Gardens in the Watershed 19th Annual Tour

VOLUME 24, NUMBER 2
SUMMER 2010
Gardens in the Watershed
19th Annual Tour
Sunday, July 11, GRLT will hold its 19th annual “Gardens in
the Watershed” tour, featuring six gardens in the lower watershed towns of Cushing, South Thomaston and Thomaston. The
self-guided tour takes place from 10 am to 5 pm, rain or shine.
The garden tour is a wonderful way to explore the Georges
River watershed and offers participants an opportunity to visit
six interesting gardens, view fields, woodland and tidal landscapes, and to contribute to the Land Trust's effort in conserving special places.
This year's gardens offer a small farm with 30 varieties of
roses, cut flower beds for market, fruit trees, and a kitchen garden, two gardens overlooking the St. George River with abundant perennial beds, two “in-town” gardens hidden away offering retreats in a suburban environment, and an English style
cottage garden bordering Ballyhac Cove with beds of peony,
iris, rose and delphinium.
Three short garden talks are planned throughout the day at
different garden sites: Gregory Moore, organic gardener, will
speak at Heartfelt Farm on Sustainable Gardening; Gwen
Patro, a gardener from Islesboro, will give a talk and demonstration of flower arranging; and Loretta Krupinski, artist and
gardener, will show you how to attract wildlife to your garden.
There is an extensive list of raffle items to choose from ranging
from garden gift baskets, garden sculpture, two yards of loam,
and multiple gift certificates from area nurseries and flower
shops!
Tickets are priced at $25 by advance purchase and $28 on
the day of the tour. Tickets and brochures for the self-guided
tour will be available at selected local stores, Key Bank branches in Rockland and Camden, and from the GRLT office. A gourmet bag lunch is available for $9 by pre-order.
We are grateful to Camden National Bank for being our
major sponsor this year for the fourth year running, and to more
than 80 other businesses and individuals whose contributions
support the garden tour. Deep appreciation goes to the garden
owners who are busily making preparations for your visit and to
the volunteers who will be helping on tour day.
The Gardens in the Watershed Tour is not only great fun and
manna to garden enthusiasts, it is also a wonderful way to
enjoy the natural beauty of the Georges River watershed with
family and friends. Hope to see you in the gardens!
Riverfront gardens in Cushing
Farm and Forest
Protected in Montville
Along the southeastern face of Hogback Mountain in
Montville, at the headwaters of the St. George River, is a 120acre farm owned by the Veronesi Family, who for the last 30
years, have dedicated their energies to manage the woodland,
grow fruit trees, maintain open pastures, and otherwise farm
and care for the land. This year, the Georges River Land Trust
accepted a conservation easement on this rich and varied
property.
Placing their land under easement seemed very natural to
the Veronesi family who strongly believe it is their responsibility to leave the land in better condition than they found it and to
protect it for future generations. Edwin spent years with his
father Harold reestablishing fields and planting a wide variety of
trees, including individual specimen trees of Siberian larch,
ponderosa pine and black walnut, to name a few. They
explored the history of the property to discover possible links
to early Native American use. They dug a small, spring-fed
pond, suitable for trout fishing. Twenty years ago on the summer solstice they witnessed a beaver dam break and over the
years this large beaver pond turned into a significant shrub
swamp. Fifteen years ago, they opened their farm to the annual Gardens in the Watershed Tour of the Georges River Land
Trust. As partners with the land, they have created a place that
honors its natural assets and celebrates its history.
View of Hogback Mountain, fields and woodland
This easement came to the Land Trust through a unique set
of circumstances. The Town of Montville has held the easement
for the past twenty years. Last year, the selectmen approached
Georges River Land Trust to explore the possible transfer of the
easement. We enthusiastically agreed, recognizing the diverse
conservation values, its proximity to the Georges Highland
Path on Frye and Hogback Mountains, and the importance of
conserving this headwaters property. While not the typical
course of events, this easement required a vote of the towns'
people giving permission to transfer the easement to GRLT.
The Land Trust looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship
with this land and the Veronesi family.
Welcome Back, Hogback
The Hogback Mountain section of the Georges Highland
Path in Montville is open once again. Timber harvesting along
a significant section of the trail by two landowners caused us
to close the trail for safety reasons in 2008. As the harvest
wound down, it became apparent that we needed to relocate a
half-mile portion of the trail. Linwood Doughty, already one of
our partner landowners on Hogback Mountain, graciously
offered us permission to use a corridor through another area of
his property to keep the trail to the summit intact. A group of
Trail Adopters put the finishing touches on the “new” trail in
early May and it is now ready for visitors. So lace up your
boots, grab your pack, and check it out!
Need directions? From the intersection of Routes 3 and 220
in Liberty, follow 220 north for 6.5 miles to Walker Ridge Road
on the right. Park at the Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife maiintenance building lot and then walk orth on Route 220 for 500
feet to the trailhead on your left.
2
It's So Easy Being Evergreen!
New Members
Welcome and many thanks to all of the
new members (so far) in 2010!
Thank you to everyone who renewed their membership for
2010! Our monthly givers' program, Evergreen Circle, is a wonderful way to make a monthly gift and provide the reliable support that is so vital to saving the beautiful landscapes of the St.
George River watershed.
Priscilla & William Ambrose
Ida & Fred Berg
John Bisignano
Donna A. Busch & John R. Green
Alice Carroll
Sarah Crosby
Douglas W. Curtis
Morris David Dorenfeld
Peter Duffey & Caroline Beard
Julianne Edmondson
Fred Erdman & Cindy Cole
Bob & Nancy Hall
Arthur & Marianne Hamlin
Bob & Pettina Harden
Heather Jackson
E.L. & Doris Kilayko
Jon & Lucy Levenseler
Kenneth Louis
Jim & Susan Margraf
Thomas Mellor
James Nichols
Peter Proeller
Reba Richardson & Bill Pluecker
Philip and Laurie Rule
Walter & Barbara Sexton
Edward & Sarah Shapiro
Charles Siletti
Dave & Ginny Trask
Protecting the most ecologically important lands and waters
in our region—from the headwaters on Frye Mountain to the
nursery waters near Thomaston—requires long-term, innovative, science-based work. Effective conservation is a long-term
process; and to successfully accomplish that, we rely on
steady, predictable funding.
When you make a monthly commitment to GRLT, it means
our field staff can remain focused on critical conservation priorities. What's more, the Evergreen Circle helps GRLT reduce
fundraising expenses by eliminating the need to send paper
reminders to renew your commitment.
Here is how it works: You determine the amount of your
monthly donation. We will charge your pledge to your credit
card each month (charges are made on or around the same
date each month). Each January, we will send you an annual
giving statement which can be used for tax purposes. Your
membership will automatically renew each year, ensuring that
you will never miss an issue of Currents newsletter.
Lena & Bengt Wallstrom
Tom & Virginia Williams
Any time you would like to update your personal or giving
information, simply phone us at 594-5166 or email us at
[email protected]. It's simple, secure and one of the best ways that
you can support GRLT. Plus, it's paperless!
Watershed Society
Founding Members
The Watershed Society honors those members who have
chosen to leave a legacy to GRLT through estate planning.
Their love of the land and St. George River will live on through
gifts planned in bequests, trusts, annuities, and other planned
giving instruments. We thank them for their generosity, and celebrate their remarkable commitment to conservation!
Mary Ann & Church Carey
Charles Dana Gibson
Jane & John Rasmussen
Bob Rheault & Susan St. John
Jan Rosenbaum & Dora Galitzki
Anita Siegenthaler
Wickham & Alice Skinner
If you have planned for a gift to GRLT through your estate,
please let us know so we can recognize you as a member of
the Watershed Society!
3
Foods from Our Watershed
Walking along the shores of the St. George River with 5th
graders from Thomaston Grammar School, the conversation
focused not on frogs or fish, but on food. These inquiring students, participants in the Quest Program, posed questions
about the food we eat that originates on the land and in the
river of our watershed. What foods are locally grown in this
place we call home? How many of us rely on local foods, and
how does conservation affect our ability to eat local foods in
the future?
Today there are many more opportunities to eat locally
grown food and support local farms than 10 years ago, including those that have been conserved to perpetuate farming over
other kinds of development. One of the central tenants of the
Georges River Land Trust is to conserve working landscapes
Helping hands at Hatchet Cove Farm
thus lowering the “carbon footprint”. It helps connect the
farmer to the community, provides delicious and healthy fresh
produce, and offers the opportunity to inspire people to think in
new ways about their food and local agriculture, states Reba.
To answer the questions of the 5th graders, the options for eating locally are diverse including farmers markets, CSA (community supported agriculture), local co-ops, farm stands,
restaurants featuring local foods, and even Hannaford is now
promoting foods close to home.
“We are pleased that the conservation easement
supports but does not hinder our ability to grow
and thrive as a working farm.”
including farms, woodlands and waterfronts. Sixteen farms
from Searsmont to St. George are protected with a conservation easement, where the farmers continue to raise crops such
as apples, vegetables, flowers, blueberries, and livestock.
Agricultural easements protect the land in perpetuity while providing enough flexibility for the farmers to run their businesses.
As Reba Richardson says of Hatchet Cove Farm in Warren,
“We are pleased that the conservation easement supports but
does not hinder our ability to grow and thrive as a working
farm.”
Educating our children about the benefits of local foods, and
conserving the farms where they are raised, will have a lasting
impact on our local watershed. “We love being stewards of
land that will be farmed for years and years to come,” Reba
says. “It is inspiring to us to be able to consider the future farmers of this property when we make decisions that impact the
long-term health of the soil, the water, and the wildlife that
make up the whole of our farm.”
The best arrangement for the farmer is to sell his/her wares
close to home. It keeps shipping and transportation costs low,
A New Face at GRLT
We are excited to welcome Mike Vilchinsky to
our team. Mike is a member of AmeriCorps, the
national volunteer and service program, and is
sponsored in part by the Maine Conservation
Corps. He will be with us through October and
provide much-needed assistance with trail work on
the Georges Highland Path, volunteer coordination,
and outreach activities. Mike lives in Warren on the
St. George River and therefore knows first-hand
the importance of GRLT's mission. “I am very
excited to be here,” Mike says, “and I look forward
to assisting GRLT with its many projects.”
4
GEORGES RIVER
LAND TRUST
Founded in 1987, the mission of the
Georges River Land Trust is to conserve
and steward the natural resources and
traditional character of the Georges River
watershed region for the public benefit.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alvin Chase, President, Warren
Phil McKean, Vice-President, Cushing
Richard Matlack, Treasurer, Owls Head
Tom Neely, Secretary, Appleton
Pat Ashton, Spruce Head
Christine Beacham, Liberty
David Elliot, Whitefield
David Farmer, Cushing
Mandy Funkhouser, Spruce Head
Marcie Porter, Searsmont
Jim Robbins, Searsmont
Ken Wexler, Owls Head
STAFF
Executive Director
Gail Presley
Administrative Assistant
Linda Arnold
Stewardship Program Manager
Jay Astle
Conservation Program Manager
Annette Naegel
Currents is the publication of the
Georges River Land Trust © 2010.
Design and layout by
Betsy Welch Design.
Currents is printed on recycled paper
using soy ink.
Wish List
Monday, June 7, 3-5 pm.
Tour of Port Clyde Fisheries led by Glenn Libby,
chairman of the Midcoast Fishermen's
Association.
Learn about this Community
Supported Fisheries program. Limited to 25, Call
GRLT office at 594-5166 to reserve a space and
for directions to tour site.
Thursday, June 10, 9-11 am.
Wildflower Walk in West Rockport. Local naturalist Wanda Garland will identify spring wildflowers
and look for lady slippers on the Oyster River Bog
section of the Georges Highland Path. Meet at
Von Saltza trailhead on Route 90, 2 miles west of
Route 17 junction.
Saturday, June 19, 5-8 pm.
Celebrate the St. George River, a fundraising
party for GRLT at Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding in
Thomaston. For further information and reservations, please call GRLT.
Saturday, June 26, 9 am-12 pm.
Paddle the St. George River in Union. Explore
Seven Tree Pond with David Farmer and Sid
Quarrier, GRLT volunteers. Bring canoes, life
jackets, and lunch. Meet at Ayers Park in Union.
Take Rte. 235 South from Union village to Ayers
Park on the left.
Sunday, July 11.
19th Annual Gardens in the Watershed Tour, 10
am-5 pm, rain or shine. Visit six country gardens
in Cushing, South Thomaston and Thomaston.
Gourmet lunch available and over 20 raffle items.
Purchase tickets at area outlets or call GRLT.
Thursday, July 22, 10 am-noon.
Hike on Hogback Mountain with Jay Astle, GRLT
staff, and Buck O'Herin of Sheepscot Wellspring
Land Alliance.
Meet at the Sheepscot
Headwaters Trail Network parking area at the
base of Whitten Hill Road in Montville, just off
Route 220. Bring snack and water.
Trailhead kiosk for Pleasant Point
Nature Preserve - $300
Bog bridges for Ridge to
River Trail - $250
Reprint of Georges Highland
Path brochures - $250
Saturday, July 24, 9 am-1 pm.
River Paddle up the St. George River from
Thomaston to Warren, led by Dick Matlack, GRLT
Board member. Meet at Thomaston Town Landing
on Water Street. Bring boat, lunch, and PFD's.
2 Orange parking cones - $30
Friday, August 6, 8-10 am.
Morning Bird Walk at the Weskeag Marsh led by
Don Reimer and Bill Goodwill, volunteers of GRLT
and Mid-Coast Audubon. Meet at the Buttermilk
Lane Parking area, one mile from Route 1, South
Thomaston. Bring binoculars and wear boots.
Registration required, limit of 20 people. Call
GRLT to register.
Many thanks to the following
for donating items in our
winter wish list:
Marshall & Judy Sonksen
for new GHP trail sign
Diana Rigg for two
table top easels
George Shaw for
laptop carrying case
5
EVENTS
Saturday, August 14, 9:30 am-12noon.
Nature walk into the Rockland Bog to identify bog
plant life. Short hike into the Cranberry Bog, led
by Gary and Ida Clarke, followed by investigation
and identification of the bog plants of this area
with naturalist Wanda Garland. Limited to 20 people, call GRLT to register and get directions.
Sunday, August 22
GRLT Annual Celebration & Business Meeting, 36 pm. See page 6 for details.
Monday, August 30, 10-11 am & 1-3 pm.
Two Guided Walks on the History of Canals cosponsored with the General Henry Knox
Museum. First walk will take place at Payson
Park, led by Sophia Mendoza from the General
Henry Knox Museum, and second walk will be led
by David Getchell, GRLT volunteer, in Searsmont
at the Canal Path. Call GRLT for directions.
Wednesday, September 1, 7-9 pm.
Presentation about the History of the St. George
River Canals given by Sophia Mendoza,
Education Coordinator at the General Henry Knox
Museum. Talk to be held in the oval room at the
General Henry Knox Museum, 28 High Street,
Thomaston. Co-sponsored with the Georges
River Land Trust. For more information call 3548062.
Saturday, September 11, 9-11 am.
Moss and Lichen Walk at Pleasant Point Nature
Preserve in Cushing, led by naturalist Fred Olday.
Meet at the preserve parking area on Stone's
Point Road, on the left just off the lower portion of
Pleasant Point Road. Bring hand lens, snack, and
water.
Saturday, September 18, 9 am-noon.
Photographing Nature on the Appleton Preserve,
a morning workshop with photographer Benjamin
Magro. Learn different ways to see nature and
how to tell a story about the river. Participants will
need digital or film camera, and have a good
working knowledge of the manual operation of
their cameras prior to the session. This workshop
is limited to 25 people. Please call GRLT to register.
Saturday, October 2, 10 am-noon.
Hike on Ragged Mountain in Camden/Rockport.
Co-sponsored by GRLT and Coastal Mountains
Land Trust. Meet at the Pendleton Preserve trailhead on Barnestown Road in Camden. Bring
snack and water.
SERVING APPLETON CUSHING HOPE LIBERTY MONTVILLE OWLS HEAD ROCKLAND
ST. GEORGE SEARSMONT SOUTH THOMASTON THOMASTON UNION WARREN
8 North Main Street • Suite 200
Rockland, Maine 04841
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ROCKLAND, ME
207-594-5166
www.grlt.org
[email protected]
PERMIT NO. 141
Inside this issue...
Gardens in the Watershed Tour. . . . . . . . . . 1
Farm and Forest Protected in Montville . . . 2
Welcome Back, Hogback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Membership News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Foods from Our Watershed . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
New Face at GRLT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Come on Board!
So who are those people listed in the Currents masthead as
members of the Board of Directors? What do they do and why
are they there?
They are a diverse group with at least one significant passion in common—the devotion to GRLT's mission of conserving the natural resources of the watershed for the public benefit. The roster includes a bank manager with a young child, a
retired engineer, a developer, a retired minister and anthropologist, and the owner of a lumber mill that practices sustainable
forestry. They live in Liberty, Searsmont, Appleton, St. George,
Owl's Head and Cushing—the watershed, north to south. Each
is an individual with specific skills and interests, but working
together to forward the organization's goals.
As volunteers they support the staff in such areas as public
outreach, fundraising, financial oversight, governance, trail
maintenance, and land stewardship. They enjoy the outdoors,
the beauty of our area, and the quality of life it provides us. And
they know the protection of these assets cannot be taken for
granted.
These Directors are your fellow community members, the
ones you see every day, who are extraordinary in their full commitment to GRLT's cause and activities. Does this sound like
you? If so, we'd like to talk with you about engaging in our future.
SAVE THE DATE:
Sunday, August 22, 2010!
GRLT Annual Members Celebration & Business Meeting,
3-6 pm. Members and friends of GRLT will gather for our annual celebration on the shore of the St. George River in Cushing
at the Antolini property under easement with GRLT. Lyndsay
Tudor and Danielle D'Auria from Maine Inland Fisheries &
Wildlife will speak about shorebirds and herons followed by a
potluck picnic. Come and enjoy the views of the river and heron
rookery, and camaraderie with GRLT members, Board and staff.