Dear Friends and Acton Conservation Trust Members,
The following events may be of interest:
Fridays, June 21
Nara Park Senior Stroll Acton, Boxboro, Littleton Seniors
10:00 -11:00am
Nara Park, 25 Ledgerock Way, Acton
Come join other seniors from Acton, Boxboro and Littleton Council’s on Aging for conversation, coffee and a stroll around Acton’s Nara Park,
Please meet us at the Sports Pavilion off the upper parking lots located off Quarry Road. To sign up, please call Nursing at 978-929-6650. Registration is required.
Friday June 21
Full Strawberry Moon
Rises on the summer Solstice, just after sunset
The name, Strawberry Moon has been used by Algonquin, Objibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples, among others to mark the ripening of “June-bearing” strawberries that are ready to be gathered.
For more information, visit https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-june
Friday, June 21
Summer Solstice Bike Ride
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (rain date June 22);
Pedal Power Bike & Ski, 176 Great Road (Rt. 2A) Acton, MA 01720; Parking available across Great Road.
Contact Tom Michelman: tmichelman@gmail.com
Saturday, June 22
June Food Day- – Boston Area Gleaners
4:30pm – 8:30pm
Stonefield Farm (91 Martin St., Acton)
Join Boston Area Gleaners for our 5th annual June Food Day celebration! Our biggest event of the season will feature farm fun for all ages: there will be hay rides, farm tours, a raffle, live music, and complimentary festive beverages. We will also have delicious food for purchase from food truck vendors!
All proceeds from this fundraising event will help to support our programs and further our mission to create an equitable and sustainable food system for our community.
We hope to see you there!
Sunday, June 23
AB FARMERS MARKET
10am- 1pm
Elm Street Playground, Acton
Free yoga classes weekly as well as a SNAP match for EBT card holders. Sign up for our newsletter to see which vendors, artisans, community groups, performers and supporters are scheduled each week! https://abfarmersmarket.org/newsletter-signup/
Our website has the latest updates: abfarmersmarket.org
Tuesday, June 25
Read to Goats
4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Liberty Tree Farm
Click HERE to Register
Tuesday, June 25
Summer Plant ID & Natural History Walk, led by Boot Boutwell
10:00am-12:30pm
Elliott Concord River Preserve, Carlisle
Join naturalist Roland “Boot” Boutwell for an informative nature walk of the The Elliott Concord River Preserve in Carlisle, a pretty little riverside conservation area. The walk will focus on plant identification as well as fun and interesting natural history about the plants we see. Register at https://svtprograms.funraise.org/
Thursday, June 27
Bumblebee Project Tours
3:00-4:00PM
Chapman Pasture, Lincoln, MA
Parking: The best way to access Chapman Pasture is via Silver Hill Road. From Weston Road, drive north on Silver Hill Road. The trailhead is across from #50. Just north of the trailhead, there is an area of road that has a wider/flatter shoulder and can accommodate several cars. From the trailhead, walk 1/4 mile over bog bridges to reach the field. We will be in the northern section of the field.
Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) Staff Bryn and Sara will be at Chapman Pasture to answer questions about this site. The pasture was grazed by sheep for 50+ years. LLCT included the field in the Lincoln Pollinator Action Plan in 2020 and began efforts to restore a native pollination system at the site. Since 2021, LLCT has conducted two prescribed burns on the field. In Fall 2022, LLCT seeded an area of the field with a mix based on Dr. Gegear’s plant list. In Fall 2023 LLCT added plants into a small fenced garden area to the field, as a way to deter deer while plants are getting established. This spring (in May) students will be helping LLCT expand the planted area. The site continues to be a place for LLCT to experiment with the best methods to establish diverse plant populations at a larger scale than the organization’s smaller demonstration gardens. Questions – Email chair.npstf@gmail.com to contact the Native Pollinator Task Force.
Sunday, June 30
Native Plants on Littleton’s Library Campus
3:00-4:00PM
Littleton Library
The Littleton Library completed a a new stand alone building in November 2021 and was required to plant native plants on its campus due to it’s vicinity to wetlands. Dr. Rob Gegear was recommended by our town conservation agent to advise on plant selection. Since then, a number of efforts have taken place to manage the land for healthy pollination systems with an additional focus on at-risk bumblebee species. Join Erin Jade, lead volunteer for the project, as she explains the complexities of managing these intricate systems.
Wednesday July 3
Summer Concert with the Concord Band: Independence Day Patriotic Program
Gates open at 5 PM; Concerts begin at 7:15 PM
Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, Mass.
Independence Day Patriotic Program
REGISTER HERE
For more information email Fruitlands Museum, or call 978.456.3924 x5
Saturday, July 6 through Sunday, July 28
RiverFest 2024
RiverFest is an annual celebration of our federally protected Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic Rivers. From guided paddles to interpretive walks, nature and history talks, family-friendly events, and kids’ activities, there is something for everyone! Events are free and open to the public.
RiverFest is presented by the SuAsCo Wild & Scenic River Stewardship Council and local organizations working to protect our rivers. Further information and a full listing of events, including registration details, can be found here
Saturday, July 7
Dragonflies at the Bog, sponsored by Carlisle Conservation Foundation
10 a.m. – noon
Meet at the Cranberry Bog House on Curve Street, Carlisle
(CCF – Alan Ankers)
Learn about the jewels of the insect world as we walk the trails of the Cranberry Bog for dragonflies and damselflies (collectively known as “odes”). We’ll also check out butterflies and anything else interesting that we come across.
Tuesday, July 9
Climate Café: Electric Vehicle “Petting Zoo”
6:00-7:00pm
Acton Memorial Library Parking Lot, 486 Main St, Acton
Are you thinking about an EV? Come meet local Electric Vehicle drivers, check out their EVs, and ask all your questions. No need to register; just stop by the library. We hope to have EVs from Tesla, Chevy, Kia, Subaru, Hyundai, and more, including electric bicycles. (Do you have an EV you would like to display? Please come participate!) Also, the Acton Sustainability Office will highlight a few Town EVs. Join in the fun and pick up some resources. Sponsored by EnergizeActon.org and the Acton Memorial Library.
Wednesday, July 10
Summer Concert with the Concord Band – Disney Movie Music and Video Game Music
Gates open at 5 PM; Concerts begin at 7:15 PM
Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, Mass.
Independence Day Patriotic Program
REGISTER HERE
For more information email Fruitlands Museum, or call 978.456.3924 x5
Wednesday, July 17
Climate Café: A Celebration of Plant Based Foods
6:00-8:00pm
NARA Park Pavilions, 25 Ledge Rock Way, Acton
EnergizeActon.org is back with a second annual community potluck picnic to highlight the importance (and amazing flavor!) of plant-based meals. We all share one thing that can have a significant impact on climate change: the food we eat. Eating more plant-based food is an immediate and DELICIOUS way to put less CO2 into the atmosphere. Bring your favorite vegetarian/vegan dish or a simple bowl of fruit; all contributions are welcome. But also bring a copy of your recipe and, if you like, your favorite plant-based cookbook to share for the evening. For more info and to register, click HERE. This aims to be a low waste event.
Wednesday, July 17
Summer Concert with the Concord Band – Music from John Williams and John Philip Sousa
Gates open at 5 PM; Concerts begin at 7:15 PM
Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, Mass.
Music from John Williams and John Philip Sousa
REGISTER HERE
For more information, email Fruitlands Museum, or call 978.456.3924 x5
Sunday, July 21 – through 3rd Sunday of every month – November
Breakfast at Fort Pond Littleton
8 Kaleva Road
8-10:30 AM
Directions to Knights & Ladies of Kaleva
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 visit https://kalevalittletonma.org/fabulous-food-events
Wednesday, July 24
Summer Concert with the Concord Band – Retrospective Concert
Gates open at 5 PM; Concerts begin at 7:15 PM
Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, Mass.
Music from John Williams and John Philip Sousa
REGISTER HERE
For more information email Fruitlands Museum, or call 978.456.3924 x5
ANNOUNCEMENTS
June 3, Mass Audubon Opened All Persons Trail (Fisher Trail) at Brewster’s Woods, Concord
Balls Hill Road from Monument Street. Proceed straiaght for 0.4 miles. Turn L when you reach a set of 3 mailboxes (#165/203/221) turn L into
Mass Audubon’s driveway. Park in the trailhead parking lot on the left after the welcome booth. Follow the signs to the Fisher Trail at end of P lot.
Click HERE for directions. This accessible trail winds and weaves through woods, meadows, and wetlands, ending at the Concord River. This addition ensures people using wheelchairs or strollers, and folks with mobility challenges, can better and more safely enjoy the outdoors.
Make Way for Duckl…Turtles! Shepherd a turtle to safety!!!
In mid-May turtles get more active trying to find a mate and food. They often cross the road to see what’s on the other side. So be on the lookout and slow down when driving near wetlands and places you’ve seen turtles before. Learn more.
RECORDING AVAILABLE:
“Presentation about the Nathaniel Edwards House,” aka Spring Hill Farm, 328 Pope Road., mid-18th century center-chimney building, by the house’s co-owner, Prof. David Hardt, who has done extensive research on this. The recording is available HERE. Passcode: 2#P^HKNQ
“Garden for Climate Resilience”, presented by Trevor Smith of Weston Nurseries
Last month EnergizeActon.org, the Acton Garden Club, and the ActonConservationTrust.org sponsored the talk at Town Hall.
The recording is available at ACT’s YouTube channel. CLICK HERE for the link.
Sign up to volunteer for Boston Area Gleaners
Gleaning season is upon us and we need YOUR help! Be sure that you are signed up as a volunteer on our website – you will be automatically enrolled to receive weekly email updates when volunteer opportunities pop up. In the meantime, keep an eye on our volunteer opportunity list (or sign up for text message alerts – link below)
Sign up on our website and check out our FAQ to learn more!
JOBS
Post your job openings on thePost your job openings on thePost your job openings on theMLTC self-serve Job Board
NEW! Finance Director – The Nature Conservancy
NEW! Development and Administrative Assistant – Sudbury Valley Trustees
Boston Area Gleaners Are Hiring!
In other news, if you have not already heard, the Gleaners are hiring! We’re looking to fill several roles on our team. Read on to learn more about our openings and how to apply. We are looking to fill several roles on our team! Click the names of the positions below to read the full job descriptions. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to hiring@bostonareagleaners.org.
Now Hiring: Conservation Programs Intern!
MLTC is hiring a part-time intern with an interest in land conservation for the 2024-2025 academic year. The intern will work mostly from home, with occasional travel to MLTC events across Massachusetts. Responsibilities include providing research, technical assistance and logistical support for MLTC’s education programs, as well as maintaining our online resources such as our documents library, video library, service provider directory and grants database. Recent college graduates and graduate students are also welcome to apply. Please forward the following job description to anyone you think may be interested.
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”