Dear Friends and Acton Conservation Trust Members,
8/6/23 Bear Spot Farm, 275 Pope Road, Acton:
Lythrum Farm’s trainer, Sara Carlisle, rides her horse “Ace of Spades” to music and to first place in FEI Freestyle Test of Choice competition two Sundays ago. To learn more click on the Action Unlimited website, at https://www.actionunlimited.com/acton-maynardtt
The show was a fundraiser for the Bear Spot Foundation which supports the Farm’s program of equine facilitated psychotherapy. For more about the Bear Spot Foundation and its equine therapy program, visit www.bearspotfarm.com/copy-of-therapy, and for Lythrum Farm visit www.lythrumfarmdressage.com.
The following news and events may be of interest:
Sunday, August 20
Acton-Boxborough Farmer’s Market – October 15
Elm Street Playground, West Acton
10 AM – 1 PM
Come visit the Acton Conservation Trust at the Farmer’s Market Community Table!!
Join ABFM for our 15th season of promoting good food and supporting sustainable agriculture.
Visit http://www.abfarmersmarket.org for more information.
Sunday, Aug. 20
Breakfast at Fort Pond, Littleton
8 Kaleva Road
Directions at www.Kalevalittleton.org
Tuesday, August 22
Storytime at Library Tree Farm – Read to Goats or to a Horse
3:30-4:30 PM
Liberty Tree Farm, Acton
Come to a special storytime at Acton’s historic Liberty Tree Farm.
– Young readers can make a 15-minute appointment to read aloud to 3 goats, Dorothy, Sophia, and Rose at the Liberty Tree Farm in Acton.
– Young readers can make a 15-minute appointment to read aloud to a horse named Indy at the Liberty Tree Farm in Acton.
Please register online. Register here
Please register only 1 child per 15-minute slot and please only register each child once.
Please let us know if your plans change and you won’t be able to make your appointment, we often have a waitlist.
Please register for a maximum of one appointment a day.
Wednesday, August 23
Energize Acton Climate Café – Showing Up! Elders Act on Climate
5:00-6:00pm
Acton Memorial Library Outdoors, 486 Main St., Acton
Are you wondering what your retirement will look like in this age of climate warming? Are you worried about what your children and grandchildren might face? Come participate in a lively discussion about what the AARP cohort can do and IS DOING about the climate emergency. We will be joined by representatives of two national organizations–Elder Climate Action and Mothers Out Front–who will share what is happening on the personal, social, and political levels as seniors show up to share their voices, their savvy, and their monetary might to address the changing climate. Co-sponsored by the Acton Memorial Library and EnergizeActon.org. For more info, go to EnergizeActon.org.
Wednesday, August 30
Energize Acton Climate Café – Ready for Winter? Tips for Renters and All Residents
5:00-6:00pm
Acton Memorial Library Outdoors, 486 Main St., Acton
Last winter’s high energy costs were a huge shock to many Acton residents. Renters, in particular, often have fewer options when facing high bills. This Climate Café session will look at strategies to make apartments and homes as energy efficient as possible, including ad hoc tips along with Mass Save resources for homeowners and even for renters (including some hands-on materials). We will also have information about what is happening in the region to address the energy needs of multi-family buildings, along with resources about special fuel assistance programs for income eligible households. Co-sponsored by the Acton Memorial Library and EnergizeActon.org. For more info, go to EnergizeActon.org.
Thursday, September 7th
Metropolitan Conservation Alliance (MCA’s) Bumble Bee Project Pollinator Potluck Picnic
4:00-6:30 pmSunny Meadow Farm,
168 Robin Hill Road, Chelmsford
Meet Bumble Bee Project Steering Committee members and fellow pollinator enthusiasts for a tour of member Giancarla Kalpas’s public pollinator display garden and to enjoy a potluck dinner. You’re welcome to bring a dish to share and a friend who loves pollinators! Please reach out to chair.npstf@gmail.com if you have any questions.Registration is required and available here.
Saturday, September 9
Plant ID Walk
9:30-noon Horse Meadows Knoll, Harvard
Join naturalist Roland “Boot” Boutwell for an informative nature walk. Focus on plant identification as well as fun and interesting natural history about the plants we see. Register at https://svtprograms.funraise.org/
Saturday & Sunday, September 9 & 10
Wilderness First Aid
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Stewardship Training Center, Plymouth, MA
Accidents happen. People get hurt, sick, or lost. The temperature drops, the wind picks up, and it starts to rain. Would you know what to do? Wildlands will host SOLO Wilderness Medical School to teach a course on Wilderness First Aid. Learn more and register Published in eNews, July 2023, Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Sign up to volunteer at BAG, https://www.bagetc.org/gleanlist.php
Friday, August 18th
Green Bean Harvest
8:30am – 11:30pm
Location: Acton, MA
Friday, August 18th
Onion and Kale Harvest
9:00am – 12:00pm:
Location: Stow, MA
Friday, August 18th
Onion and Kale Harvest
2:30pm – 5:00pm: TBD!
Location: Acton, MA
Saturday, August 19th
Zucchini and Yellow Squash Harvest
10:00am – 1:00pm:
Location: Ipswich, MA
Saturday, August 19th
Blueberry Harvest
10:00am – 12:30pm:
Location: Hanson, MA
Saturday, August 19th
Blueberry Harvest
1:30pm – 3:30pm:
Location: Hanson, MA
*Please join the waitlist if a trip is full! Not only will this help us gauge interest moving forward, but if someone is unable to attend who had previously committed, and depending on your place on the waitlist, you will be automatically added to the roster.
*Don’t forget: The most up-to-date trip information is always on the website. We may post trips after the weekly email goes out. To stay in the loop about last-minute calls for volunteers, you can join our volunteer emergency text list!
The Economic Benefits of Open Space From MCA-CISMA Newsletter – August 2022. Contact SVT’s Kristin O’Brien, kobrien@svt.web.org) to subscribe.
Have you ever wanted better data to convince your local leaders of the importance of protecting land? Well now you have it!
A working group of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition partnered with consultant Jessica Sargent from Primrose Research Group LLC to develop a toolkit of materials that anyone can download and use to educate, inform and/or advocate for land conservation in their community.
Resources include a technical white paper that summarizes some of the latest data available for Massachusetts, a PowerPoint presentation that can be customized to address the needs and concerns of individual towns and cities, and a one-page summary that can serve as a leave-behind for your audience.
You can find the resources here. including a recording of how to explain the benefits to your community.
Walden Pond in Concord
7 am-7 pm
915 Walden St.
walden.pond@state.ma.us; 978-369-3254, bridal paths, and farm roads.
Boat ramp Sunday – Saturday: 5 AM – 7 PM.
Parking: MA resident $8; Non-MA resident: $30
Annual and senior passes NOT sold in park, click here to purchase an annual pass, click here to purchase a senior pass.
Sincerely,
Susan Mitchell-Hardt
President, Acton Conservation Trust
www.ActonConservationTrust.org
P.S. Welcome new “Events of Interest” subscribers! As a nonprofit organization focused on conserving land in Acton, we rely upon the support of our members. Visit our ACT website, and click on “Join Us”!