Spring 2014 - Athens Land Trust

Newsletter
Land for Conservation & Community
685 N. Pope Street • Athens, Georgia 30601
www.athenslandtrust.org
706.613.0122
Spring 2014 • Volume 17 • Issue 1
Athens Land Trust turns 20!
For the past 20 years, ALT has made homeownership a reality for working families, protected beautiful land throughout Georgia, preserved
family farms, rehabilitated dilapidated historic properties, established community gardens, grown fresh fruits and vegetables for people
in need, offered economic opportunities, provided affordable rental housing, supported entrepreneurs, taught sustainable agriculture to
at-risk youth and beginning farmers, provided counseling for people facing foreclosure or wanting to buy a home, and protected forests,
wetlands, and river corridors that contribute to our air and water quality. Thanks for making this possible!
Farm to School
ALT was very pleased to receive a highly competitive Farm to School
Grant of $99,700 from USDA and a $4,000 grant from PCUSA’s
Hunger Program that will increase the amount of locally grown
food in school meals. The Clarke County Farm to School Program
will engage children in growing food in school gardens and will
purchase fresh produce from local farmers. The grant is based on
research that children are more likely to eat vegetables when they
have helped to grow them. ALT is partnering with the Clarke County
School District, Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful, UGA, and
Clarke County Cooperative Extension. The grant will expand the
current efforts of Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful to include
garden-based education in the schools and of the Clarke County
Nutrition Services to serve local products. The West Broad Market
Garden will become a food hub for food grown on school campuses
and purchased from local farmers. The Agri-Science programs in the
middle and high schools and the Young Urban Farmer Program at
Classic City High School will have the opportunity to assist with food
production for school meals.
Young student tastes a fresh carrot at the West Broad Market Garden.
Land Conservation
ALT’s Land Conservation Program worked with the landowners of
10 properties to protect 3,405 acres throughout Georgia before the
end of 2013. These tracts include some very unique features such as
blue springs along the Flint River and diverse habitats of blackwater
cypress swamps, longleaf pine, and river dunes that are habitat for
endangered species. Since its beginning, ALT has provided legal
tools and vision to protect our natural resources, reduce the loss of
high-quality farmland, and address the sprawl-type development
that was impacting our air and water quality. ALT now holds
conservation easements protecting 11,528 acres in 25 Georgia
counties. Please read more about these properties on pages 4 -5.
Lexington Lake, 51.5 acres of land that contains oak-hickory sloped forest
and frontage along the Middle Oconee River.
Athens Land Trust
Board of Directors
President, Angela Johnson
Vice President, Lara Mathes
Secretary, Gregg Bayard
Treasurer, Alfie Vick
Gloria Bizzle
DelReey Faison
Kirrena Gallagher
Upcoming Events
Beth Gavrilles
Jared Harper
Charley Hill
Elizabeth Jones
Brant Rackley
Ed Taylor
Donna Thurman
Dev Weeks
Staff
Director of Operations, Heather Benham
Conservation Easement Specialist, Laura Hall
Conservation Coordinator, Dyan Holt
Homeownership Coordinator, Shavon Echols
Housing Counselor, Mary O’Toole
Design/Build Coordinator, Lynda Stipe
Asset Manager, Nathan Shannon
Emerita Director, Nancy Stangle
Outreach Coordinator, Lauren Stubbs
Garden Assistant, Stephanie Bergamo
West Broad Market Garden Manager,
Rebecca Ennis
Young Urban Farmer Program Coordinator,
Bantu Gross
Community Agriculture Program Director,
Christina Hylton
Young Urban Farmer Program Coordinator,
Brendan Nordgren
Farmer Outreach Specialist, Almeta Tulloss
Farmers Market Assistant Manager, Jackie Williams
Williams Farm Manager, Gregoryian Willocks
685 North Pope Street
Athens, Georgia 30601-2331
706.613.0122 • 706.613.0143 fax
www.athenslandtrust.org
Our Board meets on the third
Monday of each month at 5:30 PM in our office;
the meetings are open to the public.
www.facebook.com/athenslandtrust
West Broad Farmers Market
Opens May 3, 2014
ALT is excited to offer weekly
Farmers Markets in 2014!
Saturday 10am - 2pm
Tuesday 4pm - 7pm
1573 West Broad Street
Athens, Georgia 30606
Al Pless Memorial Bike Ride
May 17, 2014
Beginning this year, our annual bike ride
is being dedicated to Al Pless, our former
Board member who died last year. The
inaugural Al Pless Memorial Ride for Athens
Land Trust is being held on Saturday, May
17. The ride will have three options of 58,
38, or 25 miles and will start from our office
at 685 N. Pope Street. Following the ride,
we will have a gathering to remember Al,
which will be open to everyone. Please see
our website for details on registration and
tickets to the event or sign up at
www.active.com.
Homebuyer Education Workshop
May 10 & May 17
Harvest Moon Dinner
October 11, 2014
Weekly markets will feature honey, eggs,
fresh produce, crafts, soaps, baked goods,
cooking demonstrations, family activities,
musical entertainment, children’s events,
food celebrations, health screenings and
health workshops
July 12 & July 19
from 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Athens Land Trust Office
685 N. Pope Street
Athens, Georgia 30601
Athens Land Trust is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to promote quality
of life through the integration of community and the natural environment by preserving land,
creating energy-efficient and affordable housing, and revitalizing neighborhoods.
2• The Athens Land Trust Newsletter • Spring 2014
Affordable Housing
New Homeowners
Congratulations to several families who have become homeowners during the past six months! Kirrena Gallagher and her two sons are
the new owners of 325 Bray Street. Kirrena works at Prevent Child Abuse Athens and the Boys and Girls Club. Dain Marx and Hannah Hay
purchased 125 Cannon Drive. Dain works at MopedMotion and Hannah is employed by
DePalmas. Robert Cucchiaro works at The Grit and recently purchased 868 Waddell. Jill
Carrnes, a local artist who works at UGA, purchased 870 Waddell Street. Raymond and
Torwanda Johnson are the new owners of 470 Nellie B Avenue. Raymond is also employed
at UGA. ALT's Homeownership Coordinator Shavon Echols has been marketing ALT's homes
and assisting people in preparing for their mortgages. Many thanks to Jeff Bishop and
Joe Nemetz of Athens First Bank and Trust, a division of Synovus, for their mortgage loan
program that supports ALT's homeownership program!
One of two blighted structures that ALT has removed
to make way for a new home on Paris Street.
UGA Social Work Interns at Fourth Street Village
ALT's mixed-income, multi-family community, Fourth Street Village,
is home to 114 families. During this semester we are very pleased
to have two Master's of Social Work students, Leslie Albrycht and
Kelsey Thompson, who have been conducting an assessment of
residents' needs, providing information on financial assistance and
budgeting, and working with the Residents' Association to plan
community activities.
Fourth Street children enjoying their playground.
Cottages at Cannontown
The first three houses are complete and
another three homes are underway.
JOMA Construction is building these three
homes, which will be EarthCraft certified
and Universal Design. The first homes are
occupied by homeowners or
lease-purchasers, and the new
homes will also be sold to lowto-moderate income buyers.
Ruth Street Property
ALT purchased a home on 2.1 acres on Ruth
Street across from the Williams Farm. ALT
plans to renovate the existing home, build
new EarthCraft homes and retain some
open space on the site. ALT is working with
Koons Environmental Design and is meeting
with neighborhood residents to get their
input on the mixed-income project.
Affordable Housing Funding
ALT’s Affordable Housing Program received
$37,500 in Community Development Block
Grant funding from Athens-Clarke County
in January 2014. In addition, ALT received
$3,000 from Oconee State Bank, two
donations from Wells Fargo Foundation
totaling $3,750, and $2,500 from the Briscoe
Family Foundation. These donations enable
ALT to provide homebuyer education and
housing counseling free of charge, as
well as buy blighted properties, increase
energy-efficiency, and support first-time
homebuyers in purchasing a home. Thanks
so much for your continued support!
Funding made available for these affordable housing projects
by Athens-Clarke County Department of Housing
and Community Development HOME and CDBG
Programs of the Unified Government of AthensClarke County, an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Homebuyer Education
ALT provided classes for first-time
homebuyers in October, November,
January and March that served a total of 37
households. Speakers for the workshops
included realtors Heather McElroy with
Prudential/Blanton Properties & Shavon
Echols with Coldwell Banker/Upchurch
Realty; loan officers Jeff Bishop with Athens
First Bank and Vicky Samuel with Homestar
Financial; closing attorneys John Laster with
The Laster Law Firm and Sarah Morang
with Quarterman & Hodson; and recent
first time homebuyers, Kirrena Gallagher
and Gail Sheats. ALT’s Housing Counselor
Mary O’Toole leads the classes and she
has also provided individual sessions for
16 households since October. Many thanks
to the workshop speakers for sharing their
expertise and experience!
Spring 2014 •3
Athens Land Trust
Recently Protected Properties
Lexington Lake
Ed Segraves has preserved 51.5 acres of land that contains oakhickory sloped forest and frontage along the Middle Oconee River.
The Lexington Lake Conservation Easement is located off of Atlanta
Highway, a heavily developed thoroughfare of Athens. See photo
on page 1.
Pharr
Landowner, William Pharr, has protected 227 acres in Morgan
County. The Conservation Easement safeguards 100 acres of oakhickory forest, 81 acres of working forest and 1.5 miles of streams.
The property is managed for agriculture and recreation.
Lightwood Farm
John Geary has protected an additional 741 acres of land along 2
miles of streams, including natural forest, working forest, hunting
land and 23 acres of forested wetlands. In 2012, Mr. Geary
protected 603 acres of land adjacent to the 2013 Conservation
Easement. This property borders the Cedar Creek Wildlife
Management Area and the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge.
Bibb
Forty five acres in Bibb County, near downtown Macon, have been
preserved for habitat and recreation. The landowner, Jim Goolsby,
has placed a Conservation Easement to safeguard the streams and
sloped oak-hickory forest found on this property.
Meriwether
Landowners, Donald King and Abby Perez, have preserved 854
acres of land in Meriwether County. This Conservation Easement
protects 2 acres of granite outcrops and 7 miles along the Walnut
Creek and its tributaries. The land is managed as working forest
and land for hunting.
Rattlesnake Ranch
The Rattlesnake Ranch Conservation Easement protects 257 acres in
Morgan County. This Conservation Easement preserves the historic
McLeod Farms
‘Balance Rock’, 4 acres of granite outcrops, 180 acres of hardwood
The McLeod family has preserved 290 acres of working forest,
forest and mature bottomland forest along 2 miles of Hard Labor
hardwood forest and more than a mile of streams and riparian
Creek and its tributaries. The landowner, Jamie Hamilton, is
habitat in Sumter County. The McLeod Farm Conservation Easement managing the property as a working forest, for agriculture, hunting
also contains 49% of prime agricultural soils that are considered
and recreation.
high quality for growing food, forage and fiber crops.
4• The Athens Land Trust Newsletter • Spring 2014
Land Conservation
More Land Protection Activities
Stripling
Five hundred thirty one acres of Charles Stripling’s family farm have
been protected in Mitchell County. This Conservation Easement
preserves dune habitat for the endangered gopher tortoise and
blue indigo snakes, bluffs, and blue springs along the Flint River.
The Stripling Farm is a model for an ecologically managed working
forest which preserves threatened habitats, native grasses and
wildflowers found within the understory of the pine forest. An
orchard and prime agricultural soils are also found within this
property. Pictured below is the live oak allée leading to the historic
homestead.
Turkey Bluff
David Palmer has preserved 502 acres of agricultural and timber
land in Screven County. Three miles of black water swamps and
cypress trees along the Brier Creek and 170 acres of oak hickory
forest have been protected with this Conservation Easement.
The landowner manages 320 acres of working forest and is
determined to restore the native longleaf pine/sandhill scrub
community essential to gopher tortoise currently found on this
property.
Southeast Regional Land Trust Assembly
Several ALT staff members attended the Southeast Regional Land
Trust Assembly in Chattanooga, TN, on March 24-25. Heather
Benham, Laura Hall, and Dyan Holt attended the gathering of land
conservation organizations from across the southeastern states.
In addition to networking opportunities, the assembly included
sessions on land protection, management and stewardship, as
well as fundraising, outreach, and accreditation. The assembly was
sponsored by the Land Trust Alliance, Southeast Regional office.
Boulevard Woods
Dozens of volunteers have spent hours clearing the site, hosting yard
sales, and participating in planning and designing the project. As
a result, Boulevard Woods will be a park that highlights everything
that residents love best about Athens, including its community
spirit and strong local arts culture. Recent fundraising efforts have
added to a grant of $75,000 from the Riverview Foundation, and the
Boulevard Neighborhood Association now has about $85,000 of the
$125,000 needed to build the park. Please join these efforts and
make a donation to Boulevard Woods through Athens Land Trust at
www.boulevardwoods.org.
Spring 2014 •5
Athens Land Trust
West Broad Farmers Market
The West Broad Farmers Market completed its first season in
December. The Market has several goals: increase access to
healthy food for low-income people, provide education about
health and nutrition, and increase economic opportunities for the
community. The Market was held on the first Saturday of each
month and 15 vendors and farmers sold organic produce, baked
goods, prepared foods, and arts and crafts. Attendance at each
Market averaged about 150 people. Shoppers who are Food Stamp
recipients were able to double their money with funding raised
by ALT at the Double Dollars Dinner. Each Market hosted cooking
demonstrations, health screenings, music, children's activities,
a "Next Top Chef Competition" where children made their own
snacks, and workshops in organic gardening.
Athens Heritage and Urban Agriculture Festival at the West Broad School.
On the first Saturday in October, the West Broad Farmers Market
hosted a cooking demonstration by Thomas Brown, blood pressure screenings and Breast Cancer Awareness by St. Mary's Healthcare
System, workshops in vermicomposting and organic gardening, and a chess tournament hosted by Lemuel LaRoche a.k.a. LIFE.
In November, the Market hosted the Athens Heritage and Urban Agriculture Festival, which paid homage to Athens'
African-American heritage with special emphasis on the West Broad School where principal Samuel Harris in 1904 started an agriculture
program at the school so that students could grow food for their families and adults could attend evening classes. The Festival was held
in collaboration with the Athens High and Industrial/Burney-Harris High School Heritage Committee and the Athens Area Black History
Committee. Many former students at the West Broad School gathered and were acknowledged for their work in the community. In addition,
workshops in gardening, nutrition and health were presented.
The December Market had a holiday theme and vendors had gifts to sell in addition to the healthy produce, baked goods, crafts, and
prepared foods. Musical entertainment was provided by the Clarke Middle School Chorus, Ms. Dejoire Hall, Gabriellae and Mikaya Cooler.
ALT would like to thank the Kaiser Permanente Foundation for a grant of $10,000 to conduct
outreach in the community on how the West Broad Farmers Market addresses issues of
accessibility, affordability, and nutritional value of local farm fresh food. We also want to
thank the sponsors of the West Broad Farmers Market: Bike Athens, Daily Groceries Co-op,
Oasis Counseling Center, Dr. Victor E. Payton Tower Garden and Juice Plus, and WellCare.
“Next Top Chef Competition” at the
West Broad Farmers Market.
Growing Your Business
The eight-week vendor development program was held from February 8 through March
29. Nine vendors of the West Broad Farmers Market attended the course, which focused
on marketing. ALT’s Shavon Echols taught the classes, with presentations by ALT staff
Christina Hylton and Lauren Stubbs, Robert Foster of UGA and Tamara Walker from LarTech
Solutions. On March 29, the vendors gave presentations on their product and their new
marketing plans. ALT is very grateful to Athens-Clarke County’s Department of Housing and
Community Development for their support of this program with Community Development
Block Grant funds. Thanks also to Fresh Market and Subway for providing refreshments for
the classes.
6• The Athens Land Trust Newsletter • Spring 2014
Community Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture Conference
In October 2013, ALT and the Clarke County Cooperative Extension
Service hosted a conference for new and beginning farmers who
are interested in sustainable farming practices. The conference
provided information on services and programs of the Natural
Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and other USDA agencies,
Georgia Organics, Cooperative Extension Service, UGA, and Georgia
Department of Agriculture. Topics included marketing, composting,
meat production and processing, cottage foods standards,
integrated pest management, beekeeping, farm food safety
certification and recordkeeping. More than 75 people attended
the conference, which also received support from NRCS, Team
Agriculture Georgia, Oconee County Cooperative Extension and
Clarke County Cooperative Extension.
West Broad Environmental Empowerment Project
The West Broad Environmental Empowerment Project was funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency to support educational
programs that help residents of the neighborhood increase consumption of foods grown without pesticides, reduce pollution caused by
chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and decrease the amount of food waste going into landfills.
The West Broad Market Garden is a demonstration and education site for sustainable agriculture for adults and children, where workshops
in organic farming methods, composting, water conservation, nutrition and healthy cooking are hosted. The site also hosts a community
composting program, where more than 300 pounds per week of compostable food waste is dropped off by persons from the community
and picked up from local businesses. West Broad Market Garden engages at-risk youth and low- income neighborhood residents in
growing food and increases their access to healthy produce. Middle school children from the Elizabeth King Boys and Girls Club are
learning to garden and prepare healthy food. Through community outreach efforts, the West Broad Market Garden brings people of
all ages to the farm and demonstrates good water conservation practices, promotes healthy food production, addresses garden pests
without harmful chemicals, and uses compost and worm castings
as fertilizer so that people will have access to healthy foods grown
using organic practices.
Presentations on nutrition, healthy food, and composing have
also been given to local community groups including the Hancock
Corridor Neighborhood Watch Association and the Inter-Community
Council of the Athens Housing Authority. In December, Community
Agriculture Program Director Christina Hylton and interns attended
the parent night celebration of “Healthy Food” at the local Head
Start School and gave 35 pounds of fresh vegetables from West
Broad Market Garden to parents in attendance. In addition,
Imara Dinkins is attending community meetings to give cooking
demonstrations and stimulate community dialogue around local
food systems and food justice issues.
West Broad Market Garden is a demonstration and education site for
sustainable agriculture for persons of all ages.
Spring 2014 •7
Athens Land Trust
Williams Farm is Growing
Planting is underway at ALT's Williams Farm, with seedlings in
the hoop house and plants growing in several large fields. With
the help of many generous donors and hard-working volunteers,
ALT's Farm Manager Gregoryian Willocks has gotten the farm up
and going, and Bar None Construction is renovating the old farm
house. The Plum Creek Foundation gave ALT a grant of $5,000
toward the well and irrigation system. The Frances Wood Wilson
Foundation and the Turner Family Foundation both gave grants of
$15,000 toward the establishment of the farm and the renovation
of the farm house. Theresa Perenich gave a generous donation
for trails to connect with the Five-Acre Woods, which is adjacent.
Chris McDowell of the UGA Material Reuse Center has provided
Volunteers Karen Whitman and Jessica Lawson planting cool season
materials for the hoop house and fencing. Erica McCarthy is not
crops at the Williams Farm.
only documenting the story of the farm but she also loaned ALT her
tractor. Numerous volunteers have worked on the farm during several workdays, including the MLK Day of Service. Daily Groceries Co-op
has provided volunteers and food on several workdays. Karen Witten who spearheaded the Handmade Garden at Hill Baptist Church has
been volunteering many hours at the farm. As a result of these efforts, the house is close to completion and the farm provided spinach for
school meals during April.
Young Urban Farmers (YUF)
The YUF Program currently has eight students from Classic City High
School who are learning firsthand about sustainable agriculture and
entrepreneurship. The students are developing their own agriculturerelated products, conducting market research, creating a budget, and
writing a business plan with coordinator Bantu Gross. In addition,
they assisted with the Community Supported Agriculture program
at the West Broad Market Garden, harvesting shiitake mushrooms,
collards, and other vegetables, and learning how to create compost.
They participated in a cooking demonstration and met with local
business people. The students also visited the UGA Soil Lab with
Clarke County Cooperative Extension Agent Amanda Tedrow and
helped the Ladies Garden Club to plant trees at the West Broad
Market Garden. The Young Urban Farmer Program is a partnership
between ALT and the Clarke County School District, which provides
support for the student participants. Athens-Clarke County Mayor
and Commission also approved an allocation of Community
Development Block Grant funding to support the program.
Young Urban Farmers working at the West Broad Market Garden.
Good Roots Program
ALT has been working with Multiple Choices on the Good Roots Program, which is funded by a Rural Business Enterprise Grant (REDLG)
from USDA. ALT’s Stephanie Bergamo has been teaching nine people with disabilities in Jackson County how to grow organic seedlings for
commercial use. The goal of the program is to develop a network of home-based growers, create economic opportunities, and increase the
supply of organic seedlings. They will be selling the seedlings at the West Broad Farmers Market.
8• The Athens Land Trust Newsletter • Spring 2014
Athens Land Trust
Board and Staff News
ALT is happy to welcome four new Board members, DelReey
Faison, Kirrena Gallagher, Charley Hill, and Ed
Taylor. DelReey is the homeowner of an ALT home and will
be graduating in May from Athens Technical College with a
degree in Social Work. DelReey is filling the position of Rob
Robinson, who stepped down after several years on the
Board. Kirrena Gallagher is also a homeowner, and she is
employed by Prevent Child Abuse Athens. Charley Hill of Atlanta
has many years of experience in commercial development,
including the redevelopment of several properties in Athens.
Ed Taylor of Clarkesville is the owner of an organic farm in
Habersham County and has been active in Georgia Organics.
Thank you for your commitment and service to ALT.
Young Urban Farmers helping out on a family farm.
We are also pleased to have several new staff members. Gregoryian Willocks joined ALT a few months ago as the Williams Farm
Manager. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture and a Master’s in Agriculture Leadership from UGA. She has several years of
experience at the UGA Horticulture Farm. ALT’s new Farmer Outreach Specialist, Almeta Tulloss, is a student in Consumer
Food Science and Nutrition at UGA. She has over 10 years of experience in food service, farming, and communications, as well as a multigenerational passion for food and farming in her Southern family’s roots. Brendan Nordgren is the incoming Young Urban
Farmer Program Coordinator and is an experienced educator, gardener, naturalist, and beekeeper. She earned a Certificate
in Organic Agriculture from UGA in 2010 and has volunteered and served as Board President at Casa de Amistad. Jackie Williams,
West Broad Farmers Market Assistant Manager, is a long-time resident of Athens. For 13 years, she worked as the Family
Engagement Specialist at the Clarke County School District’s Office of Early Learning, and she also has experience working with teen moms
on parenting skills. Rebecca Ennis, the new West Broad Market Garden Manager, has lived in Athens for 11 years. She has
farmed both in the Pacific Northwest and Atlanta and is looking forward to making the transition from a rural production farm to the urban
West Broad Market Garden. We were sorry to say goodbye to Shyeasta Cullers, ALT's former Farmer Outreach Specialist, who left to
pursue her own agricultural business.
Interns and Volunteers
ALT is fortunate to have several volunteers and UGA student interns who have made significant contributions to our programs. Emily
Gundlach is a second-year student in the Master’s of Social Work (MSW) program who has been interning with ALT’s Community
Agriculture Program since last semester. MSW interns this semester are Leslie Albrycht and Kelsey Thompson, who are working
with the Affordable Housing Program, and Chloe Saunders and Amber Flanagan who are assisting with the Community Agriculture
Program. Ashley Lamb is working toward a Masters of Public Health and is assisting with the health education activities at the West
Broad Farmers Market. Thomas Brown, a Masters of Public Health graduate student, assisted with cooking demonstrations and health
programs at the Boys and Girls Club, the Young Urban Farmer Program, and the West Broad Farmers Market. Reena Patel, who is in
the Masters of Business Administration program, has been doing a diverse number of tasks since August 2013. Jess Cross has a Masters
in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and has been volunteering her time writing curriculum for the Young Urban Farmer
Program, planning guest lectures, and getting dirty on the farm. Continuing from last semester, Jack Matthews is currently pursuing a
Master’s Degree in Environmental Planning and Design, with a focus on conservation planning. Other volunteers are Ryan Vaughn from
UGA with a double major in Religion and Philosophy, and Jocelyn Crumpton, an undergraduate Social Work student graduating in
May 2015. We are also very grateful to have the help of Teri Hamlin who is assisting with ALT’s Farm to School Program. Teri is retired
from UGA and has been working with Georgia Organics and the Habersham County Farm to School Program.
Spring 2014 •9
Athens Land Trust
Harvest Moon Dinner
The sixth annual Harvest Moon Dinner to benefit Athens Land Trust
was held on Saturday, October 19, 2013. The Harvest Moon Dinner
was created as an intimate dinner among friends celebrating the
landscapes of our community with great food and wine. This year’s
event featured Chef Peter Dale of The National on the farm of
Russell and Sarah Bennett in Walton County. Russell and Sarah are
long-time supporters of ALT and we greatly appreciate their hosting
the event on their 110-acre farm where they raise grass-fed beef
and pastured hens. Thanks to the generous sponsors and attendees
listed on page 11 and to the hard work of organizers Tony Eubanks
and Lara Mathes, the event raised over $11,000.
Martin Luther King Day of Service
The West Broad Market Garden hosted a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Workday and Celebration. Community members, members of the
Boys and Girls Club, and the youth from the Classic City High School
participated in composting, building raised beds, tree planting
preparation and hoop house activities. Following work activities,
community members gathered to enjoy a recording of a speech by
Dr. King, a performance by Angaza dance group, and music by the
Clarke Central Orchestra that honored Dr. King’s legacy. ALT also
hosted volunteers at the Williams Farm, where over 30 people of all
ages assisted in clearing the fence line. A third site was at Hill Chapel
Baptist Church where about 30 volunteers helped to establish trails.
Thank you to the volunteers, Daily Groceries Co-op, Keep AthensClarke County Beautiful, Hands On Northeast Georgia, Community Connections and Chris McDowell with UGA Material Reuse Program!
Up Country Oyster Roast
About 75 people gathered near the Apalachee River on April 6
to celebrate the protection of over 3,000 acres of land during
2013. Landowners, partners, and ALT supporters enjoyed oysters
and clams provided by Charlie Phillips of Sapelo Sea Farms. In
addition to celebrating the partnerships that led to the protection
of 10 properties in 9 counties, the Oyster Roast features the rivers
that connect land in the upcountry to the marshes near the coast.
Protecting land in the northern half of the state contributes to
healthy ecosystems downstream that support the oysters and clams
we enjoy. Many thanks to our host Lee Moody; Walter O’Niell
for wonderful beer; Marti’s at Midday and Donna Shannon for
donations of delicious food; and the Dixieland Five for delightful
music.
10• The Athens Land Trust Newsletter • Spring 2014
Athens Land Trust
Thank you to our partners, members and donors since October 2013!
Athens-Clarke County
Athens Area Community Foundation
Athens First Bank and Trust
Athens Housing Authority
Clarke County School District
Clarke County Cooperative Extension
Enterprise Community Partners
First American Bank and Trust
Fortson, Bentley and Griffin
Georgia Department of Community
Affairs
Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful
Natural Resource Conservation Service
Oconee State Bank
Southface Energy Institute
Sutherland
University of Georgia
US Department of Agriculture
Wells Fargo
Forest
Anonymous
Elena Brown & Jared Harper
Theresa Perenich
Mary & Laurence O’Toole
Grove
Gail Cowie
Kathy Prescott & Grady Thrasher
Oak
Neal Anderson
Jeanne Barsanti & C.E. Greene
Kathleen Blane & Dan Everett
O.C. & Manita Dean
Susan & Dick Field
Teri Hamlin
Joe O’Brien
Caroline Pendergrast & Dennis Creech
Neal & Pat Priest
Dayne & Donna Shannon
Madeline & Phil Van Dyck
Deborah Weiler
Seedling
Valerie Aldridge
Charles Apostolik
Patricia Cooper
Martha DeBeaugrine
Anne & Tom Glass
Kay Giese & David Sweat
Dr. & Mrs. James Hall
Hubert & Joan Harris
Nina Hellerstein
Heather Kleiner
Nat & Helen Kuykendall
Erika Lewis
David & Suzanne Lindsay
Daniel Lorentz
Nancy MacNair
Valrie McIntyre
Dennis Mason & Eleanor Walker
Dorothy & Jim Newland
Maureen O’Brien & George Wright
Sigrid & Clate Sanders
John Schelhas & Susie Criswell
Margaret Strahl
Ed & Sue Wilde
Acorn
Mike & Liz Conroy
Robinson & Barbara Fisher
Family
Eddy & Alice Arial
Scott & Scottie Atkinson
Rebecca Baggett & Elmer Clarke
Matt Bowers
Marie & Daniel DerVartanian
Judson Doherty
Nancy Lindbloom
Elizabeth Little
Carl Jordan
Katha Massey
Kristin Nielsen
Dorothy O’Neill
Mark & Margaret Reinberger
Carl & Marion Schmidt
John Schmidt
Paul Trudeau
Robert Wyatt
Individual
Heidi & Al Davison
Rosemary Franklin
Cheryl Ledbetter
Patricia McAlexander
Judith McWillie
Agnes Parker
Helen Plymale
Annice Ritter
Tom Rodgers
In Memory of Al Pless
Kesler Roberts
Nolan Boyd
In Honor of Adele Patrick
Maria Camila Pardo
In honor of Margaret Strahl
Marilyn & John Wightman
Eco-Focus Film
Festival Sponsors:
Elena Brown & Jared Harper
Dev & Gene Weeks
Harvest Moon Sponsors:
Aurum Studios
Athens First Bank & Trust
Athens Regional Medical Center
Carson Advisory, Inc.
Bertis & Katherine Downs
Harvest Moon Supporters:
Valerie Aldridge
Athena Real Estate
Gregg Bayard & Maggie Kiley
Amanda Bernt
Elena Brown & Jared Harper
Maureen Buhr
Marie & Daniel DerVartanian
Direct Market Realty
Judson Doherty
Cassandra Drennon & David Bryant
Kathryn Edmunds
Jim Gillis
H&S Group
Charley & Julia Hill
Homeplace
Davis & Gena Knox
Koons Enviromental Design
John & Tricia Lyndon
Eric & Jessica Orbock
Parker Property & Appraisals
Julie Roth
Lee & Linda Schramm
Tom & Lori Scott
Ken & Sherrie Gibney Sherman
Synovus
Kate VanCantfort
Dev & Gene Weeks
Whitworth Land Corporation
Boulevard Woods:
Customers of the
Indpendent Baking Co.
Boulevard Gardening Club
Travis Burch
Rhett Crowe
Maria & David Derocher
Bertis & Katherine Downs
Matthew Hall & Erica Gilbertson
Eric & Dana Heil
Mona & John Heinze
Kathy Hoard
Heirloom Café
Thom & Elizabeth Weeks Leonard
Daniel Lorentz
John & Tricia Lyndon
Joseph Miller
Van & Libby Morris
Charles & Kjirsten Ogburn
Chris & Sarah Peterson
Brant & Melissa Rackley
Sandra Ringhand
Bruce & Jane Travis
Allen & Merry Stovall
Dev & Gene Weeks
William Whitman & Paula
Schwanenflugel
Corporate Donors:
Georgia Power
Oconee State Bank
Wells Fargo
Foundations:
Briscoe Family Foundation
Kaiser Permanente Foundation
PCUSA - Presbyterian
Hunger Project
Plum Creek Foundation
Turner Family Foundation
Frances Wood Wilson Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation
Thanks also to:
Holiday Benevolence Market Donors
UGA and Federal employees through
Georgia Shares
Customers of
Independent Baking Company
Bike Athens
Daily Groceries Co-op
Nature Writers’ Group
Verdae Skin Therapy
Heather Russell, third from left, presents
a check from the Plum Creek Foundation
for the installation of a well at the
Williams Farm. Receiving the check are
from left to right, Nancy Stangle, Christina
Hylton, and Gregoryian Willocks.
Spring 2014 •11
685 N. Pope Street • Athens, Georgia 30601
www.athenslandtrust.org
706.613.0122
Please Join The Athens Land Trust
Check One of the Following Levels:
Forest, $1000 +
Name _________________________________
Grove, $500 +
Address ________________________________________________
Oak, $250 +
Phone #(s) ______________________________________________
Seedling, $100 +
E-mail __________________________________________________
Acorn, $75 +
Would you like to join our list serve?
Family, $50 +
Would you like to volunteer?
Individual, $10 +
_______________________________________________________
Yes
New Renewal
No
Skills or Interests _______________
Please make checks payable to Athens Land Trust, Inc. ALT is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation.
All donations are tax-deductible, as provided by law.
Other Ways to Join or Donate:
Visit www.athenslandtrust.org and click either the Join Us or Donate link.
(online donations made through Click & Pledge)
Printed on 100% recycled paper
12• The Athens Land Trust Newsletter • Spring 2014