotte, Chair Stephen H. Burrington, Vice Chair Jonathan S. Linen, Vice Chair David Henle, Treasurer Barbara Glaser, Ed.D., Secretary Elizabeth McLanahan, Executive Committee Member Kevin Arquit Barbara Bedford, Ph.D. David Brunner Charles Canham, Ph.D. Elizabeth Folwell Timothy Fritzinger Lisa Guide Heidi Kretser, Ph.D. Joe Martens Vincent McClelland Amy McCune, Ph.D. Peter S. Paine Jr. Holly Rippon-Butler Anne C. Stuzin Kip Testwuide Julie Willis Advisory Directors Tim Barnett Mike DiNunzio Bill McKibben Amy Vedder, Ph.D. Chairs Emeriti Lionel O. Barthold James C. Dawson, Ph.D. Harry Groome Edward W. McNeil Meredith M. Prime Charles O. Svenson STAFF Mike Carr, Executive Director Kimberly Corwin-Gray, Assoc. Director of Philanthropy Becca Halter, GIS & Stewardship Specialist Chris Jage, Conservation Program Director Derek Rogers, Stewardship Manager Susie Runyon, Finance & Office Manager Megan Zack Stevenson, Land Protection Manager Mary Thill, Communications Manager Aaron Thomas, Farmland & Stewardship Specialist Nancy Van Wie, Director of Philanthropy Kathy Woughter, Philanthropy & Outreach Coordinator 2861 NYS Route 73 PO Box 130 , Keene, NY 12942 (518) 576-2400 info@adirondacklandtrust.org adirondacklandtrust.org 2 | spring 2022
Why I Give /
Stephanie Campbell
Over the past year 140 people made first-time gifts to the Adirondack Land Trust. Whether you are a new donor, or if you’ve been supporting the land trust since its founding 38 years ago, thank you! One of our newest supporters, Stephanie Campbell, of Ithaca, shared why she started giving:
I became an Adirondack Land Trust donor because I believe land protection—for beauty, recreation and resources—is the single most important action we can take to preserve natural landscapes, now and into the future. I have made conservation my life’s work by building a career in natural resource management, where I can enhance connections between people and the natural world. Currently I work as the North Country Trail Association’s regional trail coordinator for New York and Vermont, and I serve as the Adirondack Land Trust’s Next Generation Council co-chair. Through my experiences in conservation, I understand the critical role land trusts play in creating a livable and sustainable future for us all. This is why I donate. It inspires us to hear why people put their love of the Adirondacks into action through support for land protection. If you have a story to share, please reach out to Kathy Woughter, our philanthropy & outreach coordinator, kathy.woughter@adirondacklandtrust.org.
Ways of Giving At this moment we are nearing completion of six board-approved land-protection projects spanning 900 acres across the Adirondacks. Your support makes it possible for us to work every day with landowners and communities to protect farmlands, forests, waters and wild places. Credit Card Gifts / Make your gift securely using this QR code, by visiting adirondacklandtrust.org/donate, or by calling us with credit card information, (518) 576-2400. Giving by credit card makes it easy to become an Adirondack Sustainer, those who support our work on a monthly basis.
ADIRONDACK
LAND TRUST
Gifts of Stock / Gifts of appreciated stock are a great way to support Adirondack Land Trust and receive tax benefits. If you wish to transfer stock or other securities, please contact Nancy VanWie, director of philanthropy, nancy.vanwie@adirondacklandtrust.org. IRA Gifts / If you are age 70½ or older, you are eligible to donate up to $100,000 tax-free from your IRA to a qualifying charity each year. For details on how to donate from your IRA, please contact Kimberly Corwin-Gray, associate director of philanthropy, kimberly.gray@adirondacklandtrust.org
Increasing Impact LAKE PLACID LAND CONSERVANCY AND ADIRONDACK LAND TRUST JOIN FORCES Lake Placid and a view north into the Ausable watershed. © Nancie Battaglia
O
n November 1, 2021, the Lake Placid Land Conservancy Lake Placid Land Conservancy was created through the (LPLC) board of directors voted unanimously to open merger of Placid Lake Foundation and North Elba Land discussions to combine operations and assets with the Conservancy in 2013. The Adirondack Land Trust was Adirondack Land Trust (ALT). Since then, both organicreated in 1984 to forever conserve the forests, farmlands, zations have been talking about how we can work more waters and wild places that advance the quality of life of effectively to conserve open space in the communities and the ecological integrity We are big believers in of the Adirondacks. Ausable and Saranac River watersheds of the northeastern Adirondacks. collaboration to achieve Both accredited nonprofit organizations conserve natural resources primarily “There is significant overlap in the conservation goals. geography and conservation goals of our by purchasing and managing protected two organizations,” said LPLC Board Chair Greg Fetters, lands and by holding conservation easements. The goal “and our shared goal is to get more conservation done. is lasting impact. Land protection provides community We have enjoyed a good relationship with the Adirondack spaces, habitat for plants and animals, cleaner water, Land Trust for many years. ALT’s resources will advance cleaner air, wildlife migration corridors and scenic vistas. our mission and help achieve the vision of LPLC as well Following review of land-management, legal and financial as those of our predecessor organizations, Placid Lake responsibilities, the Adirondack Land Trust board voted Foundation and North Elba Land Conservancy.” on February 23, 2022, to approve the merger. ALT will eventually absorb LPLC, which will dissolve and transfer Adirondack Land Trust Board Chair Bill Paternotte said, “We are big believers in collaboration to achieve fee ownerships and conservation easements totalling conservation goals, so we’re honored that LPLC is 340 acres at six sites to Adirondack Land Trust, which entrusting us with stewardship of the special places it will ensure that those conservation properties remain has conserved, and to carry forward their legacy of working protected in perpetuity. We look forward to sharing more with landowners and communities to protect Lake Placid about these special places when the transfer is complete. and the Ausable and Saranac River watersheds.” spring 2022 | 3
Land Trusts Are for the Birds A snapshot of species found on lands we’ve conserved
Land sedge wren
4 | spring 2020
LeConte’s sparrow
short-eared owl
black-backed woodpecker
4 | spring 2022
Photos left: © Derek Rogers; right: © Kimberly Corwin-Gray
By Derek Rogers, Stewardship Manager
T
he Adirondack Park has long been a popular destination for bird-watching. Rugged yet accessible wildlands offer visitors and residents the chance to observe species that are not commonly found elsewhere in New York State. From the highest peaks to the boreal lowlands and down to the shores of Lake Champlain, the mosaic of habitats presents birding opportunities unequaled in the Northeast. In partnership with visionary private landowners, generous supporters and dedicated partners, the Adirondack Land Trust has helped conserve 26,710 acres of forests, farmlands, waters and wild places throughout the North Country. This translates to significant habitat protection for birds and other wildlife. Above: Derek Rogers, right, leading a birding field trip at Coon Mountain Preserve. Left: A secretive sedge wren is caught on camera at an Adirondack Land Trust conservation site in the central Champlain Valley. A rare LeConte’s sparrow, only the second record in the Lake Champlain Basin, poses along the edge of farmland protected by an Adirondack Land Trust conservation easement in the northern Champlain Valley. In New York State, black-backed woodpeckers are found only in Adirondack boreal forests. Several of our protection sites provide habitat for boreal birds. A short-eared owl surveys private farmland under conservation easement in the Champlain Valley.
So far, 130 bird species have been documented on lands protected by the Adirondack Land Trust, including several species of statewide conservation importance. A farm under conservation easement in the central Champlain Valley, for example, recently hosted a short-eared owl, an endangered species in New York State, during breeding season. Scarce species such as the sedge wren and the rapidly declining golden-winged warbler also inhabit places protected by the land trust. In fact, these lands support some of the only known This mosaic of breeding populations of these three species in the Adirondacks. habitats presents
Black-backed woodpecker, boreal birding opportunities chickadee and Canada jay can be unequaled in the found on a preserve we manage Northeast. on the edge of Bloomingdale Bog (the preserve is not open to the public at this time). Often referred to as the boreal trio, these species are highly coveted by birders who plan vacations for a chance of catching a glimpse. Birds are an economic driver — a $41 billion-dollar annual industry in the U.S. — according to a 2016 study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As we work to conserve more land and connect more people to nature, our understanding of Adirondack bird abundance and distribution is increasing. We are encouraged by a resurgence of bird-watching and its growing popularity among younger and diverse groups of people. To learn more about Adirondack birdlife and how to get involved in bird conservation, please check out our field trip and workday schedule on page 7, and join one of my guided bird walks. See you on the trails! spring 2022 | 5
O rganizatio n al U pdat e s
Aaron Thomas Starts Work as Farmland & Stewardship Specialist Aaron Thomas joined the team in February and has jumped right into working with farmers, landowners and other partners for the sustainability of Adirondack farms and food systems. Aaron came to the Adirondack Land Trust after working with the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts and United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to help farmers develop conservation plans and manage natural resources. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with North Country farmers for a positive impact on the land and local food system,”
Aaron said. “Farmers are not alone in working toward a sound economic and environmental future for their lands, and I look forward to making new connections and learning from the region’s farming community.” Aaron was raised on a small farm in Central New York and has lived in the Plattsburgh area for 10 years. He studied at SUNY Plattsburgh and William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, earning a B.S. in environmental science with a focus on climate change and agriculture. When not working, he enjoys road trips to see family and friends, seeing live music, and relaxing on the shores of Lake Champlain with his dog, Levon.
Elizabeth Folwell, of Blue Mountain Lake, Joins the Board Elizabeth (Betsy) Folwell came to the Adirondacks in 1976 and has lived in Blue Mountain Lake ever since. She was the first education coordinator at what was then called the Adirondack Museum and with her husband, Tom Warrington, operated a general store in town. She directed the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, likewise in Blue Mountain Lake, a year-round community arts center from 1980-88. In 1989 she joined the staff of Adirondack Life as assistant editor and eventually became creative director in 2005.
In 2021 she retired from the magazine, with hundreds of articles and essays in the rear-view mirror. She is the author of Short Carries: Essays from Adirondack Life and the first edition of The Adirondack Book. Since 2017 Betsy and Tom have been bringing a 1946 Silk City diner back to life in Blue. The restaurant — Chef Darrell’s Mountain Diner—opened in June 2021 and is a rare oasis on NYS Route 30 where travelers can get hot chowder, a two-fisted Reuben and eggs any style, as well as a heaping dose of friendly from Chef Darrell Spencer himself.
Emily Burns to Gauge Land Protection Impact in 2022 Internship We are delighted to announce that Emily Burns has been selected for the Adirondack Land Trust 2022 Internship for the Future of the Adirondacks. Emily will apply GIS, statistical analysis and data visualization skills to measure, compare and communicate the impacts of the Adirondack Land Trust’s work on Adirondack communities and ecological integrity. Emily studies biology and statistics at St. Lawrence University, with a focus on how natural and agricultural ecosystems 6 | spring 2022
interact with socioeconomic factors. They also tutor St. Lawrence students in scientific writing and reading comprehension. “Having lived in Tupper Lake my whole life, my love for the Adirondacks goes beyond just the scenery — it is the place that raised me,” Emily says. The Internship for the Future of the Adirondacks was established in 2020 by conservationists Barbara Glaser and the late Clarence Petty (1905–2009), thanks to the generosity and assistance of Clarence’s son Ed.
2022 Field Trips & Workdays
Photo left (Elizabeth Folwell) © Nancie Battaglia; Above: red trillium and workday © Bill Brown; caspian tern © Derek Rogers
Field Trips
Volunteer Workdays
Sunday, May 8 Mother’s Day Wildflower Hike Coon Mountain Preserve, Westport; 11 a.m.– 2 p.m.
Saturday, June 25 Glenview Preserve, Harrietstown Time TBA
Leaders: Dan Spada and Ray Curran, volunteers with the Northern Forest Atlas, Adirondack Botanical Society and NY Flora Association. Dan and Ray are also former leaders of the Adirondack Park Agency natural resource division.
We’re seeking volunteers to help us expand and manage a native pollinator garden within the preserve. Volunteers will help prepare new areas for seeding and tend a recently seeded plot. We’ll also have fun learning about citizen science tools and initiatives such as iNaturalist and eBird.
Coon Mountain is bursting with wildflowers around Mother’s Day, and you don’t have to be a mom to sign up for this moderate 1.4-mile round trip summit hike, including a steep and rocky section, with stops along the way to enjoy the woodland flora.
Saturday, May 14 World Migratory Bird Day Walk Noblewood Park, Willsboro; 8–10 a.m.
Leader: Derek Rogers, Adirondack Land Trust stewardship manager and Adirondack region editor for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird program and the NYS Ornithological Association journal The Kingbird. Derek will lead a walk at the Town of Willsboro’s Noblewood Park (protected in partnership with The Nature Conservancy’s Adirondack Chapter), a top birding destination. The forest and a sandy delta at the Boquet River mouth host amazing bird diversity.
Friday, May 27 Bird Hike Glenview Preserve, Harrietstown; 8–10 a.m. Leader: Derek Rogers, Adirondack Land Trust stewardship manager and Adirondack region editor for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird program and the NYS Ornithological Association journal The Kingbird. This is a chance to experience the Adirondack Land Trust’s Glenview Preserve, which hosts a diverse suite of bird species—from grassland and boreal specialists to colorful warblers—on a mosaic of habitat types. The hiking is easy-to-moderate but may include uneven and wet ground.
Friday, July 15 Glenview Preserve, Harrietstown Time TBA Lend a gloved hand as we continue to beautify this beloved vista with debris removal. We’ll weave in some citizen science, birding and perhaps even some invasive species management. For field trip details see adirondacklandtrust.org/ FieldTrips. To learn more or sign up, please contact Kathy Woughter at kathy.woughter@adirondacklandtrust.org or (518) 576-2400 x113. All events are contingent on weather and changes in health and safety guidance.
Sign Me Up
We hope to open more volunteer opportunities and resume occasional office volunteer work as health and safety allow. If you’re interested in volunteering and would like to be informed about future fieldwork or other opportunities, please let us know what interests you: adirondacklandtrust.org/About-Us/Volunteer
spring 2022 | 7
PO Box 130, Keene, NY 12942
update Spring 2022
© Erika Bailey
Save the Dates Flat Rock Concert A Benefit for the Adirondack Land Trust Flat Rock Camp, Willsboro, NY Sunday, August 7, 2022; 3:30 p.m. Chamber music for flute, strings and piano
Courtesy of Garnet Hill Lodge
Adirondack Land Trust Annual Meeting Garnet Hill Lodge, North River, NY Saturday, August 13, 2022; time TBA Keynote speaker Bill McKibben, field trips, and in-person connection with ALT friends Event details will be mailed and posted at AdirondackLandTrust.org/ events. For more information, please contact Kimberly Corwin-Gray at kimberly.gray@adirondacklandtrust.org or (518) 576-2400 x104