"Traveling across America to meet individuals protecting the places people love, and sharing their stories."

In addition to meeting with the Land Conservation team at Western Reserve Land Conservancy, I also had a chance to meet with some of the Development and Communications staff.

In this podcast you will hear about how the staff of the Conservancy adjust their outreach for different audiences (in part from the merger, but also due to a greater area of operation).  We also discuss accreditation and the challenges associated with appropriating the time and money to commit to accreditation.

Leah Whidden and Kim Bihler are teaching a session at Rally(Seminar 16: Engagement: The New Outreach).  Space is still available for their session — and you can still register online.

Listen in and then check out their website for more information.

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Running Time 15:09

Note: A special note of thanks to Rich Cochran for hosting me while I was visiting with Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

Notes: Intro and outgo music is from Tempest (de havilland vampire) by The Brothers Femme.

I had mentioned earlier that I visited Western Reserve Land Conservancy on the 40th anniversary of the Cuyahoga River Fire (not the only fire, I regret to say, but the most famous).

In this podcast you will hear from some of the staff of the land protection team at the conservancy.  We talked a lot about the merger of eight land trusts which resulted in the formation of Western Reserve Land Conservancy.  Later, a discussion on how each of the team members became involved with the land trust led to an inspiring personal story of motivation to protect a property.

Listen in and then check out their website for more information.

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Note: A special note of thanks to Rich Cochran for hosting me while I was visiting with Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

Notes: Intro and outgo music is from Tempest (de havilland vampire) by The Brothers Femme.

Earlier on my journey, I had a chance to meet with Downeast Lakes Land Trust, which is protecting very large properties.  But while I was in Philadelphia I had a chance to meet with Neighborhood Gardens Association / A Philadelphia Land Trust, which works to protect small plots of land (many of which are smaller than an acre) in the heart of the city.

Terry Mushovic, the Executive Director of Neighborhood Gardens,  talks about the complexities of acquiring land in the city, such as navigating the various government agencies for land transfer.  She discusses how the organization was founded and how they reach out to the community (including a Facebook page).  She also talks about the desire to grow the outreach and involvement of urban land trusts within the greater land trust community, and the value of urban land trusts which can not be measured in acres.

Stay tuned at the conclusion of the interview for contest details.

Listen in and then check out their website for more information.

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Notes: Intro and outgo music is from Tempest (de havilland vampire) by The Brothers Femme.

After meeting with Jeffrey Marshall, I sat down to meet with Marian Sumner, Vice President, Planning & Implementation, of the Heritage Conservancy.

Marian talks about the comprehensive strategic plan which they recently undertook at the same time they were going through accreditation.  She also discusses how she got involved in land conservation.  We round out the podcast with a discussion of a project the Conservancy has been working on in New Jersey.   A great project for land conservation, with many opportunities for public outreach.

Listen in and then check out their website for more information.

You can also learn more about accreditation and the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

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Notes: Intro and outgo music is from Tempest (de havilland vampire) by The Brothers Femme.

While in Philadelphia, I had a chance to take the train up to Doylestown, to visit Jeffrey Marshall of the Heritage Conservancy, in historic Aldie Mansion. Heritage Conservancy has a focus on historic preservation in addition to land conservation.

You will learn about the land trust, how they came to acquire and restore the mansion, and their experience with accreditation.  As a land trust that has been in service for over 50 years, they have many experiences which would not meet current standards and practices.

Listen in and then check out their website for more information.

You can also learn more about accreditation and the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

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Notes: Intro and outgo music is from Tempest (de havilland vampire) by The Brothers Femme.

Are you going to Rally, or thinking about going to Rally?  Many of the people I have met while traveling have told me just how important attending Rally has been to their success.  Many are attending Rally, so you will have a chance to meet in person the individuals you have already met via podcasts.

Now there is a blog to stay abreast of Rally  – the Rally blog.

There are sections to create discussions on various Rally topics, such as field trips and plenary speakers.  There is already a comment on Around Town recomending Voodoo Doughnut and Stumptown Coffee.  I hope there are some good resturaunt recomendations that people will add to the list as well.

There are also specific sessions that are highlighted so you can learn more about a session before attending.

I hope to see you at Rally.  And stay tuned as more information on the contest to win a seminar or field trip will be coming soon.

Continuing my conversation with Karen Martynick, Executive Director, and Jeff Swinehart, Deputy Director of Lancaster Farmland Trust.

You will hear more details about their experience with accreditation, and how they were able to successfully become accredited at the same time they were successfully completing their ambitious strategic plan.  They also discuss how stewardship has become an increasingly important part of their workplan.

Last, but not least, we discuss their connection to Turkey Hill Dairy.  Turkey Hill promotes the land trust through their line of all natural ice cream, with the trust’s logo on display as well as a portion of the proceeds.

Listen in and then check out their website for more information.

You can also learn more about accreditation and the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

Learn more about their connection to Turkey Hill Dairy.

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Note: A special note of thanks to Karen and Jeff for showing me around Lancaster County, and to the people of Turkey Hill Dairy, both for their support of the trust, and for taking the time to meet with me.

Notes: Intro and outgo music is from Tempest (de havilland vampire) by The Brothers Femme.

Working with the Amish community has proven to be a great success for the Lancaster Farmland Trust.  I had a chance to meet with Karen Martynick, Executive Director, and Jeff Swinehart, Deputy Director, to learn about how the land trust was founded and what they have done to ensure a successful relationship with the Amish community.

You will hear that they had an ambitious startegic plan to double the acreage they protect.  They were able to meet that goal, all while going through accreditation.

Listen in and then check out their website for more information.

You can also learn more about accreditation and the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

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Notes: Intro and outgo music is from Tempest (de havilland vampire) by The Brothers Femme.

After a day on the road with Al Karnatz I headed into the main office of Vermont Land Trust to meet with John Roe, Vice President for Land Conservation, and Dennis Shaffer, Vice President for Stewardship. 

Among other things, we talked about the history of Vermont Land Trust, working on a statewide basis, and some of the largest projects they have completed: Champion and Atlas.  There is a lot to learn from the experience of working on these large projects, with cooperation from a number of other organizations, and working with new corporate owners as a property changes hands

Listen in and then check out their website for more information.

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Notes: Intro and outgo music is from Tempest (de havilland vampire) by The Brothers Femme.

Allen Karnatz took me out to the Northwest corner of Vermont to see some dairy farms that have been protected by the land trust and meet with some farmers looking to protect their land.  On the drive back I had a chance pull out my trusty audio recorder and get an interview.  Since we were in a car the audio quality is worse than usual, but I think you will find the story compelling enough to listen in nonetheless. 

Al has been involved in hundreds of projects, many of which have been purchase of development rights.  Al talks about the importance of building relationships with landowners, and their families, considering conserving their land.  He also talks about why farmland conservation is important to him.

Listen in and then check out their website for more information.

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Note: A special note of thanks to Al for driving me arround the countryside all day long.

Notes: Intro and outgo music is from Tempest (de havilland vampire) by The Brothers Femme.