Dear Acton Conservation Trust Members and Other Friends,
The following news and events may be of interest:
Tuesday March 1-Saturday, March 12
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) Virtual Annual Environmental Conference (AEC)
Virtual
Attend 32 NEW Workshops to help you understand the complexities of conservation commission operations and the Wetlands Protection Act regulations. This year we have important discussions about the upcoming changes on the regulations, Chapter 91 and commission coordinated reviews, diversity-equity-inclusion topics, agricultural and forestry exemptions, municipal climate bylaws/ordinances, solar project development and conservation planning, woody plant identification, culverts, and tips on keeping commissions out of trouble. For more information, click on https://www.maccweb.org/page/EDVirtualAEC-Conf_2022
Thursday, March 3
MACC Diversity and Equity and Inclusion Keynote Speaker & Environmental Service Award Celebration – free
6 PM – 7:30 PM
All conference attendees, speakers, volunteers, sponsors and supporters are invited to this free virtual celebration to honor environmental service award recipients and listen to our Keynote speaker, a local citizen of the Nipmuc Tribe. For Workshop and Award Celebration Register HERE. ** ACT would like to commend ACT Trustee Jody Harris for receiving the Outstanding Public Service Award for her work in organizing Service Days to remove invasive species on conservation lands; creating a new trail blazing team for the Acton Land Stewardship Committee; creating a prioritized spreadsheet of all Acton’s trails needing re-blazing. In 3 short months, Jody and her team had blazed hundreds of acres of trail systems.
Friday, March 4- September 5
New Exhibit: Alive with Birds: William Brewster in Concord
Thursday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 PM, Walk ins welcome!
Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA
Visit this special exhibition to discover the beauty of birds. William Brewster (1851-1919) was Mass Audubon’s first President He dedicated over thirty years of his life to the study of birds in Concord at his property, which he called October Farm. Drawn to Concord for its natural beauty and abundant bird life, Brewster made October Farm his experimental field laboratory and documented its wildlife for scientific study and public enlightenment. In 2019, Mass Audubon received a 143 acre parcel of land which was once part of October Farm, which has been renamed Brewster’s Woods Wildlife Sanctuary. For more information visit their website. Members free; Adults $15, Seniors $12, Children (6 to 17) $8
March 6, 7, 13, 14
Raptor Rapture: Research and Recovery
Raptors have re-entered the conservation spotlight amid several species’ dramatic, human-assisted recoveries – but these success stories are shadowed by the emergence of new threats. Many birds of prey, from Ospreys and Red-shouldered Hawks to kestrels and owls, have adapted to different forms of human disturbance. Still, the spectra of habitat destruction, climate change, and rodenticide poisoning are dampers on raptor populations across the globe. Registration: You can choose to sign up for individual sessions or the whole series. REGISTER FOR ALL HERE. For more information visit https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/activities/birding/birders-meeting
Tuesday, March 8
Uncovering Soil
An Intro to the World Beneath our Feet
7 pm-8 PM
Online with Dr. Rachel Neurath who is an expert in soil microbial ecology for four programs this spring. Sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. More details to come at https://lincolnconservation.org/
Wednesday, March 9
The Trustees Agroecology Work
Noon
Webinar
The Trustees occupy a particular position as a conservation organization engaged in production agriculture. To learn more about their agroecology work, register here.
Thursday, March 10
How can I conserve my land?
2nd Thursday of each month, December 9 – April 2022
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Hosted by UMass MassWoods
This six-part webinar series for landowners will feature relevant professionals to provide information and help answer questions. Sign up for individual webinars or the entire series. Learn more and register.
- April 14 – What are the financial benefits of land conservation?
Friday, March 11
EnergizeActon.org holds “Movie Night” with the hopeful film 2040
6:30 PM virtual
This is a free, virtual event. Created by award-winning Australian director Damon Gameau, the film asks what our climate and our world can be in 2040, if we embrace the solutions already available to improve the planet. In a very personal way, it is a father’s letter to his daughter, imagining her future on that day when, instead of putting more carbon into the atmosphere, humanity actually begins to drawdown the carbon in our climate and to help the Earth regenerate. Register here.
Sunday, March 13
ACT Annual Meeting: New Conservation Strategies for the 21st Century – presented by Claudia Thompson
6:30PM Business Meeting
7:00PM Presentation
Zoom
“New Conservation Strategies for the 21st Century”
Using her garden as a case study, Claudia will discuss valuable lessons learned over several decades when she transformed her small urban property into a landscape rich with habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. She is a strong advocate for the importance of land stewardship on all lands -large and small- and believes that conservation begins at home.
Carol Holley Conservation Volunteer Award presentation: In addition, please join us for the ceremonial presentation of the Carol Holley Conservation Volunteer Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the environment. Our recipient this year will be Sue Whitcomb, a member of the Acton Garden Club and volunteer at the Acton Arboretum. Sue has helped maintain the Arboretum for 30 years and selected many of the plantings. She has also helped design many theme gardens and collections there as well. Her many contributions can be found on the ACT website and in our 2022 Newsletter.
Click Here to Register! and participate in our Business Meeting (see Agenda at the end of this message.) You will receive an emailed registration copy for your records and a Zoom link prior to the event.)
Those who haven’t yet renewed are encouraged to renew until March 13 at 6:30 PM if you would like to vote at the meeting. Please visit the ACT website, www.ActonConservationTrust.org and click on Join/Donate.
Tuesday March 15
Salamander Crossing Brigade Training
7-8:30 PM
Online
Discover how you can help salamanders cross roads this spring! Great for: citizen scientists, families, kids. Sponsored by Nature Groupie. Learn more and register here.
Sunday, March 20
Spring Hike at Newtown Hill and Williams Land, Littleton, MA
1-3:30 PM
Newtown Hill, Littleton, MA
Come and walk the trails at Newtown Hill and the somewhat lesser known Williams Land. Be prepared for mud in some areas and if we are still getting snow, bring micro-spikes? This hike will be led by trustees, Melinda Hobausz and Alyssa Russell, of the Littleton Conservation Trust Registration is required. Register at the Littleton Conservation Trust website.
Wednesday, March 23
Public Forum to Discuss the Proposed Archaeology Bylaw
7-8 PM
Online Zoom meeting * https://actonma.zoom.us/j/83311551661 Or phone into the meeting at: 1-646-876-9923.
GUEST SPEAKER: Duncan Ritchie of the Public Archaeology Laboratory, Inc. (PAL) will describe PAL’s 2008 archaeological reconnaissance survey in Acton and its findings.
MEETING FOCUS: The Acton Historical Commission is bringing a proposal to this year’s Town Meeting to create a town Archaeology Bylaw. This proposed bylaw would add a step to the permitting process for development of undisturbed land within areas that have a high or moderate probability of containing archaeological artifacts. We invite you to attend this public meeting, which will present the results of a recent town-wide Archaeology Bylaw Survey and go over the scope and intent of the proposed bylaw in detail. *The Zoom meeting link may also be obtained by going to the Town of Acton’s website, www.actonma.gov and finding the Acton Historical Commission’s notice for 3/23/2022.
Wednesday, March 23, 30 and April 6
Make Your Land Available for Farming
12-1 PM
Register for free at landforgood.org/events
Make Your Land Available for Farming is for private landowners and their representatives (real estate agents, etc.) to understand your land’s potential for farming, learn what goes into good farming arrangement, and explore strategies for making any amount of land available to a farmer. When you make land available for farming you help secure a future for farming in your community. Farmers are looking for land, from a small vegetable plot to livestock or crops. Productive, sustainable uses for all or parts of your property can bring many rewards!
NEWS!
Just out! Acton Conservation Trust LAND TRUST NEWSLETTER!!
Read the ACT 2022 Newsletter here.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!
Winter Volunteering with Boston Area Gleaners:
Wednesdays volunteers are invited to lend a hand to support the ‘Just Eats’ grocery box program. Choose either 9-12 PM or 1-4 PM at 91 Martin Street.
As BAG enters their second year of this collaboration with Food for Free, volunteers are helping to fill hundreds of boxes each week with veggies and dry goods for pantries, housing facilities, and other community food distribution sites in eastern Massachusetts. Register here.
BAG is also always looking for more ways to connect with more communities and new volunteers. If you are part of a community that may be interested in working with the Gleaners, or have suggestions for volunteer outreach, please email us at outreach@bostonareagleaners.org
Covid safety: BAG is now requiring that all volunteers be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Volunteers are also required to wear masks on all projects. The staff members that you will work with are also fully vaccinated and follow the same safety protocols. Food packs take place in the greenhouse, which is partially open to the air. Read more about volunteer Covid precautions on the BAG website.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO BOSTON AREA GLEANERS NEWSLETTER Visit: https://www.bostonareagleaners.org/
Support Acton Conservation Trust while you make purchases on AmazonSmile! ACT will receive a small payment, and these add up! From your desktop or laptop computer, AmazonSmile is available at at smile.amazon.com on your Web browser. Bookmark it for easy use! AmazonSmile is available from your mobile phone as well. To activate AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app, simply tap on “AmazonSmile” within the Programs & Features menu or Settings and follow the on-screen instructions.
Sincerely,
Susan Mitchell-Hardt
President, Acton Conservation Trust
www.ActonConservationTrust.org
P.S. Welcome to new “Events of Interest” subscribers! As a nonprofit organization, we rely upon the support of our members. Visit our ACT website, and click on “Join Us”!
Be sure to tell your friends that “Events of Interest” is also available on our new ACT website www.actonconservationtrust.org