We continue to be busy with educational events, stewardship and the renovation of the Wilcox-Bushley Homestead. Here's what we've been up to:
Annual Meeting Recap
Our 52nd annual meeting April 20th was a gathering of over 60 members enjoying a delicious potluck, drinks and connection at the Porter Memorial. We said goodbye to Richard Kramer our Director Emeritus, our Board President of many years and major contributor to where we are today. We said Hello to Ashley Raphael and C.J.Calcinari as newly elected members of our Board of Directors. Welcome and thank you!
Our annual Stewardship of the Year award went to the Noah Wallace School Kindergarten class along with their teacher Ms. Nancy Nelson, stewards of the Bull Lot. We were treated to their amazing sweet presence and individual recounting of "Why the Bull Lot is important to me". Stewards of the future! Exactly what we are trying to nurture.
We honored Mary Lou Wadsworth as Citizen of the Year. Lu Lu represents the ultimate volunteer in Farmington. Not only does she contribute in many ways to the FLT but she also serves on the board of the Farmington Rotary, the Farmington Greater Together Community Fund, and many more. Congratulations!
Thank you to member and Farmington resident, Dr. Linda Powers Tomasso, for her talk "Democratizing Nature Exposure for Better Health". A thought provoking look at why we seek out Nature. A great evening. We are so fortunate to have the over 300 members of the Farmington Land Trust who support our mission in so may ways.
Earth Day Celebration with the Farmington Historical Society
Nighthawk Flying, a board member of the Farmington Historical Society and Grand Chief Medicine Man of the Forest Deer Clan of the Cree and Anishinabe Nations, led us in drum song as we celebrated the Earth with a short program and tree planting at the Farmington Historical Society's historic "Cottages ". Afterwards we walked to our Cowles property to bless the waters of the Pequabuck river and plant a Linden tree along the trail. A wonderful way to mark this important day and to collaborate with the FHS!
Great Programs For Summer
Something for all ages!
June 3rd: Connecticut Trails Day Take a self-guided walk on one of our five trails
June 4th: Frost In June Join us for the first annual Tribute to Charlie Leach as we share the poetry of Robert Frost (one of his favorite poets) on the Mountain Spring Nature Trail. Enjoy woodwind music from Cantus Quintus, drinks and Nature! Bring your favorite Frost or nature-themed poem to share at the open mic.
June 4th: Yoga on the Land with instructor Sarah Wadsworth. Bring your mat and water bottle to the Mountain Spring Nature Trail for all-levels yoga. Every Sunday through September 24. Sponsored by ProHealth Physicians Part of OptumCare.
June 11: Take A Walk on the Small Side with Professor Barbara Nicholson. Enter the West District Nature Preserve at the Wilcox-Bushley Homestead searching for lichen and mosses with an expert. Peer into the tiny world.
Updates on the Wilcox-Bushley Homestead
If you have driven by the Homestead you may have noticed we are moving along with the renovations! It has been a long three years since we started this project but we are on track for completion this fall. The framing of the back side of the house is complete along with interior framing. Roofing, electrical and plumbing will be happening in the next few weeks.
Thanks to the hard work of our two volunteer board members, Steve Nelson and Jim Calciano, the project is coming together. The building committee with Kathy Wadsworth, Evan Cowles, Katie Bradley and Cate Grady-Benson along with architect Sheldon Crosby, are meeting weekly to ensure the Wilcox-Bushley Homestead Environmental Learning Center will provide the necessary space for the Land Trust headquarters and the space for future generations to participate in hands-on educational activities about conservation and the need for open space preservation to combat climate change. The capital campaign to fund this important work has raised over $650,000 to date thanks to generous community members, foundations and businesses.
Please contact our office or go to our website if you would like to contribute. www.farmingtonlandtrust.org.
Comments