Valley TrustNEWS

Number 41 / Spring 2010 Conserving the natural environment and cultural heritage of Southwest Ohio

Submitted by Ann Geddes

Jim and Alice Lupinske recently signed an agricultural/conservation easement jointly with the Three Valley Conservation Trust, Five Rivers Metroparks, and the US Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (with funding assistance from the latter two agencies) to protect their 126-acre farm next to Twin Creek and nearly adjacent to the Germantown Metropark. After working the farm for 20 years as a cattle operation, Jim says he’s retiring the ‘old girl’ for conservation. Jim had bought the farm in 1957 at age 31, after he got the itch to move to the country and raise cattle.

Many years earlier, Jim had traveled out west to Wyoming and worked on a cattle ranch and the interest in cattle stayed with him through interim occupations of art school, advertising and running a family business in retail lumber. Alice however, was raised on their family farm in Harrison Township in PMreble County. She recounted memories of her farm childhood with her dad, who one day took his Model A Ford into town and was surprised to find one of his chickens hitching a ride on the back bumper… and after town chores were done, rode back home again the same way. This chicken

Snapshots! People & their land

Another Germantown Farm Under Easement!

Alice & Jim Lupinske

(continued on page 5)

(continued on page 11)

Annual Meeting Attendees Warmed Up to a Cool TopicGuests were fascinated by the global warming data presented by an international expert at the Annual Meeting at Miami University’s Marcum Confer-ence Center on February 13. Lonnie Thompson (at right), the Ohio State University glaciologist who is celebrated as one of our era’s pre-eminent climatologists, shared clear evidence of the earth’s warming to 130+ attendees.

Thompson commented that the work of the Three Valley Conservation Trust in conserving land and streams was one local step toward a solu-tion. Thompson, also director of the Byrd Polar Re-

SAVE THE DATE!June 20, 2010

TVCT Fundraising Dinner

See Page 5

Snapshots! People & Their Land provides stories of the people and the lands they protect. We hope that you will enjoy getting to know a little about your neighbors.

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Adolph Greenberg, Chair, Board of Trustees

"How Are We Doing, and Will You Help Us?"While it has been a tough economic year for all of us, we have for the time being weathered the storm, and I be-lieve we have emerged as a stronger, more responsive and energized organization. If you had an opportunity to look over our annual report, you would have noticed our goals and objectives for the upcoming year are both exciting and challenging. To achieve these ends and ensure a sustain-able Trust, we need to continually assess our work at every level. We need to hear from you regarding the Trust’s work in general. If you have complaints, kudos, and recommen-dations, please share these with me via the communication options listed below. If you wish and indicate thusly, I will keep identities confidential. My intent here is to ensure that the staff and Board of Trustees are mindful of, and respon-sive to our members and the community at large.

Regarding feedback and our base, the Trust’s annual meet-ings are an opportunity for us to revisit the Trust’s accom-plishments, assess its current status, and discuss goals for the future. These are also times to visit with folks who have come together, often from diverse walks of life, in common cause—the protection of natural and cultural resources and the reaffirmation of our connection to the earth. This year’s

meeting was the first I have had the pleasure of convening. There were a few missteps (my bad), but on the whole, I thought we did well. But, that’s my view not yours and so I have decided that as a follow up to all our “special events” we would do a review by asking for your feedback, criti-cisms, and/or recommendations for future events. I have asked our Board to do the same and we will review your comments and use them in the planning of future events.

Finally, we need to enlarge our volunteer base. While we have been blessed with extraordinary volunteers over the years, the work shouldered by these wonderful folks is often very demanding. We need to spread the workload and so please let us know if you can share your interests, skills and time with us. There are always opportunities to assist in monitoring easements, helping in the office, cleaning up files, making calls, planning and implementing events and contacting members and so on. The great thing about this work is that it takes place in a beautiful setting with some great views of a prairie and wild turkeys. z

Send me an e-mail greenbam@muohio.edudrop me a line 13 Tamara Court, Oxford, OH 45056 or give me a call 513-523-6576

Let us know how we did, how we are doing,or how you can help.

LIVInG Green (BerG)

Table of ContentsSnapshot: Another Germantown Farm Under Protection ......... 1Annual Meeting Attendees Warmed Up to a Cool Topic .......... 1Living Green(berg) ................................................................... 2Volunteer for a Day or on a Regular Basis................................ 2From the Desk of Larry Frimerman ......................................... 3Tax Advantages & Financial Planning ...................................... 4Call for 2010 Conservation Farm Families Nominations ......... 4Support TVCT! Dine with Your Friends & Family ................. 5Member/Contributors Support the Mission of the Trust ........... 5Thank You to Our 2009 Contributors ....................................... 6Corporate Members .................................................................. 7So You Found a Baby Bird.... Now What? ............................... 8Jan. Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup, Largest Volunteer Response . 9 Spring Vegetables: Nettles? ...................................................... 10How to Join the Trust ................................................................ 11Board of Trustees/Calendar ......................................................... 12

Volunteer for a Day or

on a Regular Basis

►Volunteer Coordinator/Recruiter

►Special EventsPlan, organize, solicit, cook, setup/cleanup, greet, register, distribute, etc. (May require local travel)

►AdministrativePhones, mailings, copying, scanning, data entry, filing, grant research/writing. (May require knowledge of Microsoft Office, office equipment, and browsers)

►Field Surveys & Property MonitoringEnvironmental and geologic surveys, photography, GPS reading, data entry (May require knowledge of Microsoft Office, compass, and local travel)

►Journalism & Public OutreachInterview, write articles, membership recruitment/awareness, literature assembly, represent TVCT at public events (May require local travel)

►LaborHousekeeping, weeding, Adopt-a-Highway cleanup, construction, invasive species removal, etc. (May require local travel)

Spring 2010 www.3vct.org 3

From the Desk of...

L arry Frimerman ExEcutivE DirEctor

It’s funny. This winter has seemed like an eternity, with snow here and across much

of the eastern US. However, the year itself seems to be flying by us as I write to you. For those 130+ of you who attended the February Annual Meeting, it was a stirring launch to the New Year. Thank you for your Save an Acre gifts to raise funds for the Trust’s land protection efforts. This year, we have received a much-needed grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation to pursue status as a fully “Accredited” land trust. (You may have thought we had already been accredited because the Trust has been adhering to the Land Trust Alliance’s most rigorous Standards and Practices.)

In anticipation of the IRS’s future requirements emanating from the Charities Act of 2006, the Land Trust Alliance developed an Accreditation Commission and new set of standards of the highest order to recognize land trust excellence in policies, practices and administration in all aspects of its performance. To wit, only one land trust (the Tecumseh Land Trust) out of Ohio’s 44 Land Trust Alliance member land trusts has been accredited. Three Valley Conservation Trust hopes to achieve this status within a year. This effort will take focus and dedication, and hopefully will make it easier to stay on top of the many activities in which we are involved.

Did you know that the Trust is primarily driven by thousands of volunteer hours by people like yourselves? This provides an excellent opportunity to get involved – from help in the office cataloging, copying or scanning; to Geographical Information Systems cleanup; to going out to monitor properties to assure easement terms and conditions. Want some simple and discrete tasks? How about recruiting three new TVCT members this year! Would you like to help in soliciting or providing auction items for the Trust’s November 6 Auction for Acres? And we can always use help in writing our publications.

With your assistance, the Trust may sign its 100th conservation/agricultural easement protected property

agreement in 2010, and could protect as many as 1500-2000 acres of working and/or stream side farms as well as forests and other native habitat. While these are tremendous accomplishments, they come with annual, perpetual monitoring and relationship-building responsibilities. Monitoring Coordinator and volunteer extraordinaire Lois Nelson already has her hands full juggling more than a dozen lead monitors paired with less experienced assistants, to complete three to four monitorings per week, weather permitting. Yes, we need to develop additional lead monitors. An MU Environmental Standards and Practices class is taking on the responsibility for developing a certification module. Along these lines, prior interns had worked with volunteers to develop our monitoring procedures manual. This spring, a student marketing study, help on developing proposals, file documentation, and GIS mapping will be on student interns’ plates.

In addition, tremendous volunteer efforts by your Board and members with the help of staff will allow us to complete 20+ Ohio farmland preservation applications to complement the completion of some 15 government-approved 2008-9 land protection projects. The fundraising and outreach events, such as planning for the June 20 Special Dinner, the fall picnic, and the Auction for Acres, also depend on volunteers.

Our land protection efforts are effective ways to partner with local communities to implement watershed enhancements such as the community consensus-driven Twin Creek Watershed Action Plan, which identifies issues

and opportunities for enhancing one of the State’s treasures. The Trust shepherded this plan through state conditional approval, with the necessary follow- up steps being coordinated by MU’s Watershed Coordinator, Monica Rakovan.

Innovations in planning, managing and working with local communities will help to make the Trust a stronger, more permanent organization with your help. Any amount of time and financial support you can offer will make a real difference! Of course,

please consider a major gift, endowment, or a bequest to the Trust! As always, thank you ever so much! z

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search Center, shared research generated from more than 50 expeditions to ice caps and glaciers on five continents, retrieving ice cores that contain a diary of past climate conditions around the globe, some dating back farther than 750,000 years. Thompson provided evidence that the last fifty years was the warmest period in recorded history. That work signals a rapidly growing warming trend that apparently exceeds any normal variation seen in past centuries.

James E. Reid, former long-time Board member and Board Chair, was presented the 3rd annual Wallace I. Edwards Conservation-ist award. John Blocher, former WIE Conservationist awardee presented the award and spoke of Reid's accomplishments.

Public officials were recognized, including a representa-tive from Governor Strickland’s office. Retiring Board members Ray Arlinghaus, Margarette Beckwith, Hank Dupps, Mary Moore, and Greg Peck were honored. Newly elected to the Board of Trustees were Stephen Eshbaugh, environmental educator of Oxford, Graham Mitchell, a retired scientist of West Chester, and Marlene Hoffman, RN, of Oxford.

Easement donor Thomas Wissing shared a short, inspiring moment about why he and his wife Holly protected their 11-acre Reily Township woodland and wildflower haven that Holly so lovingly cultivated. The Wissings are among the 87 easement donors who have stepped up to forever

Meagan Engle, Editor of the Oxford Press, Larry Frimerman, TVCT Executive Director, and Jim Reid, 3rd Annual Wallace I. Edwards Conservationist Awardee.

Many of us purchased life insurance or annuities over the years and some find those products are no longer a necessity in their financial planning. You can help Three Valley Conservation Trust continue its mission of preserving land and open space for future generations by using those financial instruments.

Have you considered naming the Trust as beneficiary or a partial beneficiary of a policy, with the money flowing in to the long-term endowment at your demise, to help sustain the Trust for all time? If you no longer need the policy, you can gift it to the Trust. Depending on the status of the policy, the Trust could, with your concurrence, either surrender the contract placing the proceeds in our long-term endowment or continue to hold the policy. Should the policy be from a mutual fund company it would be possible to have the annual dividend paid to the Trust.

For those of you with trust arrangements which will be the recipient of your insurance and other assets, you can make TVCT a beneficiary of some portion of your trust arrangement with those monies flowing to the long-term endowment.

There are tax advantages to most of these arrangements. We would be pleased to assist you in this form of financial planning but also encourage you to seek the advice of your financial advisor. z

Tax Advantages and Financial Planning

Annual Meeting (continued from page 1) protect properties covering 10,800 acres of ground in the Trust’s watersheds. Larry Frimerman summarized the group’s major 2009 accomplishments, including 13 prop-erties permanently protected by conservation easement, covering 1479 acres of habitat and farmland. The nonprofit land trust brought in $260,000 for operations, and drasti-cally reduced its expenses to $235,000 in response to the

economic downturn.

Board Chair Dolph Greenberg shared the group’s plan for the coming year. “The Trust will continue to meet its continuing land conservation obligations, including moni-toring all of its easements, and in applying as Designated Local Sponsor for a limited number of farms and stream side properties,” he remarked.

A delicious Marcum Center catered meal fol-lowed excellent musical entertainment do-nated by Anachrorhythms. z

Nominations are being accepted for the 2010 Conservation Farm Family Awards in time for the May 1st deadline. The awards program is coordinated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Soil and Water Resources and cosponsored by Ohio Farmer Magazine and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

Begun in 1984, the Conservation Farmilies Awards Program recognizes Ohio farm families who are doing an outstanding job of managing natural and human resources in such a way as to meet both production and conservation goals.

Individual farmers, partnerships or family farm corporations are

Call for Nominations for 2010 Conservation Farm Families Awards

(continued on page 9)

Spring 2010 www.3vct.org 5

Father’s Day or Fantastic Day, Sunday, June 20th is the date of the 2010 Elegant Evening to be hosted at Sugar Valley Farm near Camden, Ohio. With the aim of providing an experience to eclipse last year’s successful event, the planners are designing a celebration not to be missed!

The enormously successful Chef Anne Kearney, chef and coproprietor of Rue Dumaine in Dayton (featured in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of Saveur magazine) will generously donate her talents for this elegant affair. One of her specialties is quail, so the menu will include entrees of lamb and/or quail, both of which are being raised and pampered by TVCT board member and host for the event, Frank House. Kearney incorporates the best of herbs, produce and seasonal specialties from local growers, suppliers and purveyors. A vegetarian entree will also be available. Again there will be great music, delicious food and a chance to meet and greet your fellow Trust members.

Make a donation of $250 (per person) to the organization and enjoy the satisfaction of supporting our mission of preserving the landscape of southwest Ohio and enjoy with your friends and family the artistry of Chef Kearney with her unique presentation of local produce and Sugar Valley Farm lambs and quail. Watch for further detail on this Elegant Evening and mark your calendar to attend! z

Support TVCT! Dine with Your Friends & Family

Sugar Valley FarmSunday, June 20

featuring

Chef Anne Kearney of "Rue Dumaine" Preparing Local Foods

Three Valley Conservation Trust is fortunate to have dedicated people who give valuable time, talent and resources to support the Mission: Working with people and communities to conserve the natural environment and cultural heritage of southwest Ohio. TVCT Member/Contributors have played a direct role in the protection of over 10,000 acres in southwestern Ohio through generous, sustaining participation and giving.

We have been looking for ways to keep our Member/Contributors engaged in the mission. We have completely revamped our database so that we can better track all the ways people share in our work. Our new list will help TVCT more effectively communicate with, and engage our supporters through “greener” practices that will conserve resources and move more dollars directly to support our conservation goals and activities.

Member/Contributors Support the Mission of the Trust For instance, we are moving to a seasonal Member/Contributor renewal method that reflects individual giving patterns and preferences. Your newsletter label each issue will show you the season you are most likely to contribute and every newsletter will have a form to use for renewal. By responding prior to receiving a renewal letter you’ll

avoid additional mail reminders and save paper!

You can use the newsletter Member/Contributor form to update your contact information so we don’t

loose touch when you move, change phone numbers or email address. You may also use the form as a gift renewal for someone who shares your conservation values.

A hearty thanks to all you do to support land conservation in our region! z

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Robert & Kathleen Abowitz Al-Joe's Pet & Garden Center Linda Amspaugh-Corson Paul & Margie Anderson Marketa Anderson Ann Antenen Arabian Nights Catering Ray & Judy Arlinghaus Roger & Paula Atkin Robert & Beth Baer Elsa Jane Baer George & Sydney BakerEugene & Linda Baker Mike & Nani Ball John & Marilyn Barnhart Steve & Judy Bartels Brian Bartels Bath State Bank Patricia Baugher Bill & Mary Bausano Michael BeckJohn & Joan Becker Margarette Beckwith Andy & Rita Beiser Gary & Wendy Lucia Bennett David & Cecilia Berg Ernst Bever Marc & Lisa Biales Bill's Art Store Linda Howard Bittner Brian Black Walter Beale Blair Robert Blair Muriel Blaisdell John Blocher Blue Heron Gallery Mark & Linda Boardman Treva Boardman Glenn Boutilier William & Nora Bowers Charles & Marjorie Bowers Ellen Breidenbach Nancy Brewer Randy Brooks Anne Brown Clyde & Gayle Brown Ken BrownAl & Mary Bruns Kenneth Buerk Mary Bullen Tad & Mary Bunnell Eric Burgess & Lara Askill DeVere Burt Donald & Paula Byrkett Phil & Wendy Cagwin Hazel Call Family Trust Peter & Kathleen Carels Tina Carnevale David Christman Cincinnati Reds James & Mary Jo Clark Clemmons & Wolterman Law Firm Bruce Cochrane Nelly Bly Cogan O’Neal Compton Robert & Jennifer Conklin Calvin Conrad Gregory Cook Tim CookJohn T Cooper Jr. Dave Cornett Gary Cornthwaite Jon & Amy Costanzo Bill & Gretchen Cottrell Rick & Libby Cottrell Rob & Louise Cottrell Thomas & Candace Crist

Steve Crowe John Cumming Hays Cummins/Donna McCollum Peter Dahoda Steve & Prue Dana Richard & Mary Daniels John & Anne Davis Steven & Karen DeLue Tim Derickson DeVore's Land & Water Gardens Inc. Dewald Family Foundation Barbara Diehl Dave Dister J Howard DuBois Roland & Mary Duerksen Connie & Chuck Duersch Duke Energy Midwest Char. Giving Dull Homestead Inc. Hank & Robin Dupps John & Pat Dupps Peg Dupps Dupps Charitable Foundation The Dupps CompanyTom & Wendy Duvall George & Madeline Earley Earthshare Marilyn & Sharon Edwards Steve Edwards / Kim Thompson Burdette & Ruth Ehrhardt Jeannine Eich J & Valerie ElliottAlan & Sondra Engel Craig & Kerstin Erickson George & Betsy Esber Stephen Eshbaugh Hardy & Barbara Eshbaugh Marna Evans Rebecca Evans Susan Ewing Wayne Falke Jan Farnsworth Nicholas & Sherry Fendinger Sydney Ferrario Glen & Karen Filbrun Paul Filipkowski Fine Trim Landscape Services Joel FinkRenee Fink Bill Fisher/Kalinde Webb James Fitton Family Fund Richard J Fitton Family Fund Sam & Terri Fitton Vaden Fitton Five Rivers Metroparks Eugene Fliehman Jane Flueckiger Fontaine Farms Inc. Bill & Diane Foster Adon & Kay Foster Victoria Fox Rhonda Freeze Lily Frimerman Larry Frimerman/Patty Stone Frimerman Margaret Fuller Michael Fulton Vicente & Maureen Gallardo Greg & Cindy Garnett Andrew Garrison/Cecelia Shore Ann D. Geddes Emily Geddes Anne Geise Leo Geiser Jerry & Cleo Gerber Larry & Nancy Jo Gersbach Clive Getty Sarah Glaab Marge & Gary GlaserMary GlasmeierGil & Joyce Gordon Stephen GordonRay & Helen Gorman Jonathan Granville Graydon Head & Richey Dolph & Sandy Greenberg Jack & Lila Greer David & Louise Griffing Michael & Kay Griffith Lisa Groger Deborah Gross

Jane Gross Shannon Grubb Robert & Patricia Gump Dorothy Gustafson Vincent & Ann Hagerman Hand Nancy Haney John & Susan Fortney Harlan Natalie Harwood James & Alison Haskins Richard Haugland Will & Sandy Woy Hazleton Jolene Heath Debbie Henderson Elizabeth Wakeman Henderson Charitable FoundationCharles Herms Pat Herring Jim & Lisa Staggs Herrmann Carl & Margie HesselbrockSteven HesslerRobert & Martha Hickey The Hillside Trust Lew Hoffmann Village West Framing Catherine & Eric Hollins Don Hollister Mary Louise Holt Doug & Joan Hoover Mark House Laura House Jason House Frank House Steve & Cathy Hudson John & Charlotte White Hull Richard & Shirley Jackson Jackson Antiques & Music Steve & Peggy Jamison Carl & Anne JantzenHal & BJ Jasper Eileen Jeck Blake Jennings/Kona Bistro Marlene & Royal Jewett Gerritt Jobsis & Vicki Bunnell Jay Jesse Johnson Elizabeth J. Johnson Joann Jones/Beverly BrubakerBen & Laurie Jones John Jones Frank Jordan Jr JTM Provisions Glenn & Betty Julian Robert & Carol Kabakoff Alice Kahn Susan KalvelageRobert & Carol Kane Don & Patricia Kaufman Cynthia Kelley Linda Musmeci & Jeff Kimball Thomas Klak & Jeanne Hey John Klosterman Anne Koehler John Kogge Gene & Janet Krebs The Kroger Company David & Karen Kullman Richard & Alice Laatsch La Bodega Elizabeth Lane Lanthrop Farms LCNB Rick & Narcua Lee Amy & Jim Leedy Bernie & Karen Leland Stan Litz Howell & Melanie Lloyd Tim & Eileen Lorenz Orie & Elinor Loucks David & Joan Fopma Loy Main St. Gourmet Maple Glen Hunting Preserve Helen Martin/Ann Crowell Susan Maxfield Hayden & Cynthia May Don Mayer Cat & Steve Mayhugh James McGregor Charles & Norma McKinley Bill & Barbara McKinstry Harvard McLean Mary Jo McMillin

Kim Medley Janet and David Meeker Fund Doug & Susan Meikle Mary Melvin Bruce & Melisssa Metzger Miami Conservancy District Miami U Community Federal Credit Union Miami U. Hamilton Artist Series Jim & Sarah Michael Roger Millar/Judith Zinsser Alan Miller Jerri & Bob Miller Brad & Lori Mills Michael Minium Graham & Sharon Mitchell Richard Moermond Jennifer Moix Richard & Susan Momeyer Mary & Bob Moore B.D. Mortenson Mossy Oaks Nursery Clyde Muehlenhard Richard Munson Mary Neale-Ferrario Katherine Neel John Neiheisel Lois Nelson Shaun & Susan Nicholson Anne NielsonDave Nolin Roxanne Ornelas David & Alice Osborne Oxford Community Foundation Michael & Teresa Pachan Paesano's Pasta House Christine Parker Marilyn Paulsen Jim & Sue Paulus Paust Printers Shirley Payne Trust Jack R. Pealer Jr. Gregory Peck David & Norma Pennock Mark Perin Don & Carla Gardina Pestana Chris & Sharon Peterson Ron & Dawn Pfohl Phan Shin John & Diana Pheanis Pheasants Forever Butler Co. #780 Tom & Mary Jane Pierce Marge Piper Plain View Stock Farm Duncan Platt John & Gracia Pope Neil & Mary Poppendeck Joan Potter-Sommer William & Ann Pratt Mary Jean Priest Ward Pruden William & Martha Pulley Carl Rader Monica & John Rakovan Jon Ralinovsky/Amy Lamborg Michael & Judith Raymond Georgeana Reardon Reffitt's Garage & Towing James & Barbara Reid Suzanne Reif John & Phyllis Reller Bill Renwick & Debra Bowles Gail Reynolds Ted & Becky Richards William Ridenour Larry & Pam Ristaneo Jim & Sandra Robbins James & Julie Robbins Betty Rogers Doug Ross Silvia Rothschild John Ruthven Ann Rypstra Dan & Frances Sack Peggy & Jim Schear Paul & Judy Schiller William & Sherry Schilling Ernst & Marcia SchlichterHarriet & Ted Schmitt Mike & Carol Schnipper

Ken Schory Alice & Robert Schuette Judith Meyer Schultz Edward & Lynne Schwaberow Emily & James Scott, Jr. Judith Shaw James Sheppard Larry & Leslye Sherman Douglas & Sherin Shumavon Anthony & Karen Siegmann Silver Spoon Catering George & Mickey Simonds David & Stephany Sloneker Smith Family Living Trust Dick & Kathy Sollmann Somerville National Bank Jack & Sally Southard Shelley SpillanePatricia Spitler Jerry & Josette Stanley Charles & Lynn Stevens Ron Stevens & Cheryl Vajda Ron & Sue Stewart JoAnn Storck John Strack Jane Strippel Tom, Sandy & Tonya Study Ron & Kim Sunderhaus Gene & JoEllen Tapalman Charles & Joan Teckman Edgar & Janet Teets R.D. (Bob) Temple Dick & Mary Tharp Jody Thieken Robert & Mary Fahnestock Thomas Robert Thurston/Margaret ZiolkowskiMarc Tincher/Danielle Mann William & Joyce Triick Paul & Marcia Trokhan Twin Valley Farms Inc. Joel & Sara Udstuen Tom & Deborah Ulrich Diana Vereker Micah Vieux Darrell & Sherri Vincent Jim Voet Emerson Voge Fred & Susie Voge Roger & Rebekah Voge Scott Vosler Bill & Helen Wagner Christopher & Mary Walden David & Joan Walker George & Dorothy Wallace David Waller Michael & Marcia Waller William & Sharron Watt Rick & Vanessa Wayne Weber Family Char.Fund Ann Wengler Ernie & Carolyn Wengler Bill & Helen Wessel West Side Animal Clinic CG & Barbara Whelpton The Whistlestop Richard & Nancy White Wesley Paul Wiemann Wild Berry Incense Inc. William C. Wilks Gene Willeke Jack & Linda Williams Kirk Williams David & Susan Wilson Jim & Carolyn Wilson James & Barbara Wilson Tom & Holly Wissing Liz & Dan Woedl Rick & Cathleen Woedl Jean Woodhull Jean V Woodhull Fund Victor & Tara Woods Franklin Woolard Foundation Chris & Stephanie Worrell William & Susan Wortman William & Constance Wyatt Michael Yoakum James & Janet Ziegler

to Our 2009 Contributors

Spring 2010 www.3vct.org 7

Submitted by Emily Mills Holman

In the Winter issue of Valley Trust News, we featured some of our charitable corporate sponsors that have chosen to support our mission. In this article, Three Valley Conservation Trust would like to recognize some of our other corporate sponsors whose generous donations have helped us to achieve great accomplishments over the years.

One of our corporate sponsors, MillerCoors of Milwaukee, chooses to not only support the Three Valley Conservation Trust, but also encourages our similar goal of environmental sustainability. Their website, www.greatbeergreatresponsibility.com discusses their mission of water protection, packaging sustainability, energy conservation, and waste reduction. Tami Scully Garrison, Community Affairs Manager in Milwaukee, would like to encourage readers to check out the website to learn how to make an impact on conserving the environment within their local area.

MillerCoors membership in REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) is the platform on which they do all their giving; these goals on environmental sustainability are shared throughout the company. This corporation believes that by donating to the Three Valley Conservation Trust they are not directly benefiting their company, but making a donation to our community, and to an organization that shares the same values and beliefs.

Locally, from the Trenton MillerCoors brewery, Denise Quinn, Plant Manager, and Jackie Ponder, Sr. Administrative Assistant, provide more direct support to the Trust. Just look for Jackie’s smile and friendly demeanor at TVCT events while she serves MillerCoors sodas, and locally brewed beers for our adult guests.

Corporate

MeMbers Another corporate sponsor that is making a difference by “going green” is the Dupps Company of Germantown, OH. Their consumer base consists of recyclers of animal protein, using inedible parts of animals to assist the agricultural loop of sustainability. They have been “green” since their beginnings. For more information, visit their website at www.dupps.com.

Hank Dupps, CEO of the Dupps Company, believes that “if people took the time to see what the Trust has really accomplished, they would be impressed and should consider membership or some kind of support.” Dupps recognizes the actions taken by this trust that directly affect his life. For example, the land that abuts his property is owned by Five Rivers MetroParks, a park district that works in conjunction with Three Valley Conservation

Trust.

The Three Valley Conservation Trust feels fortunate to have corporate sponsors that recognize and value the importance of land conservation and water quality, and who have chosen to contribute to our cause. z

Top: The Dupps family: Brothers Hank, Dave and John.

Middle: An aerial view of the Dupps Company.

Bottom: Jackie Ponder serving guests at the TVCT-hosted Oxford Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours.

8 www.3vct.org Valley Trust NewS

There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet

leave a landscape as it was before.

~Robert Lynd, "The Blue Lion and Other Essays"

Many, if not most, of the readers of this newsletter interact with wildlife in various ways - bird watching, photography, hunting, etc. In such pursuits, you are likely to be someone who finds abandoned or injured birds or wildlife. Or you are the person the neighbors call at midnight when they find such animals!

Here are a few tips. First, as any seasoned wildlife watcher knows, most animals that appear abandoned, really are not. It is far, far better to leave an animal with its mother than to intervene.

Deer tuck their nearly scentless fawns into deep cover and go a safe distance away so as not to attract predators with their scent. If you flush a fawn and don't see the doe, leave it, unless you know the mother is dead (e.g., the doe is struck by a car and the fawn was following).

Rabbits also leave their young in a grass nest for most of the day and come back at dawn and dusk to nurse them. Just keep the nest intact, keep your dogs and cats inside, and all will be OK (you can cover the nest with a dome of concrete-reinforcing wire or large mesh caging for extra protection). If you're concerned the mother rabbit may have been killed, put several strings across the nest... if they show no disturbance by the next day, the mother may not have come back and then you may consider intervention.

If any small bunny has its ears up (instead of slicked back), it is independent, and needs no help even though many erroneously think that at 4-5 inches long, it is far too small to be so. One oft-quoted call to the local wildlife rehabilitator's hotline was from a panicky young

person who said, "I found a bunny that needs help... it took 30 minutes for me and my brother to catch it!" That bunny needed no help!

Birds that have fallen out of nests can be safely put back if you can reach the nest, as our songbirds have poor odor detection and parents will NOT (repeat, will not) reject the

baby if you have handled it. If the entire nest has fallen, make a substitute out of a readily draining holder, such as a strawberry basket or butter tub poked with holes and lined with a porous material such as Spanish moss or pine needles or the original nest. Do not use a material that will stay wet or babies will chill and die. Staple tub back to the original tree. If nestlings have been chilled, first dry and warm them (in hands, on a heating pad) for a bit before returning to nest. Do not try to feed an animal as a first instinct - the first consideration is for warmth, quiet, and to be free of your presence. Have you ever enjoyed a meal when you were upset?

If you see a baby that has feathered out flopping around on the ground, this is a fledgling in its normal behavior after making its first leap from the nest and before its wings are strong enough for directed flight. If it's begging strongly and parents (any bird acting agitated nearby) are around, make sure it is safe from cars, pets and other people, and leave the area.

Then wham! A bird hits a window (or car, etc.). This is the procedure - place in a dark breathable container that cushions the body on the bottom (such as paper bag with air holes punched and wads of paper towels or polartec scraps), roll up the top to enclose, leave in a warm, quiet place for at least an hour. Giving dark rest allows the bird to "sleep" which enhances recovery. If you hear stirring within the bag in less time, quietly take the bag outside and tip over away from you as you retreat inside to let the bird fly away as it wants. If it hasn't recovered in an hour or two, the chances of recovery are slim.

Baby squirrels also often fall out of nests, particularly

So You Found A Baby Bird...

Now What?Submitted by Ann D. Geddes

(continued on page 10)

Spring 2010 www.3vct.org 9

On January 23, twelve Trust volunteers braved the ele-ments to clean up the two-mile stretch of US Route 127 straddling the Butler/Preble County line. Three Valley Conservation Trust assumed responsibility for a quarterly trash cleanup of the length of road as part of the Ohio Adopt-a-Highway Program.

The Trust's supporters perform this activity as a public service to both counties and the community at large. This location was chosen because it is one of the prettiest stretches of road in the counties and we want to keep it that way. The effort saves labor costs for the Ohio Depart-ment of Transportation and ultimately saves raw materials for product manufacturing by recycling materials col-lected.

Cleanup organizer Tom Klak observed that this was the largest number of volunteers for the Trust’s Adopt - A- Highway program since assuming responsibility in 2004. Participants were clearly glad to help the Trust. “It's a great feeling to know we're doing our part to help beautify one of our nation's highways. It's easy, and it's a fun way to spend a little time doing something useful with friends and family,” noted volunteer Peter Carels.

“It was so nice to spend time with others who take an active role in being good stewards of our environment. Our group certainly spanned several generations and that in itself is encouraging. We also were pleased that a good portion of what was collected was material that could be recycled. Thank you for all that your group does,” added another volunteer, Jean Ann Obrebski.

The Three Valley Conservation Trust invites any inter-

January Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup has Largest Volunteer REsponse since 2004

2010 Highway Cleanups► April 17► July 17► October 23

Cleanup crew members included

Peter Carels, Kathleen Carels, Dave Christman,

Barbara Eshbaugh, Tom Klak and

sons Jackson and Owen Hey, Kyle Sir Louis, Kevin Nitsch, Chelsea

Obrebski, Jean Ann Obrebski, Chelsea Sharp, and Josette

Stanley (not all pictured).

ested volunteers to participate in this quarterly cleanup. The next highway cleanup is Saturday, April 17th from 10 am until noon. It is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the com-pany of others who care about their environment as well as to help clean up our beautiful region.

Volunteers meet at the corner of 127 and Somerville Road. Reflective vests, work gloves and trash bags are always provided. Participants are expected to bring solid footwear and water. For more information, call Tom Klak at 513-756-9707 or the Trust office 513-524-2150 with questions, or to carpool to the site. z

Family Farm Awards (continued from page 4)

eligible for nomination, provided a substantial portion of their income is derived from farming. Judging is based on the nominee's use of new and traditional conservation techniques; comprehensive management; individual initiative in applying conservation measures; and the nominee’s willingness to share conservation information, experiences and philosophy with others. Five area finalists will be chosen from around the state. These top conservation farm families will be recognized at the annual Farm Science Review in September. They will also receive a $400 check courtesy of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and be featured in the September issue of Ohio Farmer Magazine.

If you would like to recommend a farm family go to www.ohio.dnr.state.oh. Click on "News Releases" and scroll down to "Conservation Farm Families Award Nominations Sought." z

Using your TVCT Kroger Gift Cardprovides a donation to TVCT and points for your fuel purchases.

10 www.3vct.org Valley Trust NewS

Submitted by Margarette Beckwith

Spring and early summer are a time to pick and consume tender greens found in our wild landscape. Dandelions, wild asparagus, garlic mustard, and cattails are some of nature's offerings, but another plant that is worth trying is the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). With the qualification of ‘stinging’ it might be difficult to imagine eating nettles, but the plant loses its sting when cooked and is filled with nutrition and good taste. Many native American tribes cooked and consumed this vegetable. A tea was concocted from the dried leaves to relieve the pain of arthritis and painful joints were swatted with bunches of the stinging plant. One might conclude that the sting of the nettle merely overpowered the joint pain but Porter Shimer, in his book "Healing Secrets of the Native Americans," indicates that research has shown that ‘the sting produced by the nettle causes the body to manufacture chemicals that have anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing powers.’ Dried and pounded to a powder, the plant was also used to stop bleeding and promote healing of wounds.

Europeans and early colonial settlers harvested and prepared nettles in a number of ways (beer, pudding, and soup, for example) for they were a staple in the early garden. Samuel Pepys, British member of Parliament, referred to Nettle Pudding in his diary of 1661: ‘We did eat some Nettle porridge, which was very good.’ (www.botanical.com).

Nettle soup continues to be a delicious and healthful dish. Why not locate some nettles and treat yourself to a delicious spring soup this evening?

NETTLE SOUP

Wearing rubber gloves, gather the nettles when they are 6-8 inches tall from an uncontaminated site. Use only the tender tips and leaves. Still wearing your gloves, thoroughly rinse the leaves.

1 medium onion, peeled and chopped2 tbsp. butterSauté 6-8 minutes.

Add:6-7 C chicken or vegetable broth

2 medium russet potatoes chopped1 leek, white only; chopped and washed

Simmer until tender.

Add:¼ pound (3 cups packed) tender tips and leaves

of the nettles.Simmer 5-7 minutes.

Puree until smooth in the blender.

Add: 2 Tbsp. lemon juice.

Swirl in a little heavy cream or a spoon of yoghurt and sprinkle each serving with a bit of chopped parsley or chives.

Enjoy this spring tonic!! z

Spring Vegetable: NETTLES?

Baby Birds (continued from page 8)after storms. Place babies in a shallow box with a hot water bottle close to where it was found and watch for 4-6 hours completely out of sight. In most cases the mother will retrieve the young and tuck them in a duplicate nest. For successful reuniting, stay completely out of sight as deer, squirrel and rabbit mothers especially will not return if people or pets are present.

However, if an animal is injured, acting weak, or you know the mother is dead, intervention can be considered. Native birds (not including starlings or house sparrows) are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Acts and related legislation and a license is required to keep them, or their eggs or any part - even old nests or feathers! For

all wildlife, there are local rehabilitators who volunteer their time (and pocketbooks) to care for abandoned or injured animals. "Second Chance Wildlife," which is an all-volunteer non-profit rehabilitation organization, has a well-established communications system. In the Cincinnati and southern Butler County call the following hot-line numbers: (513-875-3433 or 513-624-9763). In the Dayton area, call 937-374-1674. In busy spring and summer times, leave a message and someone will return your call shortly. They can give reassuring advice, or they can direct you to the nearest volunteer capable of handling almost any animal emergency from black bear to python to hummingbird! z

Spring 2010 www.3vct.org 11

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Germantown Farm (continued from page 1)Montgomery County. She recounted memories of her farm childhood with her dad, who one day took his Model A Ford into town and was surprised to find one of his chickens hitching a ride on the back bumper… and after town chores were done, riding back home again the same way. This chicken wasn’t interested in "crossing the road" but goin’ to town!

Jim says with a twinkle that maybe Alice had thought marrying him would get her off a farm at last, but little did she know that we were to go right back to the farm life. They moved into an old (c.1880) Victorian farmhouse, faced with brick made locally in Germantown, and raised three daughters. They also raised registered cattle, polled Herefords, along with corn and hay for feed. He is grateful for the people around them who helped him learn the ropes of cattle production. He knew each of his cattle just like "the kittens in the kitchen," he says. Some of his herd were champions shown at the Montgomery, Darke and Preble county fairs.

Now with his 84th birthday approaching, Jim has given up the active part of farming to others and has turned his attention to another earlier interest, the woods. The Lupinske farm includes nearly 80 acres of woods, a portion of which is a mature forest with deep valleys and ravines. Jim is

active in the SW Ohio Woodland Association. His forestry plan will help ensure the best management of this resource.

NRCS District Conservationist Lee Green noted that it was hard for the group of various organizations’ staff to keep up with the octogenarian on a site visit – “That guy is amazing,” he commented. Five Rivers’ David Nolin told TVCT that the Park was very pleased to be partnering with the Trust to protect the forest habitat and buffer the Germantown Metropark with more protected land. “Larry and the Trust are so effective in working with landowners – they provide a real service to Montgomery County and landowners,” Nolin observed. With Five Rivers’ funding assistance, the Trust was able to provide the otherwise elusive local cash match required for NRCS funding from the Federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program. The farm now has a Whole Farm Conservation Plan to go along with Lupinske’s aforementioned forestry plan.

Times have changed for farmers, Lupinske says. "When I started I just had a two-row planter and now there are 48-row planters. There were no deer or pheasants on the farm and now they are common." And, yes, while the times will keep changing for farmers and country folk, with agricultural or conservation easements, our area of southwest Ohio will always have those places that folk can go to who have that itch to farm or raise cattle. z

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Larry FrimermanExecutive Director

Mary GlasmeierOffice Manager

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We’d like your feedback!office_manager@3vct.org513/524-2150TVCT, PO Box 234, Oxford, OH 45056

Calendar April7 Board Meeting, 7 pm, Sugar Valley Farm17 EarthFest, Oxford, Ohio

May5 Board Meeting, 7 pm, TVCT 30 Office Closed for Memorial Day

June2 Board Meeting, 7 pm, TVCT 20 TVCT Gourmet Fundraising Dinner with Anne Kearney, Sugar Valley Farm

Marlene HoffmanFrank House Benjamin JonesAmy LeedyRoger Millar

Founded in 1994, the Three Valley Conservation Trust works with people and communities to conserve the natural environment and cultural heritage in Southwest Ohio. The Trust protects open space and farmland by negotiating, through gift or purchase, conservation and agricultural easements, and works to protect and improve water quality in the western tributaries of the Great Miami River.

Calvin ConradStephen EshbaughSamuel FittonStephen GordonAdolph Greenberg

“Valley Trust News,” the newsletter for members of the Three Valley Conservation Trust, is published four times per year.

Editors: Mary Glasmeier, Stephen Gordon

Board of Trustees

If so, you can make contributions to TVCT via payroll deduction. Contact your Human Resources or Payroll Depts.

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Graham MitchellPeggy Schear J. Ronald Stewart Donald StreitChristian Worrell