FALL 2008

Newsbrief ofW i l l i s t o W n C o n s e r v a t i o n t r u s t

T h e L e a f l e t

T h e L e a fl e t is an interim publication to supplement our annual newsletter, The Sycamore. through The Leaflet , we bring you interesting and timely information about

Willistown Conservation trust activities, stewardship news and upcoming events.

Whether they are raising a flock of laying hens, analyz-ing deer data, planting native trees, or helping to harvest summer crops, local students have contributed considerable talent and energy to the trust’s activities this year. Coming from a range of backgrounds and age- groups, they have participated in a variety of ways: through our internship program, steward-ship days, school partnerships, Community Farm volunteer program, and more.

the trust was fortunate to have two wonderful interns this year: Kristi Gabriel, a West Chester native attending Penn state university, and tori strange, a recent graduate of elon

university and resident of Malvern. Working at different times of the year, they each focused their internship in land stewardship, helping with the establishment of the Deer Management Program and other stewardship projects.

Drew Gardner, a senior at shipley, was one of many e n t h u s i a s t i c volunteers at rushton Farm this summer. He helped with a range of

local students Bring talent and enthusiasm to the trust

farm activities, including bed preparation, planting, and harvesting. the farm has also offered a wonderful market to some our area’s young growers. Margaret thompson, of Berwyn, grows beautiful sunflowers in her backyard garden and offered them at the farm during July and august. Westtown high schoolers Will and George Cauffman sell their “Cauffman Brothers” eggs that their flock of Buff orpington hens lay in their Malvern backyard.

thanks to partnerships with local Boy scout troops and schools, many area students have had a direct hand in planting native trees and shrubs in critical areas. two local Boy scouts, Zach rankin and Harry swartout, are planning and executing native tree plantings at our ashbridge and Kirkwood Preserves as their eagle scout leadership service Projects. students from Goshen Friends school, shipley school, and episcopal academy have partnered with the trust to plant native trees and shrubs on both on trust preserves and on their respective campuses.

the trust looks forward to working with more students over the coming year!

Farmer Ashley Brister and Shipley senior Drew Gardner take a break from trellising a

row of tomatoes at Rushton Farm.

George and Will Cauffman worked in the fields and sold their

“Cauffman Brothers” eggs as add-on products to Rushton Farm CSA members.

Penn State student Kristi Gabriel helps serve at the Rushton Farm Mid-Summer Harvest Celebration and Tomato Tasting.

T h e L e a f l e t

the trust’s Deer Management Plan (DMP), which utilizes managed hunting to bring the deer population back into balance with the ecosystem, has entered a new and exciting phase with the commencement of the 2008-2009 hunting season. after many months of meetings with the steering committee, we are finally ready to start implementing the plan.

the 7,000 acre DMP Focal area has been divided into 12 Hunting Co-ops, or zones. two key volunteer positions were created for each zone: a landowner advocate (loa) and a Hunter Coordinator (HC). the landowner advocate is a landowner within the zone who is responsible for communications with fellow landowners, while the Hunter Coordinator will oversee the hunting activities within the zone.

the steering committee has developed a number of policies and guidelines which are intended to provide hunters with a broad operating framework. these address key issues such as expected hunter conduct; the importance of safety, respect for the land and landowner; and the program’s emphasis on the principles of Quality Deer Management (QDM). QDM is a nationally recognized management practice with specific harvesting guidelines which are designed to optimize the health and balance of the herd.

Detailed guidelines provide recommendations for harvest recordkeeping, pre-season scouting, the handling of harvested deer and preferred hunting methods. the guidelines grew out of the hunter subcommittee, a group of devoted local hunters who, like the loas and HCs, have volunteered their time to the program.

Finally, we continue to work diligently on the venison donation component of the program. Food banks tell us that a single deer can provide meals for 200 hungry Pennsylvanians. to facilitate participation in Pennslvania’s Hunters sharing the Harvest (HsH) program, the trust will be purchasing a refrigerated cooler unit to be located centrally within Willistown which will provide an easily accessible place for hunters to store their excess harvested deer. Following this step, the harvested deer will be delivered to a an HsH-participating processor who will butcher the venison and deliver it to Cityteam Ministries in the city of Chester, who will utilize the venison for its food services program, providing meals to those in need.

in addition to the cooler, the trust is in the process of raising funds to help offset or completely subsidize the $15 processing cost borne by the hunter. We believe that by simplifying the logistics of donating excess venison combined with the prospect of eliminating any associated cost to the hunter, a greater number of deer will be culled and a greater number of people in need of a meal and improved nutrition will benefit.

although much has been accomplished over the past year, we have much work to do as we move forward with implementing the DMP. our thanks to all of you who have volunteered to help put this plan into motion, and a special thanks to our hunting

community for its cooperation and hard work.

Deer Management Plan Kicks off the 2008 Hunting season

Hunter Subcommittee members (l to r, back row) John Fossbenner, Craig Hacker, Mike Siddons, (l to r, front row) Walt Dowling,

Mike Starecky. Missing from the picture is Jay Lankford.

Crowds came out in record numbers to the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance, and the trust congratulates and thanks the 2008 committee for a smashingly successful event. Willistown Conservation trust, along with our friends at thorncroft equestrian Center, were once again the beneficiaries of this three day event showcasing the most elegant and historic automobiles in the country. Here Mike tilson, chairman and founder of the event, shows off one of the beautiful cars.

T h e L e a f l e t

What a Bash!Hats off to our hosts Brit and Janice Murdoch

and to our friends at Glenmede for sponsoring the Countryside Bash in June. a good time was had by all, and we netted close to $58,000 for the trust’s

community outreach programs and the ongoing maintenance of our Preserves.

thank you!

We are proud to announce that the Willistown Conservation trust is one of only 39 land trusts nationwide to be accredited by the independent land trust accreditation Commission established by the land trust alliance. there are almost 1,700 land trusts in the nation, so our accreditation confirms that we are among the most highly effective land preservation organizations in the country.

the land conservation professionals on the accreditation Commission scrutinized our files, examined our records, and reviewed each of our policies, and in the end, we received their

seal of approval. the accreditation seal (shown left) is a mark of distinction in land conservation and we will display it with pride.

We are grateful for the support given through the years by the Willistown community and our many conservation partners. our accredited status should reassure our contributors, easement holders, project partners and other stakeholders that we are meeting

the highest standards of performance and procedures. in other words, not only are we protecting important lands, but we’re doing it in the right way and for the long term.

We’re among the First in the Country!

To see additional photos of the Ba s h , o r t o o rd e r your own copies, please contact Babby Davis (610-644-2672 or mhd947@verizon.net). You may also stop by the Trust office to look at the contact sheets.

Ma

ry

Hu

nt

Da

vis

T h e L e a f l e t

it was a cold spring day in late March when the first ground was broken at rushton Farm. there was nothing on the site except a newly built greenhouse and the first beams of what would become our farm shed. you had to look long and hard at the fields to envision what they would look like come summer. looking at the farm on this brisk october morning it is hard to believe that this ground was weed strewn and fallow just six months ago. today the fields are bursting with late season crops and summer crops beginning to fade back into the soil from which they were born. these fields have not only produced thousands of pounds of fresh produce but they have served as a meeting place for the members of the rushton Farm Community supported agriculture (Csa) and the Willistown community. the farm has also served as a model for sustainable agriculture, utilizing regenerative and organic farming practices. this land has gone from unused open space to the birthplace of the Willistown Conservation trust Community Farm Program in less than a year. What a year it has been with field production and community support exceeding our expectations and helping to make this first year a tremendous success.

early in the season a lottery was held to select 35 families from the many community members who had applied to be inaugural members of the rushton Farm Csa. these families paid a fee that was used as the literal seed money for the first season. in return each family received a “share” of the farm’s harvest for 22 weeks from June to october. the share consisted of seasonal vegetables from the farm such as peas in spring, tomatoes in summer, and broccoli in fall. local honey, eggs, cheese and beef were offered for additional purchase.

the season featured memorable events and memorable people. a community potato planting in May had kids and adults alike planting what would be a beautiful crop of red, white and blue potatoes. July featured a tomato tasting where a number of the 15 varieties of tomatoes grown on rushton Farm were sampled. there were several community dinners including a potato harvest dinner where the potatoes were dug up and grilled right on the farm. the highlight of the season was a Csa potluck dinner where members brought dishes made from

farm produce. october featured a harvest festival with pumpkin carving and hayrides and seemed a fitting end to a productive season.

throughout the season the farm staff of Fred de long, aaron de long and ashley Brister had a host of helpers at the farm, all of whom were gratefully welcomed. ellen simmons showed up two days a week to do heavy-duty weeding. roger Bennett was our ace weed whacker. Cauffman family members were diligent workers not only doing field time but also supplying the farm with honey and eggs. Karen

Petrauskas was our “meeter and greeter” providing a friendly face to those coming to pick up their shares. Finally there were our young interns Margaret thompson and Drew Gardner. the rushton Farm staff did not expect to find such capable young talent volunteering in the first year and it gave great promise for the future intern program.

the end of a season brings reflection and a glimpse of what lies ahead. the first season saw the realization of a successful farm with production that exceeded expectations. the Csa was a success and the community not only shared in the harvest but in the experience of a season on the farm. next year we will focus on developing the other components of the Willistown Conservation trust Community Farm Program, including educational programs, engagement with area restaurants and donation of food to area shelters. after all, isn’t that what community is all about - sharing with others so that all of our lives may be enriched?

First season at rushton Farm

Last Call for 2009 Rushton Farm CSA Membership!

if you are interested in picking up fresh produce grown right here in Willistown every week from June to november, now is the time to let the trust know of your interest. While we do have a waiting list for people interested in 2009 rushton Farm Csa membership, we won’t know exactly where we stand until we finalize applications and membership options in early 2009. to place your name on the list, fill out the online form on the web site at www.wctrust.org after clicking on “Community Farm.”

(L to r) Farmers Ashley Brister and Fred de Long, intern Kristi Gabriel and Trust staff member Jodi Spragins admire the beautiful array of Rushton Farm bounty

at the Mid-Summer Harvest Celebration and Tomato Tasting.

T h e L e a f l e t

on Monday, september 29, the trust had its 6th annual Golf and Good Nature outing at White Manor Country Club. 72 supporters and sponsors were able to gather for an afternoon and evening of fun that provided terrific support for the trust’s ongoing conservation and stewardship programs. as usual, we had great weather, and everyone enjoyed the opportunity to play on a new course this year.

the winning team was Gary Fritz, David Barnes, Chip McCaffrey and Joe Charantona with a gross score of 141. First low net was captured by the shipley Gators Golf team

of andrew rollins, David nichols, ian Dombrowski and Dan Friedman at a net score of 115. second and third low net were taken by scott Brown, richard Frysinger, anthony Doerr and Jim Finlan; and Bill McKernan, Pete stoll, tom Price and rob nolek respectively. the closest to the pin winner was shipley’s andrew rollins. long drive winners were shawn Carlin and Joyce Pinkston. and Frank Bresnan won the putting contest, taking home a backyard copper firepit as the prize.

We wish to express our gratitude to our sponsors and supporters for their ongoing support, the great auction donations provided, and their participation in our 6th event.

Hats off to our terrific golf committee, chaired by tara and George off, tim Barnard, Donna Beers, Diane Campbell, Jane Davidson, Bonnie Davis, edie Gitlin, nima Marsh, Donna oliver, Pat reeser, lang smith, and lynn strange.

Backyard Wildlife Habitat Course

January 24, 2009

Habitat resource network of southeast Pennsylvania will offer a Homeowner Wildlife Habitat Course to be held at Willistown Conservation trust on saturday, January 24, 2009. Course topics will include:

• Howtorestoreandcreatewildlifehabitaton your property

• Theimportanceofnativeplantstoourlocal ecosystem

• Howtodesignforpeople(includingchildren) and wildlife

• Sustainablegardeningpracticesthataregood for the earth, people and wildlife

• TheprocessofWildlifeHabitatCertification through the national Wildlife Federation and audubon, either of which will be recognized for “Willistown Wildscape” certification

the course will run from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. the fee is $40 per person or $50 per couple. Course materials and lunch are included. For more information or to register, go to:

www.habitatresourcenetwork.org, email info@habitatresourcenetwork.org

or call 484-678-6200.

Connect your piece of the earth to the larger ecosystem, and nourish our local biodiversity!

Thank You Arader!

Warren Claytor and Jason Ingle were among the golfers who came out to support the work of

the Trust at the 2008 “Golf and Good Nature” outing held at White Manor Country Club.

trust Golfers enjoy White Manor

Ma

ry

Hu

nt

Da

vis

Arader Tree Services donated a glorious maple tree for the entrance to Rushton Farm in October.

Here Chris Arader delivers and sets the tree with a giant spade. (L to r) Trust Executive Director Bonnie Van Alen, Chris Arader of Arader Tree

Services, Trust Stewardship Director Bill Hartman and Trust Community Farm Director Fred de Long stand proudly by the newest member of the Rushton Farm plant community. Our deepest

gratitude to Chris Arader and the fantastic crew at Arader Tree Services.

NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTaGe

PaIDSOUTHeaSTeRN, Pa

PeRMIT NO. 96

StaffJeanne B. van alen

Executive Directorelizabeth H. Block

Director of Development and Community OutreachDee ann Bowman

Director of Financeashley Brister

Field Managersue r. Costello GIS Coordinator

aaron de longField Manager

Fred de longDirector of Community Farm Program

William r. Hartman, Jr. Director of Stewardship

Patricia D. lambertEvent and Volunteer Coordinator

tara offGifts Coordinator

lisa Kiziuk rubinAssociate Stewardship Manager

Joyce D. spraginsCommunications and Technology Manager

elizabeth a. stokesAssistant Director of DevelopmentChristopher a. thompson

Director of Land ProtectionJohn G. turgeon

Director of Public Grants and Associate Director of Land Protection

the Willistown Conservation trust is dedicated to preserving the open land, rural character, scenic, historic and ecologically significant

resources of the Willistown area and nearby communities, with particular emphasis on the Crum, ridley and Darby Creek watersheds.

Willistown Conservation trust is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under section 501(c)3 of the i.r.s. Code. Donations are tax deductible. a copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pa Department

of state by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. registration does not imply endorsement.

The Leaflet is printed on recycled paper.

W i l l i s t o W n C o n s e r v a t i o n t r u s t925 Providence road · newtown square, Pennsylvania 19073(610) 353-2562 ~ Fax: (610) 325-0869 ~ www.wctrust.org

aDDress serviCe reQuesteD

He did it! our good friend Mike steinberger of First national Bank of Chester County hiked 50 miles through Chester County on september 13th to celebrate his 50th birthday while raising awareness and donations for several Chester County organizations, including Willistown Conservation trust. Here he is raising a hand in triumph at mile 25 at the Kirkwood Preserve with his sons evan and Matt, trust president Bonnie van alen, and hiking companion ed Kovalchik.

T h e L e a f l e t