Dear Friends and Acton Conservation Trust Members,
The following events may be of interest:
Monday, August 19
Full Moon: Sturgeon Full Moon: Supermoon
It was traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer and, it’s the first Supermoon of the year! This means that it will appear bigger and brighter than the full Moons we have seen thus far!
What Is a Sturgeon?
These prehistoric-looking fish have been traced back to around 136 million years ago and many people call them “living fossils.”
Females require around 20 years to start reproducing, and they can only reproduce every 4 years. However, they can live up to 150 years!
Today, there are about 29 species worldwide, including the lake sturgeon found in the Great Lakes. They have evolved in size from the size of a bass to monster sturgeon as big as a Volkswagen.
The lake sturgeon is quite rare today, due to intense overfishing in the 19th century, pollution, and damage to their habitat.
Females require around 20 years to start reproducing, and they can only reproduce every 4 years. However, they can live up to 150 years! This information is taken from https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-august
Wednesday, August 21
Nip the Knotweed
9am – 11am
Gowing’s Swamp, Concord (map)
Join long time SVT volunteer, Ruth Ladd, for a knotweed pull at Gowings Swamp in Concord! Ruth will provide an identification and removal overview for new volunteers. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, and bring gloves. More details HERE.
Friday, August 23, 24, 25
Middlesex 4-H Agricultural Fair
Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM; Sat., 8 AM to 6 PM, Sunday, 8am to 4:30 PM
55 South Chelmsford Rd.,Westford.
In addition to food and animal judging: Chicken Poop Bingo; Barnyard Olympics; Dairy Goat Judging; Poultry Costume Parade; Pie Eating Contest; Watermelon Eating Contest; Rabbit Races; Pie & Ice Cream Ten; BBQ Dining Area; Sheep and Alpaca Costume Contest, ; Pet a horse on each hour, pony rides, goat Games For more information visit http://4hmiddlesexfair.org/
Friday, August 23rd
NARA Park Senior Stroll Part 2 for Acton, Boxboro, Littleton Seniors.
10am-noon.
Please meet us at the Sports Pavilion off the upper parking lots located off Quarry Road.
Come join other seniors from Acton, Boxboro and Littleton Council’s on Aging for conversation, coffee and a stroll around Acton’s Nara Park, 25 Ledgerock Way, Acton. Registration is required – call 978 929 6650. For additional information please call Nursing 978-929-6650.
Sunday August 25
Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market – Community Table: Energize Acton
10-1 PM
19 Elm Street, Acton
EnergizeActon.org is dedicated to helping the community implement a clean energy future and ensure a healthy, resilient environment through education, support, and website resources that offer Acton residents concrete ideas to reduce carbon emissions. Co-sponsored by the Town of Acton Sustainability Office and the Acton Climate Coalition, the interactive website allows you to mark climate efforts already taken, learn about other actions, and connect with support people such as Acton’s free Clean Energy Coaches.
Wednesdays, September 4- November 20
“I Hiked Acton’s Trails!”
2:30-4:00 pm
Walk the trails in Acton’s conservation areas with the goal of earning a sticker and a sew-on patch! This weekly set of walks (typically 1-2 miles) is a joint effort between Acton Conservation Trust and Acton Conservation Division. We will complete the remainder of 22 conservation land walks which started last spring. Check out the “I Hiked Acton’s Trails” Challenge form HERE for more information about the challenge.
An accessible option is also available for those with devices or mobility issues. Contact us if you are interested in this option. For more information or questions, please contact jharris.actonconservationtrust@gmail.com. REGISTER HERE!
Saturday, September 7
19th Annual Ag Day Farmers Market in Concord, MA
10-2 PM
Main Street in downtown Concord (between Walden St. and the Flagpole rotary)
Concord Ag Day is a once a year farmers’ market celebrating local agriculture organized by the Concord Agriculture Committee to showcase Concord farms and local produce. This unique market showcases the bounty of Concord’s many farm businesses at the height of the growing season. For information: www.concordagday.com.
Come experience what Concord’s land can produce!
Sunday, September 15 – 3rd Sunday of every month – through November
Breakfast at Fort Pond Littleton
8 Kaleva Road
8-10:30 AM
For directions CLICK HERE.
kalevalittletonma.org
Menu:
Eggs, Homefries, Bacon or Sausage, Toast
-OR-
Pancakes, Bacon or Sausage
Plus Coffee, OJ, Pulla (Finnish sweet bread)
Adult $12 Child $8
For more information CLICK HERE
Sunday, September 15
Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market – Community Table: Green Acton
10-1 PM
19 Elm Street, Acton
Green Acton works to protect Acton’s natural resources and environment, and to help resolve the broad environmental crises we all face. Visit the Community Table to learn more about our work on energy/climate, water, land use, and materials (including toxics and plastics). Also, get great information on organic, sustainable lawn and garden care, and the risks of synthetic, phosphorous fertilizers (which are now legally regulated by MA). Bring your questions and ideas!
GreenActon.org
Tuesday, September 17
History of the Nashobah Praying Indians
7pm – 8pm
Church of the Good Shepherd, 164 Newtown Rd, Acton, MA 01720
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Household Hazardous Waste Day
DPW Garage located at 14 Forest Road
4-6:30 PM
If possible, please only make ONE trip to Hazardous Waste Day. Upon entering the site, please drive slow
and stay in your vehicle.
These collection services are for Acton residents only and proof of residency will be required.
See the Town’s Household Hazardous Waste Day Flyer for more information.
Wednesday to Saturday, Sept. 25-28
Land Trust Alliance Rally
Providence, RI
The Land Trust Alliance is proud to host its 37th year of Rally: The National Land Conservation Conference in Providence, RI. Serving as the premier training and networking conference, Rally offers learning sessions focused on land conservation topics, networking events, exhibits, plenary sessions and an awards presentation celebrating conservation leadership.
Learn more about Rally 2024 here
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Town of Acton Open Space Committee (OSC) is seeking one full time member and 2 Associate Members. We are reaching out to you given your interest in land preservation. The OSC is a sub-committee of the Conservation Commission, with seven permanent members and two associate members serving terms of three years each. The Acton Conservation Trust (ACT), your local non-profit land trust) and the OSC have formed a strong collaboration leading to many of the recent land acquisitions using Community Preservation funds and serves as a vital source of informaition about open space within Town Hall. It also forms a key part of Acton’s land protection ecosystem comprising ACT, the OSC, the Natural Resources Division, the Community Preservation Committee and our regional land trust the Sudbury Valley Trustees.
To learn more you can contact ACT at info@actonconservationtrust.org, Susan Mitchell-Hardt at mitchellhardt@gmail.com, 978-369-9264 or the Chair of the OSC, Karen O’Neill at kobbirdbrain@gmail.com, cell 508-517-7227.
Check out Boston Area Gleaners August Newsletter!!! https://www.bostonareagleaners.org/https://www.bostonareagleaners.org/
Ride for Food: Join our team!; More new staff!; Stonefield Farm Update
From the Newsletter: In looking back on our summer at Stonefield Farm thus far, we have certainly been productive; we have built and laid concrete in a new greenhouse, created a new cold storage room for our tomatoes (more on this below), grown a variety of crops, hosted volunteer trips to harvest and sort through produce for our partners, tended to our compost piles, planted cover crops and so much more. Not only have we accomplished so much just within this past summer, but since buying the farm in 2021 we have embraced rapid growth in a new space and are grateful for every learning opportunity that has come up along the way.
We know that Stonefield Farm has allowed us to further our organizational mission in more ways than we can count. Being in operation for 20 years has been an ongoing journey, and we are looking forward to the challenges and successes that each new season brings.
Camp Acton is Open
Pope Road, Acton
Fee is $25 per site reserved through he Recreation Department.
Limited to 10 people per site. Visit http://trails.actonma.gov/ to learn more about Camp Acton.
Please complete the registration form 48 business hours prior to desired reservation date.
https://actonma.gov/623/Camp-Acton
Payments are due upon reservation confirmation
Portable toilet on site.
All users must follow social distancing, regulations and posted guidelines.
Please complete and send camp Acton Permit application via email to recreation@actonma.gov or fax to 978-929-6333. Please allow up to two business days to process.
See you on the trails!!
Susan Mitchell-Hardt
President, Acton Conservation Trust
www.ActonConservationTrust.org
P.S. Welcome new “Events of Interest” subscribers! As a non-profit organization focused on conserving land in Acton, we rely upon the support of our members. Visit our ACT website, and click on “Join Us”