FALL 2008
The Leaflet Newsbrief of
Willistown Conservation Trust
Local Students Bring Talent and Enthusiasm To the Trust W
hether they are raising a flock of laying hens, analyzing deer data, planting native trees, or helping to harvest summer crops, local students have contributed considerable talent and energy to the Trust’s activities this year. Coming from a range of backgrounds and agegroups, they have participated in a variety of ways: through our internship program, stewardship days, school partnerships, Community Farm volunteer program, and more.
Penn State student Kristi Gabriel helps serve at the Rushton Farm Mid-Summer Harvest Celebration and Tomato Tasting.
The Trust was fortunate to have two wonderful interns this year: Kristi Gabriel, a West Chester native attending Penn State University, and Tori Strange, a recent graduate of Elon University and resident of Malvern. Working at different times of the year, they each focused their internship in Land Stewardship, helping with the establishment of the Deer Management Program and other stewardship projects.
Farmer Ashley Brister and Shipley senior Drew Gardner take a break from trellising a row of tomatoes at Rushton Farm.
Drew Gardner, a senior at Shipley, was one of many enthusiastic volunteers at Rushton Farm this summer. He helped with a range of
farm activities, including bed preparation, planting, and harvesting. The farm has also offered a wonderful market to some our area’s young growers. Margaret Thompson, of Berwyn, grows beautiful sunflowers in her backyard garden and offered them at the farm during July and August. Westtown high schoolers Will and George Cauffman sell their “Cauffman Brothers” eggs that their flock of Buff Orpington hens lay in their Malvern backyard.
Thanks to partnerships with local Boy Scout troops and schools, many area students have had a direct hand in planting native trees and shrubs in critical areas. Two local Boy Scouts, Zach Rankin and Harry Swartout, are planning and executing native tree plantings at our Ashbridge and Kirkwood Preserves as their Eagle Scout Leadership Service Projects. Students from Goshen Friends School, Shipley School, and Episcopal Academy have partnered with the Trust to plant native trees and shrubs on both on Trust preserves and on their respective campuses. The Trust looks forward to working with more students over the coming year!
George and Will Cauffman worked in the fields and sold their “Cauffman Brothers” eggs as add-on products to Rushton Farm CSA members.
T h e L e a fl e t is an interim publication to supplement our annual newsletter, The Sycamore. Through The Leaflet , we bring you interesting and timely information about Willistown Conservation Trust activities, stewardship news and upcoming events.