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News & Events from the Peconic Land Trust
Happy Spring!
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 Conservation Updates
Legislative News
It's budget time in Albany. Please reach out to your local legislators and urge their support of funding for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The EPF, created 21 years ago  in 1993, is the primary funding source for conservation programs in New York State, including open space and farmland protection. This year, Trust staff traveled up to Albany for two lobby day efforts -- the first organized by Friends of New York's Environment in February and just recently with the American Farmland Trust/New York. During both days, legislators and their staffs were asked to increase the support beyond the Governor's budget proposal of $157 million. Both the Senate and the Assembly's budget proposals, which were submitted last week, did include increased funding for the EPF. Now the negotiations begin. The EPF also includes funding for the Conservation Partnership Program (CPP), a grant program administered by  the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Land Trust Alliance to support capacity building and program development for land trusts across the State; a program that has been beneficial to the Peconic Land Trust's successes in past years -- including support for acquisition as well as our Farms for the Future Initiative. Please let your legislators know that you support the Environmental Protection Fund . . . it is important as we get close to the April 1st budget deadline that your priorities are heard. For a list of legislators, please visit our website. Peconic Land Trust's Conservation Map Ever wonder exactly what properties the Trust has protected -- or simply  you've been walking/biking/driving down a road on the East End and saw a Peconic Land Trust sign and thought "what is the story behind that property?" Learn more about the conservation work of the Trust, and the many people who have contributed to the protection of over 11,000 acres on Long Island by checking out our new interactive Conservation Map. The conservation story, along with pictures, accompanies each of the projects listed -- over 400! We will be updating the map periodically, adding in new conservation success stories along with additional information (e.g., trail maps, unique flora and fauna). Please check back often. Have questions or suggestions? Contact Dawn Haight at 631.283.3195 or DHaight@PeconicLandTrust.org.
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Upcoming Events
Friday, March 21: Scott Chaskey Reads from Seedtime at Sylvester Manor.
7:00  pm. Sylvester Manor Educational Farm on Shelter Island is hosting a reading and signing with Scott Chaskey for his latest book, Seedtime: On the History, Husbandry, Politics and Promise of Seeds, published by Rodale Books. For more information on this reading, visit the Manor's website. To RSVP, email to info@sylvestermanor.org. This program is free to the public.
Saturday, March 29: Seeds and Seedlings at Quail Hill Farm
10:00 am to noon. Join us for this popular, annual family friendly program at the Trust's Quail  Hill Farm, where you will join Farm Director Scott Chaskey and Farm Manager Layton Guenther to plant a variety of seeds in trays destined for the greenhouse. The program starts with a visit to the farm's compost area -- where Scott will talk about the importance of compost and how the farm creates this wonderful plant food. Free to attend; and the program is rain or shine.
March & April: Watercolor Classes at the Garden. 
Lois Bender returns to Bridge Gardens this Spring with a series of afternoon watercolor classes. Dates include March 30, April 12 and 19.Beginner and experienced artists will paint landscapes and floral bouquets in a "nature sketchbook-style," or bring your own project idea for development. $45/class. Space is limited. Pre-paid registration required at www.GardenSpiritsNY.com.
April 26: Annual Volunteer Orientation -- two locations:
North Fork Stewardship  Center (Cutchogue) or Bridge Gardens (Bridgehampton). 10 am to noon. Join us for our annual orientation for volunteers and find out how you can make a difference! Learn about the variety of programs and activities the Trust organizes and the important role volunteers have in our conservation and educational work. For more information, contact Outreach Manager Kathy Kennedy at 631.283.3195 ext. 29 or email KKennedy@PeconicLandTrust.org.
Visit our online calendar for more information on our Connections activities!
Bridge Gardens Annual
"Conversations with . . . " Continues through April!
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.
We had a full house on Sunday, March 2 for Small Bites -- an engaging discussion with multi-generational farmers who are working hard to introduce new agricultural food products into the East End. We are looking forward to more dynamic conversations and hope you can join us:
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March 23: From Vine to Wine with Miguel Martin (Palmer Vineyards), Kareem Massoud (Paumanok Vineyards), and Christopher Tracy (Channing Daughters Winery).
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April 6: Hops and Brews withJohn Condzella (Condzella Farms), Duffy Griffiths (Crooked Ladder Brewing Co), and Rich Stabile (Long Island Spirits.)
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April 27: Fruits of the Sea with Sean Barrett (Dock to Dish), Karen Rivara (Noank Aquaculture Cooperative), and Joe Tremblay (SPAT grower.)
Tickets are: Bridge Gardens Members: $20 per lecture; Non-members: $25 per lecture.
Space is limited and prepaid reservations are a must. To secure your seat, please email Events@PeconicLandTrust.org or call Robin at 631.283.3195, ext. 19.
F or 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 Events@PeconicLandTrust.org or call 631.283.3195 ext. 19.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2014 Memberships: Quail Hill Farm CSA Ag Center Community Gardens Bridge Gardens
It's that time of year! Now is the time to join, openings are available for:
 Quail Hill Farm's CSA: 2014 will be the 25th anniversary year for one of the oldest CSAs in the country. Offering over hundreds of varieties of vegetables, fruits and flowers on 30 acres in Amagansett, Quail Hill Farm's CSA is unique with a mix of pick-your-own and farm stand. Summer CSA share season begin in early June. For more information, contact Robin Harris at 631.283.3195 ext. 19.
 Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm's Community Gardens: Now in its 5th season, the Ag Center's Community Gardens in Southold offer a variety of plot sizes for you to grow your own vegetables, flowers and fruits -- and meet new friends and learn about gardening. For more information, contact North Fork Stewardship Manager Denise Markut at 631.734.5630.
 Bridge Gardens: This unique public garden in the heart of Bridgehampton offers memberships for individuals and families. Support the Gardens' growth by joining today and visit often. Membership also includes discounts to the many talks, workshops and music nights held at the gardens over the season -- including our Conversations with series currently underway. For more information, contact Thomas Hobson
at 631.283.3195 ext. 20.
Thank You!
The Peconic Land Trust is fortunate to have so many supporters of our efforts.
We would not be able to do the conservation work critical to protecting our working farms and natural lands -- the rural heritage of our communities -- without
the support of you, your family, friends and neighbors.
Recently, we've been honored for our accomplishments on Long Island:
Edible East End: Local Heroes Award
Thank you to the readers of Edible East End for votingfor the Trust in the Non-Profit category. We were honored to be among a tremendous, well deserving group of of non-profit organizations: Long Island Farm Bureau, Long Island Wine Council, All for the East End, and Slow Food East End.
Please visit the Edible East End website to read the stories about all the nominees across all categories. There are a lot of wonderful people and projects happening all over!
Cerini & Associates: Long Island Imagine Awards.
The Peconic Land Trust has been nominated as a finalist in two categories for this Long Island-wide recognition:
- Leadership Excellence: In recognition of Peconic Land Trust President & Founder John v.H. Halsey
- Social Impact: In recognition of the Trust's work through our Farms for the Future Initiative
Only in its second year, the Imagine Awards are shining a spotlight on a wide-range of non-profit organizations doing amazing work in communities across Long Island. We are honored to have been nominated, and are looking forward to celebrating with all the organizations and their supporters at the Awards Gala on Tuesday, May 6. Click here for more information or for a list of all the finalists!
And thank you for your support of the Trust's work . . . we could not conserve Long Island's working farms and natural lands without you!
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Save the Date: Antiques & Design Show to Benefit the Trust
June 21-22 with a benefit preview party on Friday, June 20
Please join us for a wonderful new design show coming to Bridgehampton this summer. Antiques and Design Show, managed by Thomas K. Woodard and Blanche Greenstein, will be at the Bridgehampton Community House.
With honorary co-chairs Chuck Scarborough and designer/antiques dealer Ellen Ward Scarborough, the show will feature top antiques dealers from the East End, US, and England offering Modernism, Americana, Continental, jewelry, art, and a fresh mix of antiques and contemporary design works for sale. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Peconic Land Trust. A Champagne Breakfast with a panel of top design experts will be moderated by Ms. Scarborough, with designer Mariette Gomez, on Saturday, June 21. For more information, call 212.988.2906 or email Blanche Greenstein at bgg225@gmail.com or Thomas Woodard at thomaskwoodard@gmail.com.
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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
Thank you for all you do in support of conservation in our communities!
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Peconic Land Trust conserves Long Island's working farms, natural lands, and heritage for our communities now and in the future.
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.
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