Posts from — June 2009

… That the Cuyahoga River caught on fire.  OK, so it caught on fire a number of times, but this is the most famous incident, and one that played a critical role in the environmental movement.  How could we let our rivers become so polluted, that they could catch on fire? (And just how do you put out a fire on a body of water?)

Compare that to where we are today, and we have made incredible progress in protecting our natural resources.  Part of that story is the huge growth in land trusts.  Private non-profit organizations dedicated to protecting the land that is so important to us – biologically, for our food supply, for historical purposes, for our enjoyment, or for other reasons.

Today I am visiting with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.  It is no coincidence that I am visiting them on the anniversary of the Cuyahoga River fire.  I wanted to see the good work that is being done in a part of our country that at one time seemed so hopeless.

Monadnock Conservancy is the first group I have visited which has been accredited. In this piece you will learn about the conservancy as well as their experience with the accreditation process. You will also hear a bit about how they have reached out to the local communities to better understand what land is important to them for land protection. This goes far beyond impersonal GIS maps, and takes a look what really matters to individuals. You will hear more about this in a future podcast.

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

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Note: With this podcast, I am trying something different and breaking it up into multiple parts, rather than one long podcast.  Please provide me with feedback so I know if this approach works better.

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

Often the decision to protect a proerty is based on a personal connection to that property. Here is the perspective of one of the founding members of the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, and how his desire to protect the land he farmed as a child led to the creation of the land trust, along with help from Jay Espy, who many in the land trust community know.

Mr. Biette also provides his perspective on the land trust’s success in saving Crystal Spring Farm.

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A special note of thanks to Mr. Biette and his wife for hosting me while I was in Brunswick.

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

With a focus on protecting working farms and active agriculture  in Brunswick and Topsham Maine, BTLT has accomplished a lot, and with just one staff. Their key project is Crystal Spring Community Farm.  They own the farm and lease to a farmer.  It is also the site for their weekly farmers market.

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

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Learn more about Community Supported Agriculture.

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

I have had a wonderful first two weeks of my journey through the Northeast. I am behind on sharing podcasts (and even more so on sharing photos), but I should have some available to share early this coming week.

Today I say goodbye to the Northeast, head through the Delaware Water Gap and will spend part of the week in Pennsylvania.

The people I have met with and caught up with along the way have been inspiring and shown great hospitality. I am very thankful to them for making this sabbatical so successful.

Working waterfronts are a key component of Maine’s culture.  While preserving a house, store and wharf with a restaurant may not seem to fall in the same category as preserving lake frontage or wetlands, I think it really is.  The tag line for the Land Trust Alliance is: “Together, conserving the places you love”  When you listen to Elsa talk about how important this project was to the community, and how deeply committed people were to seeing it through, you know that it is a place that people love and it needed to be protected.  People do not volunteer their time to scrub toilets for a place they don’t love.

Please note: This was recorded at Cundy’s Harbor over lunch.  The audio is distorted at periods where the wind picked up.  You will also hear hammers pounding and other activity in the background.  I have also edited the audio from over the course of our conversation to arrange it in a way which I hope will be easier for you to follow along (with loons to break up the various sections).

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Learn more about the Trust for Public Land.
Learn more about Holbrook Community Foundation and visit their blog.

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

Unity to Wisdom podcasts can now be found on iTunes.  If the link does not work for you, please let me know.  You can also find the podcasts by searching directly on iTunes.

The first two podcasts are not showing up and I will get that fixed as soon as possible.

Update: The first two files are now availble via iTunes as well.

Buy, Restrict, Resell.  But what happens when the old farmhouse on the property burns down just days before you close on the sale?  This is a great story of the unexpected challenges that a land trust can face.  And it happened to one of the oldest land trusts in Maine — Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, which is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year.

How did it all work out?  What other stories do they have to share?  Listen in and find out, and then check out their website for more information.

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Learn more about the Land Trust Alliance’s ADVOCATES network.

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

What happens when a deal is dependent on selling a house on the property and the house burns down?

Well, you will just have to wait and see.  (My audio editor hit an error so I need to re-edit the file with my interview with Maureen Hoffman of Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association — but I can tell you it will be worth listening to)

They have only completed two projects, therefore they must be a small land trust, right?  Not when the two projects have protected tens of thousands of acres.  And their third project, which they are working on right now?  Over 20,000 acres.

How can a small land trust in a small town accomplish so much?  Listen in and find out, and then check out their website for more information.

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The workshop that Mark is presenting at Rally is session A19

A special note of thanks to Lindsay Wheaton, who is not only president of the Board of Directors for Downeast Lakes Land Trust, but also runs Grand Lake Lodge.  If you travel up to Grand Lake Stream, I strongly suggest you spend a night in one of their cabins.

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