The walk will start at 7 a.m. at 80 Post Road, Sugar Hill. We will go through meadow, early successional, and mature mixed hardwood habitats.  In abundance right now are a variety of warblers, vireos, thrushes, flycatchers, woodpeckers and sapsuckers, wrens, sparrows, tanagers, grosbeaks, orioles, and a local favorite, the bobolinks. A whippoorwill was heard recently.

The walk will go through the Foss Forest and the Evelyn-MacCornack Forest, which are owned by ACT, and across the open fields of Bronson Hill, conserved by the Perkins and Porter families.

For more information call us at 603-823-7777. For directions click here.

These case studies will be discussed by a panel that includes an attorney, farmer, county agriculture specialist, and land trust representative at the April 29 workshop for the Farmland and Floodplain Conservation Initiative, 6 – 8 p.m. at the St. Paul’s Parish House, 113 Main Street, Lancaster, NH.

These stories of two North Country families are drawn from a variety of real life examples but do not represent any one person or family. Neither do they lend themselves to one-size-fits-all solutions. Conservation agreements are best crafted through a process that builds mutual understanding between a landowning family or individual and a conservation organization, based on a clear sense of the landowner’s goals for using the land now and in the future.

1. The Smith Family.

Jean and Bernard Smith live in northern New Hampshire. Their families have farmed along the Connecticut River for five generations. They own 280 acres of corn and hay fields, 100 acres in N.H. and 180 in VT. They also have a 90-acre woodlot in New Hampshire. Over the years they have sold off some of their land as home sites to carry them through lean times and to help send the four kids to college. Most of their fields are in the floodplain. Despite this fact, by summer the fields are high and dry, and its not uncommon for visitors to stop by on golden summer evenings and offer to buy some land with the glorious views of the river and the hills of Vermont.

The Smiths still have a dairy herd but between the economy and their advancing ages, staying with dairy seems less and less practical. Mrs. Smith also runs a modest farmstand that attracts more and more people every year.

The Smiths’ four adult children are a mixed bag, and as a group the family has never talked about what will happen with the farm. Daughter #1 loves to visit the farm and brings her own children to get a taste of country life. Her daughter – the oldest grandchild – is studying agricultural science at UNH and has started talking about being a farmer. Daughter #2 is getting divorced and has two kids, and Jean and Bernard anticipate she’ll need some financial help after the divorce.  Son #1 is a banker on the West Coast and they hardly ever see him, but they know he’d would want to get every penny he could out of the farm someday, likely by selling it for development. The other son is a starving artist in New York, and always short on money.

The Smiths’ farm is their nest egg; they want to live on the farm as long as possible, at least while both are in good health.

What are some of the options available for the Smiths?

2.  April and Jason Stewart

The Stewarts moved to northern New Hampshire about 10 years ago, after cashing out of their dot-com business. They had enough to buy an old farm and bring it back into modest production, and are now committed, small-scale farmers, raising local meat, organic produce that they sell to regional restaurants and farm markets. Their land is now their major asset. They own 75 acres along the Connecticut River and 300 acres of upland and fields on the other side of Route 3 in NH.

Both April and Jason maintain other part-time jobs (they telecommute) but they really want to devote more time to farming. They understand there may be funding available for conservation, and that might help move them to the next level of production so that one of them can work the farm full time. They are considering greenhouses for tomatoes and maybe going into cheese making.

But April and Jason are concerned about locking into a future that no one can foresee. They wonder about climate change, about development pressure here in the valley, about the economy in general – they’ve made it through this downturn so far, but what if the “localvore” movement that has helped them dies out? Or what if farm policies continue to squeeze out the local people in favor of the big operators? If they expand, where will the help come from? So many young people are moving away.

The Stewarts are both avid bird watchers and they love paddling the river (April studied wildlife biology before she became a computer programmer). They know that the floodplain forest that grows on part of their land is good habitat and provides a buffer against erosion. A neighbor has offered them a nice sum to cut firewood there, though.  They are very concerned about an area of riverbank that has been eroding more every year. During this January thaw the river jumped the bank and carved a new channel that lasted for nearly a month and is still pretty wet.

The other thing that troubles them is recreational use of their land. Wanting to be good neighbors, they do not post it, and have a good relationship with the local snowmobile club that has a trail through the fields. But ATV use has been a problem, especially when the machines go off trail, and there’s been more and more trash from boaters who come down the river and sometimes stop in the floodplain forest. The Stewarts are concerned that conserving their land may invite more misuse.

What would you advise to April and Jason?

April 5, 2010

Workshops Spotlight Economic Opportunities in Conserving Farmland and Floodplains

LANCASTER, N.H. – Two workshops in April will focus on conserving farmland and floodplains in the upper Connecticut River watershed. Strategies for conserving land and economic opportunities for landowners will be detailed.  Landowners and all interested residents are invited, including members of conservation commissions, planning boards, and select boards.

Click here to download the poster.

The first workshop is Thursday, April 22, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Parish House of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 113 Main Street, Lancaster. We will address how landowners can permanently keep their land open for farming, while maintaining the natural benefits of flood control and wildlife habitat. We will overview the ecological and economic importance of farmland and floodplains in our area, and discuss myths and facts about developing in floodplains. New maps will show the junction of floodplain habitat and agricultural land. We will present scenarios based on real-life situations illustrating the financial, tax, family, and business implications and opportunities for farmers and other landowners in using conservation agreements on their land.

The second workshop is April 29, also from 6 – 8 p.m. also at the St. Paul’s Parish House. We will focus on the nuts and bolts of “farm-friendly” conservation agreements and how landowners can permanently keep their land open for farming or forestry, or in its natural state. Funding sources for landowners to do conservation and new ways of paying landowners to protect riverbanks and allow the river to move naturally will be detailed. Roger and Suzie Irwin of Maidstone, Vt. will tell the story of conserving their farm last year. A panel that includes farmers, a lawyer, and land trust members will respond to the questions raised in the scenarios offered at the first workshop.

Our river valley has some of the richest agricultural land in New England. This land is a backbone of the region’s traditional economy, and renewed interest in local food and farming is a welcome trend. Much of this prime agricultural land is also floodplain. The floodplains provide natural storage that helps protect towns and communities against flood damage, and provide key habitat for a wide range of wildlife. Floodplain forests are an especially important and declining type of habitat nationwide, but are still present in our region.

Because of this intersection of the economic and ecological importance of floodplains and farmland, several groups have teamed together to work with willing landowners to bring the financial and technical resources to do conservation work. The project, called the Farmland and Floodplain Conservation Initiative, is a partnership of the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT), the locally-based non-profit land conservancy in the North Country, and the N.H. Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. We are working closely with the Coös County office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, UNH Cooperative Extension, Vermont Land Trust, and the Connecticut River Joint Commissions.

For more information, please call Rebecca Brown, executive director, Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust, at 616-3445 or rbrown@aconservationtrust.org. ACT’s mission is to encourage conservation as an integral part of the growth and future well being of New Hampshire’s North Country, through conserving places with ecological, historic, community, or scenic values. We especially focus on conserving the farms and working forests that are the foundation of our region’s economy and character. More information about ACT may be found on the Web at www.aconservationtrust.org.

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to protect the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of lie on earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. TNC has identified floodplains as one of the most critical ecosystems for both conservation and natural flood control.

The upper Connecticut River  valley has some of the richest agricultural land in New England. This land is a backbone of our region’s traditional economy, and renewed interest in local food and farming is a welcome trend. Much of this prime agricultural land is also floodplain. The floodplains provide natural storage that helps protect towns and communities against flood damage, and provide key habitat for a wide range of wildlife. Floodplain forests are an especially important and declining type of habitat nationwide, but are still present in our region.

Because of this intersection of the economic and ecological importance of floodplains and farmland, ACT has  teamed with several other organizations to bring the financial and technical resources to willing  landowners to do conservation work. The project, called the Farmland and Floodplain Conservation Initiative, is a partnership of ACT and the N.H. Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. We are working closely with the Coös County office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, UNH Cooperative Extension, Vermont Land Trust, and the Connecticut River Joint Commissions.

The Farmland and Floodplain Initiative focuses on conserving these important lands along the Connecticut River and its major tributaries, including the Johns, Israel, and Upper Ammonoosuc Rivers. The initiative seeks to work with private landowners willing to explore conservation opportunities that maintain agricultural use and conserve floodplain ecosystems and habitats. A variety of funding sources are available to compensate landowners for development rights, for riparian buffers, that also allow rivers to migrate naturally.

The importance of floodplains and riparian areas for the long-term health of the Connecticut River and the viability of resident and migratory fish and wildlife has been abundantly documented. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified the stretch from West Stewartstown south into Lancaster as one of the four most important natural valley flood storage areas on the entire 410-mile long Connecticut River. Conservation of natural valley flood storage areas is one of the recommendations of the Water Resources Management Plan of the Connecticut River Joint Commissions and is specifically recommended by its Headwaters and Riverbend subcommittees

The Initiative has three phases:

Phase 1. GIS Analysis and Mapping. The project team has assembled natural resources data from state, local, and national organizations and used this information to map areas where floodplain habitats, prime agricultural soils, and active farms intersect. This combination provides important economic and ecological benefits.

Phase 2. Outreach. We are now ready to share this GIS analysis and mapping with local communities and engage  landowners interested in discussing floodplain and farmland conservation opportunities.

Two community workshops for  landowners, conservation commissions, planning boards, and others, will be held at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church parish hall at 113 Main Street, Lancaster on April 22 and April 29 from 6 – 8 p.m.

The April 22 workshop will present the project mapping; provide an overview of ecological and economic benefits of floodplains and farmland, and review strategies for conserving those lands.

The April 29 workshop will cover conservation strategies for farmland owners, funding sources, and review estate planning, farm succession, and conservation easement approaches using case studies based on real projects.

Phase 3. Project identification. The initiative hopes to engage with landowners interested in exploring conservation opportunities, potentially using funds from a variety of public and private sources. We will meet with all interested individual landowners to discuss potential conservations project in depth, based on the owner’s goals and desired uses for the land.

For more information please contact Rebecca Brown, Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust, at 603-823-7777, rbrown@aconservationtrust.org.

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We observe ACT’s Herbert G. Whipple Farm Conservation property over our back stone wall, and  I thought it might be useful for ACT to get a report of what we see, a sort of ” State of the Farm” report.

Most days there is evidence of one or more people walking in the field. This is based on the tracks we see in the snow in winter and some tracks in soft earth and visual sightings in the other seasons. As a conservative estimate I would say 500 person visits a year, but perhaps more than that. The commemorative bench at a view point in the field is well used.

The ecology of the field seems to be holding up well although the invasive plants dogbane and lupine are increasing in some areas.  From what I understand our only hope is to encourage native plants as removal or herbicide application has significant dangers and is often ineffective.
It took some experimentation with mowing regimes, but the 2009 mowing seems to be a successful approach. It is late enough to spare the ground nesting birds and supply several species with the bountiful blueberries, and early enough to impact the woody plants and other invasives such as dogbane and lupine. It could be a little earlier, perhaps the end of August to affect the invasives more. The mowing seemed well done this year.

Wildlife are doing well.  wild turkey, black bear and white-tailed deer are attracted to blueberries and the wild apple trees and moose are seen occasionally.  Coyote and red fox are rarely seen but leave tracks regularly.  We have two or sometimes three woodcock displaying in the field in spring and snipe are common.  There is a nesting pair of bobolinks.  Butterflies continue to be common in the field.
We need to continue the good work of clearing blown down trees to allow for mowing of the field, and at some point it will be necessary to cut or trim some of the trees on the field margins and the tree islands in the field if the field is not to shrink in size. Perhaps we should consider a clean up day as an activity for ACT members this next summer or fall before mowing.

An interesting development is that due to beaver activity on the little pond at the north edge of the property the shoreline of the pond is moving outward and I believe now has passed some of the property boundary so the Whipple Farm now has waterfront if you will! Someday we might be able to make a short boardwalk and viewing bench on the pond.

Tim Williams and his wife Janet live adjacent to the Herbert G. Whipple Farm Conservation Area in Sugar Hill. They were instrumental in the community effort that raised the funds to purchase this land for permanent conservation. This ACT-owned land is open to all – please visit!

Bird Walk May 29

State of the Whipple Farm – by Tim Williams

Maple Syrup Made Again at Stewart Farm – video by Mike Coyle

Welcome to the ACT community. ACT is the grassroots, non-profit land conservancy serving New Hampshire’s North Country. This is the place where our members, landowners, neighbors, friends, and visitors can follow what we are doing and take part. Post a comment, send a picture – let us know when you’ve visited one of our conserved lands, or tell us about the places you love in this rugged and beautiful region  we all call home.

ACT’s mission is to encourage and sustain environmental stewardship as an integral part of the growth and future well being of New Hampshire’s North Country. We do this through conserving places with ecological, community, historic, or scenic value. We especially  focus on conserving the farms and working forests that are the foundation of our region’s economy and character.

Explore the site to see our active projects, observations from the field, photos and location maps for our conserved lands, and much more. We are  just launching this new site. Please let us know what you think!

American toad (Bofu americanus)

Some people say that up here in the North Country we don’t have enough to do .  . . or maybe the long winter makes us a bit addled. From some perspectives, both may be true. All I can say is that when the first warm, rainy nights of spring get here, there are some of us who go out after dark armed with flashlights looking on the roads for one of the most wonderful signs of spring: the salamanders, and the frogs. (You can do the same thing driving around in your car but the amphibian mortality rate can get pretty high.)

One night this week a large female toad crouched in our driveway, looking like she’d just dug her way out of the ground. Her eyes were still covered with the protective lids and she barely moved, as it was chilly. I moved her off the driveway and a little while later when I got back from walking the dogs noted that her eyes were open.

The toad was really early (look for them later in May and June). Spotted salamanders are typically the first amphibians to emerge from their winter torpor. They live in holes, often made by other animals like chipmunks, under the leaf litter and well out of sight. On the first rainy night over 42 degrees F, the salamanders start creeping toward their home vernal pools. Vernal pools are the pockets of water, some the size of small ponds, some no bigger than puddles, which fill in the spring and dry up by summer – hence no fish to feed on eggs and tadpoles – and are the breeding place for a variety of amphibians. The salamanders gather together in orgiastic balls – at least this is what I’m told. I’ve found individual salamanders on the roads, but never seen the real action in the pools.

These are not your average under-the-rock salamanders, either.  They are long: – 6 – 8 inches – and hefty. Jet black with yellow spots. You can’t miss them – if you can find them. Despite their size and apparent proclivity to gather in writhing groups on one “big night,” they are not easily found.

The frogs are a lot easier. The wood frogs (“croakers”) come out first – they were out on the roads the last couple of rainy nights, also on their way to their vernal pools. They wear a black mask, and are up to a couple of inches long. Their hoarse, not-so-melodic croaks, or quacks, are heard on warm afternoons and then all night. In fact, they are croaking outside our office at The Rocks in Bethlehem right now. You can see them floating on ponds and vernal pools for the next couple of weeks.

As early as tomorrow – and maybe some places tonight –  the spring peepers will show up. Within a few warm days their  unmistakeable piercing calls will fill the air. Walk close to their pond and they’ll all fall silent, for as long as they can stand it – which is not long – and then one and the next and then whole male community starts calling again. These frogs are tiny – about the length of your thumb nail. Compared to the salamander they are really hard to spot – but at least you know they are there. Happy spring!

We encourage you to browse and comment where you see fit. If there is something you would like to see here; but it is missing, let us know. Our goal is to keep you informed on the many projects that our organization is working on, so stop back frequently and find out what our organization is up to…for the good of our community lands.