February 5, 2014
 
News & Events from the Peconic Land Trust 
 

ThankYouHappy New Year and Thank You!  

 

On behalf of all of us at the Peconic Land Trust, thank you for your generous support of our 2013 Annual Fund. Each year, since our founding in 1983, you and your family, friends and neighbors have joined our efforts with your generous financial contributions, ensuring that the Trust has the resources to execute the planning, acquisition, stewardship, education and public policy work necessary to protect what we know and love on the East End and beyond. 

 

We look forward to working with you in 2014 and the years to come as we continue to conserve the working farms and natural lands that make Long Island the beautiful place it is to live and visit. If you haven't had the chance, please take a look through our Year in Review slideshow from 2013 -- and we look forward to seeing you this year!

 

  

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conservationConservation Updates  

At the end of 2013, we worked with two families who have generously supported land conservation on the East End by expanding upon the protection of lands they own.  

  

Sagaponack Farmland 
In late December, Beverley "Muffie" Galban and her family donated additional restrictions on 33 acres of protected farmland in Sagaponack. The restrictions, outlined in Affirmative and Affordable Farming Covenants and a Resale Restriction, assure that the protected farmland will be farmed now and in the future and that an important vista between Daniels and Hedges Lanes will be there forever.

"The Galban family, led by Pedro and Muffie, has a strong connection to the East End's agricultural heritage and has done extraordinary work to see that this resource is conserved as active farmland for future generations. Their voluntary donation of additional restrictions on their land is a testament to their commitment to the community and to fresh, local food, and will hopefully serve as a model for other landowners to consider," said John v.H. Halsey, President of the Peconic Land Trust.

Natural Land on Shelter Island
Also at the end of December, the Trust received a donation of a conservation easement on an additional two acres of natural lands on Shelter Island from Samuel W. Seymour and Karen Patton Seymour on West Neck Road. The land, purchased in June 2013, was acquired with the intent of expanding the acreage protected by a previous conservation easement donated to the Trust by the Seymours in 2007. This increases the area protected to 18.6 acres.

"Sam and Karen continue to show their appreciation for the natural beauty of Shelter Island through the permanent protection of this meadow," said John v.H. Halsey, President of the Trust. "We thank them for their commitment to conservation and look forward to working with Sam, Karen and their family for many years to come. We hope this latest gift inspires others to conserve the land around them."

For additional information on these significant gifts, please visit our website

Suffolk County Releases Survey Results:
Farmers Optimistic About Agricultural Future 


On January 14, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone released data on the State of Suffolk County's Agriculture Industry, which included a summary of the attitudes and challenges identified by 143 agricultural producers who completed a survey in 2013 as part of the County's efforts to update its Agricultural & Farmland Protection Plan. The Peconic Land Trust has worked closely with the County to this end.

"I would like to thank our Suffolk County farmers for their enthusiastic participation in this agricultural survey sponsored by our partners at the Peconic Land Trust, the Long Island Community Foundation, the Long Island Farm Bureau, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets," said County Executive Bellone. "As we know, farmers are innovative entrepreneurs who will continue to drive economic activity and improve our overall quality of life. The report marks an important first step in our efforts to create an informed Agricultural & Farmland Protection Plan that will address the concerns of our heritage agriculture industry in a considered and comprehensive manner."

"Changing times bring new challenges to all areas of our economy, and agriculture is no exception in Suffolk County, especially on the East End of Long Island where land values are so high," states John v.H. Halsey, President of the Trust. "Several of these challenges have been identified in the study . . . Our hope is that the update to the 1996 Suffolk County Agricultural & Farmland Protection Plan will not only shed light on these challenges but will initiate a Plan of Action to ensure the viability of Long Island's working farms and heritage."  

To read the entire press release, click here.
To read the report, The State of the Suffolk County Agriculture Industry, click here.  


Trust Issues RFP for Farmland Lease at Hayground Farms

In June 2013, the Peconic Land Trust acquired 20 acres known as Hayground Farms on Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton. The farmland will be included in the Trust's Farms for the Future Initiative. We have issued a "Request for Proposals" (RFP) to lease approximately 2 acres of the farm, plus the farm stand for 2014 as part of our ongoing efforts to support food production agriculture on Long Island. The balance of the farmland will be leased by an established local farmer.

The land available through the RFP consists of prime agricultural soils (Bridgehampton silt loam) located on the property's northwest corner with road frontage on Montauk Highway. The farm stand is expected to be shared by both farmers. Ideal applicants must be farming at least 10 acres in the Town of Southampton in order to share the farm stand, as per Southampton Town requirements. Applications are due: February 15, 2014. For more information, visit our website or contact Project Manager Luke McKay at 631.283.3195.  

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ConnectionsUpcoming Events  
 
Connections Activities  
  • rickSaturday, February 15: Chocolate Truffles Workshop at Bridge Gardens.   2 - 4 pm. Garden Manager Rick Bogusch will lead this delicious workshop on Valentine's Day weekend. $10/person; $5/Bridge Gardens members. 
    Space is limited. Pre-paid reservations required.  Call Robin Harris at 631.283.3195 ext. 19.  


  • Sunday, February 16: Growing Farmers to be screened at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington as part of Long Island's first "Film & Food Feast," sponsored by Slow Food Huntington and the Cinema Arts Centre.  6:30 pm. Screenings will be paired with the featured food from the film, prepared by members of iEatGreen and Slow Food Huntington. Scott Chaskey, farmer/poet for Peconic Land Trust's Quail Hill Farm will be part of the discussions. For more information, visit the Cinema Arts website at www.cinemaartscentre.org.   

  • Saturday, March 1: Growing Farmers Screening & Panel Presentation at Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River. 2-4 pm. Bayard Cutting Join us for a screening of this HIFF award-winning film, followed by a discussion with farmers on Long Island, including John Condzella (Condzella Farms), Jen Campbell (Bayard's CSA), Jill Garrick & Sean Pilger (HOG CSA) and Chris Browder (Browder's Birds). The panel will be moderated by Betsy Davidson (Edible Long Island) and will also include Trust President John v. H. Halsey and Quail Hill Farm's farmer/poet Scott Chaskey.  $10/person. To purchase your tickets, click here: www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/553652.    
  • Saturday, March 1: Starting Seeds Workshop at the Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm. 10:00 - 11:30 am. Join us for this annual workshop at the Ag Center. $5/person. Space is limited, reservations requested.  


LectureBridge Gardens Annual
"Conversations with . . . " Kicks Off on March 2!

The series, Long Island Grown: Food and Beverage Artisans at Work, will showcase dynamic and innovative growers and producers. The four part series will be on Sunday afternoons from 2-4 pm and is moderated by Chef/Author Laura Donnelly. Light refreshments will be served after each program.  Media sponsor: Edible East End.
    • March 2: Small Bites with David Falkowski, Fred Lee and Pete Ludlow.
    • March 23: From Vine to Wine with Miguel Martin, Kareem Massoud, and Christopher Tracy.
    • April 6: Hops and Brews with John Condzella, Duffy Griffiths, and Rich Stabile.
    • April 27: Fruits of the Sea with Sean Barrett, Karen Rivara, and Joe Tremblay.

Tickets are: Bridge Gardens Members: $20 per lecture or $70 for the series. Non-members: $25 per lecture or $90 for the series. Thanks to Edible East End, our media sponsor, all purchasers of the full series ticket will receive a one-year subscription to the "Edible" magazine of their choice!  Space is limited and prepaid reservations are a must. To secure your seat, please email [email protected] or call Robin at 631.283.3195, ext. 19.  

 

For more information on Connections programs, visit our online calendar or call Kathy Kennedy at 631.283.3195, ext. 29. For reservations, email Robin Harris at [email protected] or call 631.283.3195 ext. 19.

  

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Educational Conference

summitNew York State Land Conservation Summit
Registration is Open!    
NYSLandSummit
April 10 - 11, 2014  
The Historic Thayer Hotel 
West Point, NY

The Peconic Land Trust, working in partnership with more than a dozen land trusts across New York State, is hosting a state-wide conference focused on issues of importance to land conservation. The summit, entitled Investing in Healthy Communities, will bring together a diverse, sophisticated and enthusiastic group of conservation leaders, practitioners, decision-makers and stakeholders for an intensive two-day summit to share knowledge and learn from experts on effective land protection tools and techniques, fundraising strategies and public/private partnerships.

Interested in joining us? Visit www.NYSLandSummit.org to register and for more information on presentations and field trips. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

This is a great opportunity to meet with land conservation professionals and volunteers from across New York State. For more information, email  Dawn Haight or call 631.283.3195, ext. 34. 

The Summit is funded in part through the Environmental Protection Fund and New York State Conservation Partnership Program, administered by the Land Trust Alliance in coordination with the Department of Environmental Conservation.

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brandywineExclusive Tour of The Brandywine Valley 
 Benefits the Trust!  
 
Have you visited the beautiful Brandywine region of Pennsylvania yet?  If not, don't miss this chance!  Experience an exclusive 5-day tour planned for April 23 - 27, 2014, arranged by ProTravel International. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Peconic Land Trust. 
Nemours Mansion and Gardens
The tour kicks off in Chadds Ford at the charming Mendenhall Inn, your home away from home, and features visits to the historic Brandywine Museum, Mt. Cuba Center (former home and estate of Mr. and Mrs. Lammot du Pont Copeland), fabulous lunch and visit to Longwood Gardens, an historical walk through time at the Hagley Museum, a glorious visit to the Nemours Mansion and Gardens (former home to Alfred I. du Pont), and concludes at Wintherthur Museum and Gardens (former home of Henry Francis du Pont).

Each day you'll enjoy personalized visits to beautiful, historically significant gardens, museums, and grand homes, and dine on cuisine that is strictly twenty-first century!
For more information, please email Susan Gullia at [email protected] or call 212.409.9556.

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joshSave the Date and Get Your Tickets Today!

The 4th Annual Josh Levine Memorial Foundation Dinner  

Sunday, April 6th 
at the American Hotel in Sag Harbor 
with a pre-dinner cocktail party at 
Dodds & Eder in Sag Harbor

Ticket sales from this annual event support the Edible School Garden Program,
now part of the curriculum at 25 local schools, plus the programs of
Slow Food East End and the Joshua Levine Memorial Foundation. 
This event sells out every year - don't miss out!   
Purchase your tickets today at:  
  
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seedtimeHot Off the Press!
Scott Chaskey Publishes New Book, Seedtime

 
Quail Hill Farm's Director, Farmer and Poet Scott Chaskey just published his second non-fiction book, Seedtime: On the History, Husbandry, Politics and Promise of SeedsScott's newly-released book examines the worldwide changes in bio-diversity as it affects our food supply. Both a celebration and a call to action, Seedtime will renew your enthusiasm towards nature and local food. 

"Land is for [Chaskey] soil and metaphor, a living thing, a livelihood -- an idea. His land -- the land beneath us all -- is his lens on the largest questions: How ought we to act in the world; who do we wish to be? Rarely have we been gifted a working farmer who so firmly clenches in his root system the roles of poet, historian, scholar, and philosopher, but I'll say this: The yield here is extraordinary," Carl Safina, author of The View from Lazy Point: A Natural Year in an Unnatural World.

Please visit with Scott at a reading and book signing scheduled at Canio's Books, 290 Main Street in Sag Harbor on Saturday, February 15 at 5:00pm.  For more information, please contact Canio's Books at 631.725.4926. 

Also, click here for the podcast from Scott's recent interview on Stefani Sacks' Stirring the Pot on WPPB.   Or pick up the January 23 issue of the Southampton Press where Scott and the book are featured in Karl Grossman's Suffolk Outlook column.  

For more information about news and events of the Trust,

visit our website at  

www.PeconicLandTrust.org or call 631.283.3195. 

         

Consider donating today to our 2014 Annual Fund.
Your gift supports the conservation of the farms and natural lands you enjoy!  
Please help us further reduce our carbon footprint. 
If you change your address, or would like to receive all (or some) of your communications from the Peconic Land Trust by email, let us know!  
Contact Janet Schutt, Systems Manager, at 631.283.3195 ext. 24  
or email her at [email protected].  
Thank you for all you do in support of conservation in our communities!

Peconic Land Trust conserves Long Island's working farms, natural lands, and heritage for our communities now and in the future.

To learn more, call us at 631.283.3195 or visit us online at www.PeconicLandTrust.org.
  
Financial Disclosure Statement: A copy of the last financial report filed with the New York State Attorney General may be obtained in writing to: New York State Attorney General's Charities Bureau, Attn: FOIL Officer, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271 or Peconic Land Trust, PO Box 1776, Southampton, NY 11969.