FALL 2007
The Leaflet
Newsbrief of W i ll i s t o w n C o n s e r v a t i o n T r u s t
Here’s to the Next Generation of Conservationists! What do parents owe their young that is more important than a warm and trusting connection to the Earth? –Theodore Roszak, The Voice of the Earth
Much has been written of
for children and families. We have recently par tlate about how essential early nered with the Riverbend experiences with nature are Environmental Education to a child’s healthy developCenter in Gladwyne to ment. Time in the outdoors provide more nature-based stimulates all the senses, offers educational opportunities. At a limitless canvas for the imagiour “Pollination Celebration” nation, and kindles creativin June, kids learned about ity which may last a lifetime. bees and butterflies and then Moreover, a recent study by donned their work gloves and Cornell researcher Nancy M. planted a butterfly garden Wells demonstrated that chilat the Trust’s headquarters. dren who have time for free We also held the 2nd annual play in nature grow up to be “Owl Prowl” and stargazing adults who care about their evening at Kirkwood Preserve natural environment and take in October, giving children of action on its behalf. Bee and butterfly hunters rejoice at the Trust’s Pollination all ages a chance to hike in the Celebration held in June. To deepen our children’s woods after dark and learn relationship with the natural environment, Willistown about local nocturnal creatures. Stay tuned for more similar Conservation Trust is expanding its outreach programs events in 2008!
Our Community Farm Program is Up and Running!
All of us at the Trust are excited to announce the launch
of our long awaited Community Farm Program. It was a year ago that the Trustees engaged five MBA students from the Temple University Fox School of Business to study the feasibility of developing a sustainable farming venture under the Trust umbrella. Led by Temple professor Jim Hutchin (a friend, neighbor and easement donor) the students first made the case that a sustainable farming program would align well
with and advance the mission of the Trust, and then spent the next several months developing a business plan to provide a road map for moving forward with the project. A Core Advisory Group of eighteen community members was formed to work with the MBA team throughout the study. We are grateful to this wonderful team (see inset) for their invaluable input and will be depending on their continued participation as the farm venture evolves. (continued on next page)
T h e L e a fl e t is an interim publication to supplement our annual newsletter, The Sycamore. Through The Leaflet, the Trust brings you interesting and timely information about Willistown Conservation Trust activities, stewardship news and upcoming events.
The Leaflet (continued from previous page)
more than a thousand miles before reaching us, the food we buy at the local supermarket hardly can be described as farmfresh. Taste and freshness are certainly compromised, and many of us are increasingly concerned about agricultural chemical usage, genetic modifications to crops, loss of farmland to development, and agricultural run-off, not to mention the thousands of gallons of oil required to deliver the groceries to market.
The Community Farm Program will support the Trust mission by modeling sustainable agricultural practices and promoting the values of open space and natural resource protection to a broad community. By bringing together community members, farmers, and land in a mutually supportive relationship, the farm program will contribute to the growth of local, sustainable food networks and will connect people more closely with the rural landscape and agricultural heritage of the Willistown countryside. After the study was completed, we had the good fortune to hire Fred de Long to be our staff Farm Coordinator. Fred brings a wealth of expertise to the task, having worked on and managed farms in Southeastern Pennsylvania for much of the past 15 years. He has a deep understanding of sustainable farming practices, a desire to educate and engage the community in the program, and a passion for the natural world. Fred hit the ground running in September and is busy refining the plan for the pilot program for the 2008 growing season.
The pilot farm will not only grow fruits and vegetables for the CSA, but will be the centerpiece for community education and hands-on activities that celebrate local food and sustainable farming. We hope to engage many community members, including area residents and their families, area farmers and local chefs. Plans are also in place to share the bounty by partnering with local food banks.
The pilot program will take place on a local property which has been farmed without the use of Fred de Long joins the Trust to manage the new Community Farm Program. pesticides and herbicides. The 2008 season will center on a “Community Supported Agriculture” (CSA) venture. The concept of a CSA is simple but powerful; it is about promoting a relationship between local farmers and the surrounding community, where consumers agree to buy what the farmer produces during the course of the growing season and the farmer provides a reliable source of fresh, locally grown, healthy food. The farmer typically grows a wide variety of food, from arugula to zucchini. Members purchase a “share” in advance, which entitles them to a portion of the harvest each week during the season.
What is Sustainable Farming? The ideal sustainable farm has healthy and productive soils, produces wholesome uncontaminated foods for the community, preserves and enhances surrounding natural areas, and operates at a profit. Sustainable farming serves the needs of the present generation without compromising the opportunity for future generations to enjoy the same benefits of healthy food and a rich and diverse environment.
Community Farm Program Core Advisory Committee Jim Hutchin, Chair Sigi Berwind Betsy Block Amy Broaddus Alice Hausmann Lynn Hitschler Bill Howard Jason Ingle Mark Ledger Jennifer Moller Doug Newbold Deacon Shorr Ellen Simmons Elizabeth Stokes Peter Strawbridge Sandra Thompson Bonnie Van Alen Penny Watkins Sean Weinberg
We will be sharing updates about the Community Farm Program with you in the coming months. Meanwhile, we welcome your thoughts and suggestions. Please feel free to visit our web site at www. wctrust.org, contact Fred de Long at cfd@wctrust.org or 610.353.2562 ext. 22, or stop by the office to meet Fred and share your ideas.
Community Supported Agriculture is an idea whose time has come. Considering that most of the food we eat has traveled 2
The Leaflet
Deer Management Program is Underway
Results of the Trust’s recent Land Stewardship Survey clearly
explain their roles and responsibilities and offer an opportunity for comments and questions. Both meetings included excellent presentations by Brian Byrnes of Audubon Pennyslvania, Doug Fearn of the Lyme Disease Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Keith Mullin of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Tim Smail, a deer management consultant hired to guide the Trust through the process.
identified deer management as a top priority for area landowners, with 94% of respondents ranking it as “extremely important” or “very important.” With grant funds secured from the William Penn Foundation, the Trust has taken this clear directive and commenced with an intensive long-range Deer Management Program (DMP).
The primary objective of the DMP is to bring the local deer Planned activities over the next several months will include herd back into balance with the ecosystem of which it is a part. gatherings for deer hunters who currently hunt or wish to hunt Under this broad objective are four distinct long term goals: within the DMFA. We will also develop a hunter database for landowner use and begin the process of collecting baseline · The restoration of currently degraded native plant plant, bird, Lyme Disease and deer/vehicle collision data for communities, especially woodland understory habitat; comparison purposes as the plan matures. · An improvement in quality and diversity of local bird habitat; Audubon Pennsylvania is a key partner in the development of · A reduction in the incidence of Lyme Disease; and the Deer Management Plan. In 2003, Audubon PA designated · A reduction in the number of deer/vehicle collisions. the Trust’s program area as the Upper Ridley/Crum Important Bird Area (IBA), recognizing the unique role this area serves Managed hunting will be the DMP’s primary method of as critical bird habitat, and emphasizing the need to protect it reducing the deer population. from external pressures. Initial steps carried out during the plan’s first six months have The success of the program ultimately relies upon the involveincluded defining the Deer Management Focal Area (DMFA), ment of local landowners who comprise the Deer Management creating a landowner database for the DMFA, creating a Steering Focal Area and who are committed to the management of Committee to oversee and guide the program and determining the deer on their properties. The Trust will serve as a resource the program’s key indicator goals as a means of measuring the for landowners and hunters throughout the process and we plan’s success over the long run. look forward to an open and collaborative effort to bring the The Trust hosted two evening meetings in July and Septem- local deer herd back in balance with Willistown’s rich natural ber for area landowners to provide an overview of the DMP, resources.
Lisa Rubin, Associate Stewardship Manager at the Trust, shows off a Peregrine Falcon. The falcon discussion concluded a guided bird walk hosted by the Trust last spring at the Kirkwood Preserve. Experts on the walk included Art McMorris, PhD, Trust board member and expert birder, along with botanists Janet Ebert and Jack Holt.
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The Leaflet
Certify Your Property as a Willistown Wildscape
Did you know that you
could make your own property a backyard sanctuary? If you enjoy feeding and watching wildlife, you could certify your property as a Willistown Wildscape. Following guidelines created by either Audubon Pennsylvania or the National Wildlife Federation, you could begin the transformation from a typical landscaped lot to a living participant in the growing mosaic of wildlife habitat
that makes the Willistown countryside so special. Our combined efforts of good land management practices on properties of all sizes and the creation of Willistown Wildscapes can really make a difference, resulting in a better home for birds, butterflies, and people.
Creating a Willistown Wildscape with native plants promotes biodiversity, preserves our natural heritage, requires less maintenance and helps the bird population.
Choose From Two Recognized Home Habitat Programs Audubon Pennsylvania’s Audubon at Home Providing Sanctuary
National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat
Beginning in the spring of 2008, homeowners who register their properties with Audubon Pennsylvania will have access to an array of resources to help create a backyard sanctuary.
National Wildlife Federation’s mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. Locally, the Habitat Resource Network of Southeast Pennsylvania offers assistance with the wildlife habitat certification program and maintains a website with links to local resources.
To register your property:
To register your property:
1. Visit www.audubonathome.org or contact Steven J. Saffier (ssaffier@audubon.org), the Audubon At Home Coordinator with Audubon Pennsylvania. 2. Complete the Audubon at Home application, including photos of your property. 3. Once the application is submitted and approved, you will receive a password enabling you to post your sightings, ideas and questions to the Audubon at Home forum. You will also have the opportunity to obtain a Providing Sanctuary sign.
1. Visit www.habitatresourcenetwork.org or contact Amory and Derek Stedman (610-353-7736 or dcsahs@verizon.net) or Bernard and Susan Cooker (610-644-8084). 2. A site visit will be arranged with a habitat steward and other assistance will be provided at no cost. 3. Once the application is submitted and approved, you will receive a certificate from the National Wildlife Federation. You may also purchase a Certified Wildlife Habitat sign for an additional fee.
Become a Certified Willistown Wildscape
Once you have received your certification recognition through either Audubon Pennsylvania or the National Wildlife Federation —or both!—please send a photocopy of your certification to the Willistown Conservation Trust. Your certified property will be registered in our Willistown Wildscapes database and you will receive a plaque for public display. 4
The Leaflet
‘Tis the Season… to Support the Trust
Each year, approximately 35% of the Willistown ConservationTrust’s operating budget is
Save the Date for the Countryside Bash! Sunday, June 15, 2008
Join us on Father’s Day as we celebrate nearly 30 years of conservation and honor the many landowners, easement donors, farmers, land managers, supporters and volunteers who have made it happen. Don’t miss this family-friendly event at the beautiful “On Point Farm” adjacent to Kirkwood Preserve. The celebration will include a barbeque dinner, live music, haywagon rides and other activities that highlight the countryside. Proceeds will support the Willistown Conservation Trust’s education programs and Preserve maintenance. Sponsors and volunteers needed! Please contact Trisha Lambert at 610-353-2562 ext. 12 or tld@wctrust.org.
As you plan your own year-end philanthropy, please consider renewing your support of the Trust befo re D e c e m b e r 31st. Each gift will further our conservation initiatives in the Willistown countryside and enhance our educational and outreach programs for the entire community.
Mary Hunt Davis
supported by gifts to our Annual Fund—and over half of those gifts arrive in November and December!
Bonnie Van Alen thanks Sycamore Society and Campaign for the Countryside supporters at “Rushton” June 2007. Our next Sycamore Society event, honoring Annual Fund donors of $1,000 or more, will be held at another special place within the Willistown countryside in April 2008.
There are many ways to support Willistown Conservation Trust · Simply sending a check is the easiest—and most common—method of making a gift, and is always welcome! · Increasingly, donors are choosing to make gifts of securities. If the stock shares have appreciated in value, you will receive a tax deduction on their full value and you will not pay capital gains tax on their appreciation. Contact Betsy Block for stock transfer instructions: 610-353-2562 ext. 13. · If you are at least age 70½, you can make a gift directly from your IRA—tax free. This special opportunity is available only through December 31, 2007 for qualified charitable distributions of up to $100,000 per donor. Amounts transferred apply toward the minimum required distributions for the year. · You may choose to support the Willistown Conservation Trust by checking Code 12981 on your United Way pledge form. · Lastly, consider giving a bequest to the Trust through your will.
Every gift makes a difference!
Equipment Wish List
Our stewardship staff would welcome the donation of any of the following equipment. To make an equipment donaLandscaping Tools: Agricultural Equipment: Hand Tools: Tractor (with trailer/wagon for hauling), John Deere Gator, seeder/grain drill with a grass box, fertilizer/ lime spreader, rototiller.
Small and large shovels, edgers, work gloves, small and large clipping shears, hoses, pruners, loppers, rakes, sprinklers, brooms.
Hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, axes, saws, sledge hammers, extension ladders, winch/come along.
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tion, please call Bill Hartman, Director of Stewardship, at 610-353-2562, ext. 14. Thanks for thinking of the Trust!
The Leaflet The Willistown Conservation Trust is dedicated to preserving the open land, rural character, scenic, historic and ecologically significant resources of the Willistown area and nearby communities, with particular emphasis on the Crum, Ridley and Darby Creek watersheds.
Staff Jeanne B. Van Alen President and Executive Director
Betsy H. Block
Director of Development and Public Relations
Dee Ann Bowman Business Manager
Sue R. Costello GIS Coordinator
Fred de Long
Farm Coordinator
William R. Hartman, Jr. Director of Stewardship
Patricia D. Lambert
Event and Volunteer Coordinator
Lisa Kizuik Rubin
Associate Stewardship Manager
Jodi Spragins
Communications and Technology Manager
Elizabeth A. Stokes
Assistant Director of Development
Christopher A. Thompson Director of Land Protection
John G. Turgeon
Associate Director of Land Protection
Pond enthusiasts head out to “Rushton” for a spring workshop which offered an on-site analysis of the pond and an introduction to the ecology and management of small ponds.
Save the Date!
March 4, 2008
Michael Ableman
Farmer · Author · Photographer
Dinner and Lecture
Invitations will be mailed in January 2008
Ableman is a gracious rebel who knows that industrialized farming wrings the life out of both soil and communities. His joy in stewardship and in people celebrates a psychic sustainability that won’t appear on spreadsheets.
W i ll i s t o w n C o n s e r v a t i o n T r u s t 925 Providence Road · Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073 (610) 353-2562 ~ Fax: (610) 325-0869 ~ www.wctrust.org
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– Sierra Magazine
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