Dear Friends and Acton Conservation Trust Members,
The following events may be of interest:
Thursdays, January 25 to April 25
Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges
Noon – 12:55 p.m. (not March 14 and 21)
This series will focus on the current state of tribal forest management and Indigenous stewardship, with speakers from different tribes, universities, non-profits, and agencies. Topics will include: the history of forest stewardship on tribal lands in North America, federal laws and tribal forestry, contemporary uses of plants and wildlife stewardship, fire, conclusions from the Indian Forest Management Assessment (IFMAT), tribal co-management, and the future of tribal forestry in the face of climate change. Free. CEUs available for attending foresters. Co-developed and co-hosted by The Forest School and the Yale Center for Environmental Justice at Yale School of the Environment, and Salish Kootenai College. Learn more and register.
Saturday, January 27
Boston Area Gleaners End of Season Celebration
4-6 PM
First Parish, Bedford, MA
Join us in celebrating a successful 2023 season! Our volunteers, farm partners and food access partners helped us distribute 4.5 million pounds of produce last year…we think that’s an incredible reason to celebrate!
We will be gathering at The First Parish in Bedford on Saturday, January 27th for a night of good food (potluck style, beverages will be provided) and even better company. Plus, there will be volunteer recognition awards and gleaner-themed games.
We hope to share our thanks and celebrate the 2023 season achievements with you!
RSVP at https://www.bagetc.org/presignup.php?access=select&gleantemp=3439
Saturday, January 27
Boxborough Winterfest
1:00 p.m. EST
Steele Farm
484 Middle Road, Boxborough, MA 01719
Join us for Sledding, Hot Cocoa, Fat Rooster Food Truck, Two Friends Chocolate, True West And A Bonfire With Neighbors And Friends!
Sponsored by Boxborough Recreation Commission
Wednesday, January 30
Boxborough Garden Club Presents Dave Barnett: “Sustainable Gardening Practices and Native Plants”
7 pm
Sargent Memorial Library, Boxborough
In case you missed Dave’s talk last March at our Annual Meeting, you get another chance to hear him speak this Wednesday!
Dave Barnett is a 30-year resident of Boxborough and recently retired as President& CEO of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. He will show examples of ecologically friendly landscape design and maintenance practices that he implemented both at Mount Auburn and in his own garden in Boxborough. The use of pollinator-friendly, habitat-enhancing native plants will be shown. Dave will also focus on creative ways to reduce lawn mowing by replacing turf with low maintenance ground covers, perennials, and dwarf grasses.
Program is free and open to the public. For more information call 978-263-3944
Tues., January 30
A Midwinter Nature Walk at Yapp Conservation Land, Littleton
10:00am-12:15pm
Yapp Conservation Land, Littleton
Join naturalist Roland “Boot” Boutwell for an informative nature walk as we learn to identify evergreens, deciduous trees and shrubs, and perhaps an occasional winter weed, those hardy non-woody plants which are sturdy enough to remain erect well into or even through winter. The walk will focus on plant ID as well as fun and interesting natural history, tales, and legends about the plants we see. And remember . . . there is no bad weather; only improper clothing! Register at SVT https://svtprograms.funraise.org
Saturday, February 3, 2024; Weather Date: February 4, 2024
Winter wildlife tracking and nature walk
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Nashoba Brook on the trails of North Acton
Acton Conservation Trust welcomes members and friends for our annual winter tracking walk led by Paul Wanta. We will walk along Nashoba Brook on the trails of North Acton. This will be a slow walk of 1-2 miles. Dress warmly… wear several layers and bring a hat and gloves. We will have hot beverages and other refreshments at the end of the event. Limit 25 people.
In past years we have seen the tracks of deer, otter, rabbits, bobcats, racoons, squirrels, mice, and owl wings! There is always something to see along the trail, snow or no snow. This program is free for all and perfect for families with children aged 5 and older. No pets please, as our focus is on wild animal tracks!
Please click here to register so we can keep you up to date regarding the location of this event and any weather related changes. You will receive an emailed copy of your replies to the questions below, which you can save for future reference or use to make changes to your registration.
For more information or questions, please contact Jody Harris at jharris.actonconservationtrust@gmail.com.
Saturday, February 3rd
Winter Fairyland
1-3pm
Lincoln Station, 145 Lincoln Rd
Free, all are invited to participate. Drop-in anytime between 1-3. Donations will be gratefully accepted to help cover event costs. Many thanks to the enthusiastic local retailers participating in the day’s activities. More details about participants coming soon!
In preparation for Winter Fairyland, Nature Linc is hosting a Fairy House Building Workshop for families on January 27th from 1-3pm. Let your imagination run wild as you create an enchanting home for our tiny friends that will be displayed at Lincoln Station on February 3rd. Registration required. Suggested donation of $15/house to cover materials. Learn more here.
Tuesday, February 6
Not Your Average Cause – Fundraiser
All Day
Not Your Average Joe’s, Acton, 305 Main St, Acton, MA 01720
Acton Conservation Trust has been selected for the Not Your Average Cause program sponsored by Not Your Average Joe’s restaurant. Every Tuesday in February 2024 (the 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th) NYAJ’s will donate an amount equal to 15% of all purchases made by ACT supporters at Not Your Average Joe’s in Acton. Lunch, dinner and purchases in the restaurant are all equally eligible (*excludes alcohol and tip).
There are three ways to participate:
– Mention ACT Cause Night to your server.
– Show your server the certificate below on your phone.
– Print out the certificate below and show to your server.
Click here to view or print the NYAJ’s Cause Certificate. Feel free to share this certificate and thank you!
978-635-0101 or opentable.com for reservations
Tuesday, February 6th
The Traveling Tales of an Elusive Species on Martha’s Vineyard: The Spotted Turtle
7-8pm on Zoom
Join LLCT and Liz Olson to learn about spotted turtles. Liz and her team have been tracking and tagging these reptiles since 2020. Tune in to hear some of Liz’s stories from the field. After her presentation there will be plenty of time for questions.
Liz Olson is a Wildlife Biologist and Assistant Director and co-founder of BiodiversityWorks, a nonprofit on Martha’s Vineyard focused on wildlife research and monitoring. She received her undergraduate degree in wildlife management from the University of New Hampshire and her MS in Conservation Biology from Antioch New England University. Liz has studied a variety of species during her 20 year career including piping plovers, river otters, northern long-eared bats, black racer snakes and spotted turtles.
This is a free, zoom program. Please register in advance to receive the meeting link. Register for February Fireside Chat
Wednesday, February 7
Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America
Concord Museum Forum
7:00 – 8:00 pm
Free for Members | $10 Non-Members | Free Virtual | Forums are supported in part by the Sally Lanagan Fund
Register here.
Sunday, February 11
Bill Klauer’s Meetinghouse Hill Presentation
4 pm via Zoom
Bill Klauer will present the early history of the town’s meeting house and the development of Meetinghouse Hill.
To join the Zoom meeting, use this link.
Meeting ID: 896 3975 3571
Passcode: 834627
Sunday, February 11
Super Cup Sunday Fungus Saunter
2pm
$30/ person Register (Limited to 16 participants)“For those who think Super Bowl Sunday is a bore,” Mycologist Lawrence Millman will lead a mushroom identification walk in Estabrook Woods on Super Bowl Sunday. Part of the Thoreau Sauntering Society programs presented by Thoreau Farm.
Tuesday, February 13
Know Your Land: Understanding Conservation Restrictions and Chapter 61
7:30-8:30 PM
Zoom webinar
Are you interested in learning about how you can protect your land with a Conservation Restriction or how to save money on property taxes with Chapter 61? This Zoom event features Ben Urquhart from Harvard’s Conservation Trust who will speak about Conservation Restrictions and Harald Scheid, Harvard’s Town Assessor, who’ll speak about Chapter 61. Registration required: click here.
Thursdays, Feb. 22 and 29
Making Land Available for Farming
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
These two webinars are intended to help farmland owners and their representatives explore motivations, strategies, and mechanics for making any amount of land available to a farmer Learn more and register.
Sunday, March 10
Blight: Author Emily Monosson in Conversation with Brent Ranalli
2 PM
$10 to attend at Thoreau Farm Register
$5 to attend online Register
A prescient warning about the mysterious and deadly world of fungi—and how to avert further loss across species, including our own. Presented by The Write Connection at Thoreau Farm. On-site book sales support The Shop at Walden Pond.
Learn more about our Programs
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Volunteer:
Boston Area Gleaners
*Volunteer opportunities have dwindled down given the time of year, so you can expect there to be fewer trip alert emails as the winter progresses. You can always keep an eye on our website for volunteering updates in the meantime.
*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.
Announcements:
Opportunity for Lease of the Littleton Town-owned Nagog Hill Orchard (49.5 Acres under APR)
Located adjacent to the conservation land trust-owned Sarah Doublet Forest and Nature Preserve, in the vicinity of several other protected conservation lands, and borders scenic Nagog Pond. Located within the former Nashobah Praying Indian Plantation/ Newtown Indian Village (originally settled by the Nashobah Band of the Massachusetts Tribe).
Click here to view the RFI (Request for Information) document to learn more.
January 2024
Energize Action: Survey: Help Create a Healthier Community and Shape Our Climate Actions
Anytime via this LINK
Be part of the solution on climate in 2024! Share your thoughts in the Creating Healthier Communities Together survey to make our community healthier and more climate resilient. EnergizeActon.org is reaching out to you with this request as part of our new ECO (Electrification, Community, & Outreach) Campaign. Together with MassEnergize.org and our partner communities—Wayland, Framingham, and Natick—we need your input to guide upcoming climate actions to create a healthier and more carbon neutral future. The survey takes less than 5 minutes. Your voice matters! Thank you. For more information go to EnergizeActon.org events.
Coyote mating season is here. Late January through early March is the mating season for coyotes and they become more active during this time. MassWildlife officials are reminding the public to take action to prevent conflicts with coyotes.
For more information, click here.
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Sincerely,
Susan Mitchell-Hardt
President, Acton Conservation Trust
www.ActonConservationTrust.org