Trust Farmland Sale 

Opens Opportunity for New Farmers   

  

John and Laura Schiavetta want to be a part of the agricultural community on the North Fork, and their perfect location was found at the Trust's Oregon Road Farm.

The site, a 10-acre property conserved by the Trust in 2006, also includes a house on its own 2.5-acre parcel and is well-suited for the Schiavetta's plans for their new venture.  With the idea of possibly growing heirloom tomatoes -- possibly in partnership with a young farmer -- John and Laura have room to plan, grow and experiment going forward.

Together, the farmhouse and land were purchased by the Schiavetta family in mid-September. The sale of this property concludes the conveyance of yet another protected farm from the Trust into the hands of a family interested in farming. These two parcels were part of the Trust's Farms for the Future Initiative, the Trust's program to meet the growing demand for affordable farmland for expanding or start-up farmers.  Other successful new-farmers who got their start through this program include Chris and Holly Browder of Browder's Birds, and Tom Geppel and Carol Festa of 8 Hands Farm.  For more information on the Trust's Farms for the Future Initiative, please click here. 

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WPPB Community Leadership Award  

John v.H. Halsey 

Recognized for His Commitment to Conservation

 

Peconic Public Broadcasting (WPPB) bestowed their very first Community Leadership Award on Trust President, John v.H. Halsey in September.

The award was presented during WPPB's annual golf outing at Atlantic Golf Club, in recognition of John's tireless efforts on behalf of Long Island's working farms and natural lands.

Wally Smith, President of Peconic Public Broadcasting, stressed the importance of the work John has done for the community, stating that "John has been a leader in the environmental and land use movement here on the East End, one of our largest issues to deal with." Smith continued, "John works every day to figure out how we can save enough land to allow farmers to feed us.  He sees things that need to be done and makes them happen." 

 

We couldn't agree more -- Congratulations John! 

 

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Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm:

Cover Crops = Good Stewardship of Ag Lands  

    

The farmland at the Trust's Agricultural Center in Southold has been transformed from a 21-acre fallow field to a thriving farming operation since the Trust acquired it in 2008. However, weed and disease pressures regularly force a farmer to rest portions of their land -- good agricultural practice to keep soil healthy and productive.

Dan Heston, one of the Trust's North Fork Stewardship Managers, oversees this critically important work on Trust-owned farmland, and has seen to it that a large portion of the lands at the Ag Center were resting this season with the planting of sorghum.  

 

"Sorghum is one of the best cover crops." stated Dan, "It really provides exceptional organic matter while naturally suppressing weeds." This grass was allowed to grow to over 3 feet in height before being mowed several times during the growing season. The clippings were left to return much-needed nutrients to the soil. Tilling the grass into the soil at the end of the growing season will complete the resting phase, and prepare the lands for cultivation in 2015.

The farmland at our Ag Center will support the fledgling operations of four new farmers in 2015 - stay tuned for more news about their successes! 

 

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Bridge Gardens' Sustainable Lawn Care

Grows Through Partnership

 

In 2014, the Trust began a partnership with Edwina von Gal and her Perfct Earth Project (PEP) which brought Paul Wagner of Treewise to Bridge Gardens for free lawn care advice. Did you take advantage? Paul has been at Bridge Gardens on Thursdays since August, but this free lawn care advice program ends on October 30.  There's still time -- learn how and when to  install or renovate your lawns, and brush up on best practices for ridding your lawn of those pesky moles and voles.  Send your questions via email to LawnExperts@PeconicLandTrust.org.  

 

Through this ongoing partnership, Bridge Gardens, under the guidance and assistance of PEP and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, installed 5,000 square feet of turf grass demonstration plots this month. Garden visitors in 2015 will be able to see the variety of grasses available, including those most suitable for the East End, and learn how to care for each type in a sustainable way.

 

We look forward to your visits next year! Don't forget to visit our website for updates on our 2015 programming. These will include our annual Spring

Lecture Series starting in March, sustainable lawn care programs, and continued arts programming.

We are also in the early stages of planning for a new

community garden area at Bridge Gardens, starting Spring 2015. Stay tuned!

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Terrafirma Takes Off:

The Future of the Lands You Have Helped Conserve

is Now More Secure

   

Illegal dumping of garbage, rampant ATV use or other inappropriate activities, boundary disputes with a new, adjacent property owner, expensive legal challenges draining reserve funds:  all these things can and do happen to conservation organizations across the United States at one time or another.

In order to rise to the challenges of defending our conserved open spaces, the Peconic Land Trust has joined with land trust leaders from New York and beyond by signing on to Terrafirma.  The Terrafirma Risk Retention Group was launched by the National Land Trust Alliance in 2013 to help us defend conserved lands from many kinds of legal challenges. Terrafirma is owned by its land trust members and insures against the costs of defending conservation easements and protecting fee lands held for conservation purposes when there have been violations or are under legal attack. As population and development pressures increase, so does the value of conserved properties, making them vulnerable.

Across America 454 land trusts in 46 states plus D.C. are now working together to defend 22,280 conserved properties. Community gardens, urban parks, forests, farms, ball fields, swimming holes, trails, shorelines, nature preserves and open space all over the country have a conservation safety net and land trusts can keep the promise of permanence for their communities. For more information on Terrafirma, visit www.Terrafirma.org. 

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Going Fast: A Handful of  

Quail Hill Farm Winter Shares Still Available!

November 21 into March 2015 

Join us in this our 25th year! Pick-up for Quail Hill Farm's winter share is every 2 weeks at the farm shop, and you also get to harvest your fresh greens directly from the greenhouses. There is a wonderful abundance of root vegetables and greens to choose from, including  carrots, beets, potatoes, sweet potatoes, celery root, parsnips, cabbage, kohlrabi, radish, turnips, winter squash, burdock, garlic, shallots, wheat berries and more...

For more information and to join, contact Robin Harris at 631.283.3195 ext. 19 or RHarris@PeconicLandTrust 

Quail Hill Farm's Farmer/Poet  

Scott Chaskey in the Community this Weekend!  

• Saturday, October 25 at the Bridgehampton Museum Archives (2538-A Montauk Highway), Scott will join Mary Woltz of Bees Needs and David Falkowski of Open Minded Organics for a panel on "Farming's Future on the East End."  The discussion starts at 2 pm. Admission: Free to Museum members or $5 for non-members.
• Sunday, October 26 at The Peconic Landing Community Center in Greenport, Scott will be reading from his new book, Seedtime: On the History, Husbandry, Politics, and Promise of Seeds. The talk starts at 3 pm and admission is free.

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Late Season Activities Continue . . . 

Please Join Us!  

Watercolor Workshops with Lois Bender

Saturdays: October 25, November 1, 15 and 22:

Bridge Gardens, 36 Mitchell Lane, Bridgehampton

Come for one class or sign up for all -- but join in the fun as Lois helps you capture the golden hues of autumn during these relaxing watercolor classes. Lois, a professional artist and skilled educator, works with every skill level, from beginner to experienced painters. With the exception of October 25 when class will meet from 3 to 6pm, all classes meet from 10am to 1pm and are limited in size. Prepaid registration is required.  $45 each plus materials. You can bring your own materials or purchase them from Lois that day. To register, contact Lois at  loisbender@gardenspiritsny.com. 

  

And concluding the programming at Bridge Gardens 

for the year, our annual .  .  . 

Holiday Wreath Workshop with Diana Conklin

Sunday, December 7 from 2 - 4 pm

Bridge Gardens, 36 Mitchell Lane, Bridgehampton  

Create your front door showpiece this holiday season when Diana teaches you how to make your vision come true! Plain evergreen wreaths provided, with a wealth of fresh, locally-grown greens, berries, dried flowers, seed pods, fruits, and more for you to select from. $30/person, prepaid reservations a must as this program sells out every year! Call today to reserve at 631.283.3195. 

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