Dear Friends and Acton Conservation Trust Members,
The following news and events may be of interest:
(If you prefer, you may read “Events of Interest” on our website, ActonConservationTrust.org)
Now – September 5 LAST CHANCE!
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 https://concordmuseum.org/alive-with birds-
Members free; Adults $15, Seniors $12, Children (6 to 17) $8
Thurday/Friday, September 1-2
Early Voting Information for the Primary Election
Acton Town Hall the following dates and times:
Thursday September 1st 2022 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday September 2nd 2022 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
VOLUNTEERING
BOSTON AREA GLEANERS (BAG News & Information is at the end of this newsletter).
Thursday, September 1
Corn Harvest
9-Noon
Concord, MA
Friday, September 2
Green Bean Harvest
9-Noon PM
Acton, MA
Friday, September 2
Beet Harvest
10-12:30 PM
Sharon, MA
Friday, September 2
Tatsoi, Komatsuna, and Turnip Harvest
1:30-4 PM
Weston, MA
Friday, September 2
Re-packing Corn
3-5 PM
Acton, MA
Sunday, September 4
Acton-Boxborough Farmer’s Market
Elm Street Playground, West Acton
10 AM – 1 PM
Join us for our 14th season of promoting good food and supporting sustainable agriculture. Visit http://www.abfarmersmarket.org for more information.
September 6, 2022
Primary Election Information
7 AM – 8 PM
RJ Grey Junior High School gymnasium (16 Charter Road, Acton, MA)
Saturday, September 10
Kelley’s Corner Block Party
2-4 PM
At Rts. 27/111. Free parking at the old K-Mart, 252 Main St., Acton
The Economic Development and Recreation Offices are hosting a block party! Please join friends and neighbors before the Kelley’s Corner Construction project starts. Enjoy great food, live music, shopping and activities while supporting local business. Free admission and parking, Bubble Party, Local Discounts and Deals, Characters, Raffle, Great Food, Live Band. Visit ACT at our community table to speak with ACT Trustees, see our new handouts brochures and other handouts and to learn about our accomplishments and ongoing projects.
Saturday, September 10
Boxborough Harvest Fair
10:30 AM – 1 PM
22 Middle Road, Boxborough, MA
The 2022 Harvest Fair will be Saturday, September 10 from 10:30AM-1:00PM. We will be joining up with FreeBee Market to share in the celebration of our community. The Fair schedule is as follows:
10:30AM-12:30PM Farm animal petting zoo
11:00AM-Noon Nashoba Valley Concert Band
10:30AM-1:00PM Apple cider press
Unfortunately, due to lack of manpower there will be no produce or craft exhibits, but there will be lots of booths and other activities connected with the FreeBee Market. If anyone is interested in reviving the exhibits and helping to plan and execute next year’s fair, please contact Liz Markiewicz at ainslie78@comcast.net.
Saturday, September 10
17th 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.
Ag Day 2022 will feature your favorite Concord Farmers selling their bounty, as well as the return of the famous Veggie Race Track this year sponsored by Vanderhoof Hardware! In addition, several Concord nonprofits will be there with information on a variety of environmental and ‘ag’ related topics. Come experience what Concord’s land can produce!
Saturday, September 10
Nature Walk at Gowing’s Swamp
10-12 PM
Gowing’s Swamp, Concord
Join teacher/naturalist Roland “Boot” Boutwell for a leisurely walk around Gowing’s Swamp, named by Henry David Thoreau for the person who owned the land in the mid 1850s. After a poem or two, Boot will then focus on plant ID and natural history.
To register, visit https://svtprograms.force.com/s/event-detail?eventId=a4W5G0000019Pj8UAE.
$10 for Non-Members; $0 for SVT Members
Sunday, September 11
End of Summer Celebration, sponsored by Massachusetts Rivers Alliance
3-6 PM
Hale Reservation, Westwood,
Music, Food, Boating and Community
Revel outdoors with us and celebrate our recent successes with an afternoon of food, music, and fun. Live music, light refreshments, boating, raffle prizes, awards and more! Register today! massriversalliance.org
Friday, September 16-18
River Clean-Up Volunteers Needed!
Join US! OARS needs volunteers to help us spread out across the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord river watershed to clean up our rivers, streams, ponds and trails! This year marks the 36th Annual River Clean-Up which will be hybrid and take place Friday Sept 16-Sunday Sept 18. Every year OARS relies on the support of volunteers and local businesses to keep our rivers clean.To find out how to get involved in this year’s clean-up, go to www.oars3rivers.org.
Saturday, September 17
Eyes on Owls Live Animal Program
11-12:15 PM
Come explore North America’s family of owls. A fast paced slideshow introduces all 19 species of owls that nest on the continent north of Mexico. Then meet six species of owls up close! Space is limited so advance ticket purchase required. 48 seats available. To register, visit https://svtprograms.force.com/s/event-detail?eventId=a4W5G0000019PeXUAU#; $5/SVT Member; $10 for Non-Member
Saturday, Sept. 17, October 15, November 19
Polysterene Collection Day
10 AM-1 PM
Acton Transfer Station and Recycling Center
Bring your clean polystyrene; We can’t accept polystyrene food containers.
Questions? Contact the Sustainability Director at abecerra@actonma.gov. Transfer Station sticker required for access.
Sunday, September 18
Nature Walk of Grassy Pond
2-4 PM
Meet at Church of the Good Shepherd, 164 Newtown Road Acton
Please join the Acton Conservation Trust for a walk of this beautiful and biodiverse land just off Newtown Road. The walk will be led by Boot Boutwell, a freelance itinerant naturalist who teaches and leads nature walks for Mass. Audubon and the New England Wild Flower Society among others. Grassy Pond is a kettle-hole pond formed by the retreat of the last glacier. It exhibits bog characteristics (very wet/highly acidic) around its perimeter, and is home to a number of wetland loving plants such as leatherleaf, highbush blueberry, pitcher plants, red maple, and tamarack. There are two boardwalks to keep us high and dry – one running through the pond-shore bog and a second going out into the pond. The walk will focus on plant ID as well as fun and interesting natural history. Be sure to come dressed for ticks and sprayed for mosquitos. Refreshments will be provided. Registration is not yet available.
Tuesday, September 20
Household Hazardous Waste Day
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: DPW Garage at 14 Forest Road
The Town of Acton holds a Hazardous Waste Day twice a year and offers residents a safe and legal way of disposing of hazardous materials. For more information on hazardous waste disposal or Hazardous Waste Day, please contact the Health Department at 978-929-6632.2022 from
Note: These collection services are for Acton residents only and proof of residency will be required.
This year there will be extra precautions in place due to COVID-19:
• All residents must stay in their vehicles at all times. Clean Harbors has a policy that anyone who attempts to exit their vehicle will be asked to leave.
• Waste accepted from truck bed, trunk of car, or back hatch of SUV. Materials will not be accepted from seats or when handed from residents.
• Clean Harbors will not be returning any containers (gas containers, storage totes, etc.). Please plan accordingly.
• If possible, make one trip to Household Hazardous Waste Day.
See our Household Hazardous Waste Day Flyer for more information.
Tuesday, September 20
Lincoln Land Conservation Trust Annual Meeting
Presentation: “Why do Fireflies Flash?”
7:00 PM
Avalon Owens, will speak on “Why do fireflies flash? How to be a firefly steward, neighbors and friend, and keep their lights turned on”. Register for Annual Meeting by visiting https://lincolnconservation.org/events/llcts-2022-annual-meeting-why-do-fireflies-flash/
Saturday, October 1
Faulkner Homestead “Open Air Taproom” fundraiser
4-8 PM
Faulker Homestead, 5 High Street, Acton
Plans are still being finalized, but they include the Music, Minutemen, and Merriment of the past combined with the ease and freedom of an outdoor event. You are cordially invited to join us – tickets are still $30 per adult. Children are free and welcome.
There will be music by Ward Hayden and the Outliers, brews from True West, and cider from Pony Shack Cidery. True West will also be catering the event with dinners to order on site, or guests may bring their own picnics. In case of inclement weather, we will have large tents for shelter, and fire pits for drama and warmth.
Visit our website at ironworkfarm.org for tickets and more information.
Monday, October 3
Great Falls, A Documentary
7:00 PM
Smithsonian filmmaker Ted Timreck will screen a retrospective of his film that tells a dramatic story of environmental and cultural preservation when Turners Falls, Massachusett’s plans to expand its airport runway included removal of a ceremonial stone landscape Native Americans identified as a ritual site. Sponsored by the Sargent Memorial Library in Boxborough. In-person and Zoom. The Friends Pine Hawk 2022 Fall Program is presented with support from the Acton Memorial Library, the Sargent Memorial Library, and Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. All programs are free but require registration here. Questions? Email friends.of.pinehawk@gmail.com.
BOSTON AREA GLEANERS (BAG) INFORMATION AND NEWS
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!
Got Banana Boxes?
We’re looking for banana boxes to pack and transport our gleaned produce! Banana boxes can be collected from grocery stores, corner stores, pantries, or anywhere that sells bananas.
We’ll keep a running total of the boxes you’ve dropped off at Stonefield Farm and we’ll be in touch to give you merch in recognition of your efforts! For more detailed information and instructions, click here.
Help for Volunteers who commute to BAG’s Stonefield Farm, 91 Martin St., from South Acton Station
As a reminder, if you are planning to take the MBTA to volunteer at Stonefield Farm in Acton, feel free to use one of the three BAG bikes (covered in BAG stickers) now parked at South Acton station for the short commute to the farm! Please reach out to outreach@bostonareagleaners.org prior to your volunteer trip to coordinate.
Understand Urban Forests Benefits for Climate and Health
– from https://www.vibrantcitieslab.com
Planting and maintaining trees in urban forests can improve climate resilience, carbon mitigation and human health. With more than 8 in 10 people in the United States currently living in urban areas having nature integrated in cities supports the health and well-being of communities. Learn more here.
Knotweed Out – Wildflowers In! From MCA-CISMA Newsletter – August 2022
(To subscribe contact SVT’s Kristin O’Brien, kobrien@svt.web.org)
SVT has had great success with restoring a solid block of Japanese knotweed to a thriving and diverse wildflower meadow at the Gowing’s Swamp Conservation Area in Concord.
Read the full story here. Be sure to check out the PDF link for more details.
Walden Pond in Concord
7 am-7:30 pm
915 Walden St.
walden.pond@state.ma.us 978-369-3254, bridal paths, and farm roads
One-way trail loop system to promote social distancing; Boat ramp Sunday – Saturday: 5 AM – 7 PM.
Parking: MA resident $8; Non-MA resident: $30 Annual and senior passes NOT sold in park
Use this link to purchase a pass: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/purchase-an-annual-parking-pass-for-massachusetts-state-parks
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/get-a-senior-parking-pass
HIT THE WATER – PICK YOUR PADDLES
The South Bridge Boathouse
Canoe and Kayak Rental service in Concord
496 Main St., Concord, MA
Monday-Friday: 10 AM to one hour before dusk; Weekends and Holidays: 9 AM to one hour before dusk.
Rent a canoe or kayak and explore miles of peaceful waterways on the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord Rivers. A leisurely 1.5 mile paddle to the
Old North Bridge is a favorite.
For more information contact 978-369-9438 or visit https://www.southbridgeboathouse.com/
Camp Acton is Open
Pope Road, Acton
Fee is $25 per site reserved through the 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.
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.
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 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”!