Land Savers SPRING 2020
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Vol. 23, Issue 1
Meet Kyle Simpson, Program Director for Central Virginia History Still Standing on Reedy Creek Planning in Uncertain Times
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Blue Ridge Land Conservancy
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Promoting the conservation of western Virginia’s natural resources- farms, forests, waterways, and rural landscapes
How the heck are you?
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Diana K. Christopulos, PhD, President Lowell F. Inhorn, MD, President-Elect Ruth T. Dickerson, Treasurer Fiona M. Tower, Secretary A.Sidney Barritt III, MD Dominic M. Basile Maureen McNamara Best Helen A. Burnett Thomas M. Dunkenberger Jr. Renee D. Godard, PhD William M. Hackworth William Hunley George A. Kegley Wendy W. Kendrick Betty H. Lesko Susan E. McSwain J. Walton Milam III Robert C. Mountcastle Timothy J. Rowe Sr. Isabel R. Thornton Ann Bondurant Trinkle Jill Woltz
ADVISORY COUNCIL M. Rupert Cutler, PhD Lucy R. Ellett Liza T. Field Talfourd H. Kemper Robert B. Lambeth Jr. Janet Scheid
STAFF
David C. Perry, Executive Director Meagan R. Cupka, Assistant Director Tina L. Badger, Project Manager Kate K. Glass, Stewardship Assistant James C. “Chris” Holdren, Southern VA Program Manager Kyle Simpson, Central Virginia Program Manager 27 Church Ave. SW Roanoke, VA 24011 540-985-0000 blueridgelandconservancy.org
ABOUT THE COVER
“Lloyd’s Mill on Reedy Creek in Halifax County” By: Tina Badger
In my head, I didn’t say “heck.” What a time. Are you well? What are you all doing to keep yourselves sane and keep the “Quarantine 15” off your waistlines? This is the place where the executive director is supposed to offer words of wisdom and encouragement, but folks…I’m tapped out. Shoot, by the time you get this in your mailboxes, I’m not even sure any wisdom and encouragement I offer today will be relevant. But, circumstances have never stopped me from offering unsolicited advice before, so here goes. (I like numbered lists.) 1. Really, how are you? Are you well, bored, lonely, sick, happy, sad, thriving in a Zen-like state of natural bliss on your porch, halfway through the same book you’ve read three times, or something else? Will you send me an e-mail at dperry@brlcva.org? You can call me at (540) 985-0000, ext. 1, and I’ll call you back if you want some old-fashioned vocal interaction. You can Zoom with us too, or send a snail mail to the address on the back cover. 2. The very important work you care about—saving land—is continuing. Our staff is on the phone and computer, working daily with folks who want to conserve their family farms, their mountainsides and their creeks, all over the western part of the state. Saving the special places you care about matters, and we’re hard at it. That’s it. I lie here on the foldup bed in our basement, in my sweatpants, laptop and cell phone at the ready, as my son plays Xbox nearby. I write these words, wondering what next week will bring. Wondering what’s for lunch today. Just like many of you. TL;DR (too long; didn’t read): How are you? Let us know. And know that we’re still saving the wonderful Virginia outdoors you love. Be well, and we’ll all see each other very soon in better times. We will.
Dave
Dave Perry
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Meet Kyle Simpson!
From BRLC’s Winter Intern
Kyle Simpson joined our staff the first of the year as the new program manager for the Central Virginia Land Conservancy. Kyle, a Texas native, holds a master’s degree in park and resource management from Slippery Rock University and a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern University. After working seasonal positions with the National Park service through high school and college, Kyle served as Sanctuary Manager and Executive Director for the Chattanooga Audubon Society for seven years. He is an avid whitewater canoeist and builds paddles in his spare time. Kyle, his wife, and two kids live in Lynchburg.
I’ve had a wonderful opportunity in coming to work for the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy this January. The atmosphere here is amazing and you can tell that everyone here cares deeply about what they do. This attitude is what made my time here one I will remember long after I leave. I have gotten hands on experience with things I only learned briefly about in my classes and I believe this will be something that I will use in the real world when I graduate. Thank you Blue Ridge Land Conservancy for a wonderful month!
—Karlee Campbell, Intern
TABLE OF CONT E N T S • S P R IN G 2 02 0
From the Director......................................................2 Meet Central Virginia Land Conservancy’s Program Manager..................3 History is Standing Strong on Reedy Creek.................................................................................. 4 What’s Happening With Our Events?......... 6
John Lipscomb’s conserved farm along Catawba Creek. Winter 2018–2019 |2 Photo by Meagan Cupka
HISTORY IS STANDI By David Perry
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Reedy Creek as it runs where “The Pond” was once located
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t was a chilly February day that took me down the winding roads of Halifax County to Reedy Creek and Larry Roller’s wooded retreat. In 2019, Larry conserved his family farm with the Blue Ridge Land Conservency. Larry met me in the wonderful “tree house” - a small structure on stilts - that he started as a project for his grandchildren. We sat in his office up in the air chatting about the land, how he acquired it, and his family history in the area while the wind rocked and swayed the trees, and us.
old mill. Larry shared with me what he has done to create habitat for a variety of animals. He has planted switch grass and partridge pea as cover for quail, which he likes to hunt. He sees the land as a wildlife habitat, not a commodity as many see it. He compared it to having a family pet. The land does not have a voice and needs someone to be an advocate for it. Most people would not give a pet away without knowing it was going to be taken care of and Larry believes it is the same with the land.
Larry’s family acquired about 500 acres of land in the late 1800s. It was eventually divided amongst seven children. Larry has been fortunate to have access to the land since his childhood and naturally it holds many fond memories for him. His family at one time grew tobacco on the land and have always used it for hunting. The history of the land is an interesting one that still holds on today. In the 1840s a grist mill was built on Reedy Creek to serve the local residents. While the Mosley family built it, the locals have always called the mill Lloyd’s Mill. To run the mill the builders dammed Reedy Creek and created a seven-acre pond to feed a canal that ran to the mill. The water from the canal could be controlled to turn the wheel and power the mill mechanisms. In 1940 a flood caused the pond to breech the dam and the mill ceased operation. The old mill stood for a long time after the flood until vandals came and cut beams from the structure eventually causing it to fall.
When asked why he chose to put a conservation easement on his land Larry was quick to name Ward Burton as a friend and influencer. Ward Burton is the founder of the Ward Burton Wildlife
Foundation and has played a significant role in conservation in Southern Virginia. Larry says he has learned a lot about habitat management and conservation from Ward over the years. Larry says that every time he walks the land he sees something different. As I walked with him I could understand just what he meant. The landscape is so varied, from field to forest to creek there is a lot of diversity to be found. Throughout his life Larry’s father showed him by example to be happy with what you have, and it is clear that Larry is very happy with the land where Reedy Creek runs, the wind sings through the trees, and history remains for all to see.
Landowner Larry Roller stands by the remains of Lloyd’s Mill on Reedy Creek in Halifax County.
After we chatted about the history of the land, Larry took me on a walk to the Spring 2020
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What’s W
ith so much uncertainty you may be wondering what has happened with our spring events and upcoming summer and fall events. Naturally, that uncertainty is still a factor but we’re still planning and working with the future in mind! Unfortunately our spring educational events were cancelled and unable to be rescheduled for the year. We really missed seeing Floyd County and Salem City 4th graders at our watershed education programs. Hopefully, we can look forward to our fall educational programs with Botetourt County, Roanoke County, and Roanoke City. Normally our Outdoor Adventure Series would kick off in late spring/early summer.
Go to careasy.org/how-it-works to learn how to donate your car! 6 | Spring 2020
happening with our upcoming events? This year we have decided to tentatively plan for an abbreviated series in August, September, and October. Plans are in the works for a stream school, a hike, and a full moon hike – maybe even on Halloween! Watch our websites and social media for updates! Our biggest event of the year, the Conservation Celebration, is planned for September 27, 2020. The events committee is working hard to put plans in place and will of course keep abreast of the Covid-19 situation. Let’s hope that we can gather together (online or in-person) and celebrate in the fall.
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27 Church Avenue SW Roanoke, Virginia 24011 Phone/Fax 540-985-0000
Member of:
www.blueridgeconservancy.org
The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a mark of distinction in land conservation. BRLC is also a proud member of the Land Trust Alliance, Virginia’s United Land Trusts, and the Virginia Conservation Network.
Giving during a Pandemic Y
ou’ll find a donation envelope in the middle of this edition of your land conservancy newsletter.
that you hold dear, from Pulaski to Mecklenburg, from Waynesboro to Stuart, and all points in between.
What? Asking for donations during a pandemic? Isn’t that a little tone deaf? People have lost jobs and the economy is crashing!
You may not be able to make a donation right now. And we understand that. We get it! Our family members, friends and loved ones have lost jobs and retirement income too.
All good points. But… …the important work you care about so much continues here at the Blue Ridge and Central Virginia land conservancies. We’re still saving land the land you love. We’re still talking with landowners who want to protect their family farms forever. We’re still safeguarding more than 25,000 acres of beautiful Virginia land
envelope or make a gift at brlc.org or cvalc.org. Thanks for all you do—and be well!
But if you’re in a position to give, please do. Because our planet, and little our green corner of it here in Virginia, needs you, pandemic or not. You can send in the donation Land conservancy staff and volunteers meet with a landowner in Nelson County.
