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.

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.

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.

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.