Fall 2008 Valley Trust Newsletter, Three Valley Conservation Trust

8/9/2019 Fall 2008 Valley Trust Newsletter, Three Valley Conservation Trust

1/12

Valley Trst

NEWSNm 36 / Am 2008 Conserving the natral environment and cltral heritage of Sothwest Ohio

The Wallace I. Edwards Conservationist Award has been

established by The Three Valley Conservation Trust to

recognize not only work done by a person or persons in

the preceding year but also the cumulative results of a

long-term commitment to conservation values. When

2009 TVCTA Mg

Sat., Feb. 7, 2009Marcm Conference Center

Mark Yor Calendar!

For details, visit www.3vct.org

watch yor mailbox for yor invitation.

CALL FOR

NOMINATIONS!TVCT Founder Wally Edwards

WALLACE I. EDWARDSCONSERVATIONIST AWARD

(Continued on page 11

The Winds of September 14...Like many of our friends and neighbors, the Beck Farm,

home of the Trust ofce, sustained considerable tree damage

during the unusual hurricane aftermath on September 14. Six

large trees were taken down by the winds along with downed

branches throughout the property. As shown below, the

winds twisted a very old and beautiful oak tree away

from the building, leaving the historic building free of

damage.

Below: This oak has sheltered us from the sun for a long

time. You can see by the photo below how large this tree

was. We miss the graceful giant outside of our window.


2/122 .3v.g Vy T NS

LetMe

BeFrank

Frank HouseChair, Board of Trustees

Adolph Greenberg

Catherine Hollins

Frank House

Ben Jones

Mary Moore

Founded in 1994, the Three Valley Conservation Trust works withpeople and communities to conserve the natural environment andcultural heritage in Southwest Ohio. The Trust protects open spaceand farmland by acquiring, through gift or purchase, conservationand agricultural easements, and works to protect and improve

water quality in the western tributaries of the Great Miami River.

Ray Arlinghaus

Margarette Beckwith

Frank Hank Dupps

Sam Fitton

Stephen Gordon

FARM TALES WITH MONITORING

Late August seems to come with an overcast day and a

cool breeze acting as a chilling reminder to be prepared

for the season change. It becomes eerily quiet as many

migratory birds are beginning to leave. Our barn swallows

that started out as five to ten breeding pairs, by now

number over fifty, but are gone with the Labor Day week

end. I have to get the last cutting of hay in and our fall

calving begins.

The first overwintering ducks arrive and slowly build

to about two hundred by the end of November. Eachmorning and evening they begin a chorus asking to be fed

as soon as they see me. They all leave with the thawing of

the ice in March. Our swans keep the ice open during the

winter.

As the fall progresses and the weather has forced all the

leaves from the trees and underbrush, it is much

easier to see conditions and changes in the landscape. It

is now that I can take time for other endeavors and one of

the things I enjoy is visiting a protected property to help

with the monitoring.

They are all different and each one has a special point of

interest, but a most unusual place exists just south of West

Alexandria and is owned by Fred Glander. Twin Creek

winds its way through the property with deep pools of

blue water and smallmouth bass nearly two feet in length

swimming near the surface. An old defunct rail trestle

crosses the creek and the rail bed acts as a path to visit

other parts of the farm. The trestle has had the rails and

sides removed leaving the wooden ties. Fred uses his ATV

to take a slightly jarring and unnerving ride over these ties

while looking down some 50 feet or more to the creek. He

usually stops half way across so you can get out and take

in the view.

Its like being in an old movie set but out on location. The

fields are bordered with stones and boulders left from the

glacier and removed from the fields by generations farming

the land. One such boulder is approximately ten feet tall.

In another area of the farm there is a deep ravine with one

side covered with one- to three-foot diameter stones so

deep that nothing can grow through them. Each field is

surrounded with approximately 100 feet of habitat coverthat Fred keeps for wildlife.

But the best part is simply talking to Fred and listening to

his stories and seeing his enthusiasm as you go about the

monitoring. What a rewarding day it is to be with him and

see this hidden jewel that he has so thoughtfully preserved

The protected properties are close to numbering one

hundred and are monitored once a year by volunteers.

You can also be a part of this by contacting our volunteer

coordinator, Lois Nelson, at the Trust office. Perhaps you

will be with me on one of these trips, but I must warn you,

my available time is on inclement weather days only afterall the leaves have fallen. I am looking forward to seeing

you. z

Valley Trust News, the newsletter for members of the Three

Valley Conservation Trust, is published four times per year.

Editors: Mary Glasmeier, Stephen Gordon

IWallace I. Edwards Conservationist Nominations .......... 1

Annual Meeting 2009 .................................................... 1

The Winds of September 14 ............................................1

Let Me Be Frank .............................................................2

From the Desk of Larry ................................................... 3

Local Land Conservationists Applaud Passage of CO ..3

Climate Change in Ohio .................................................4

Gift Memberships: The Enduring Gift of Land ............. 5

Forest & Farms Featured ...............................................6

TVCT Hosts Oxford Chamber Business After Hours ....6

Developing News ...........................................................7

A Salute to Wine, A Salute to Middletown ..................... 7

The Trust Goes 100% Post-Consumer Paper Waste ..... 8

Auction for Acres Added New Format .........................9

Winter Challenges for an Avian Acrobat! ......................10

Anns Homemake Suet/Crumbles ..................................10

How to Join the Trust ...................................................... 11

Membership Donations and You ..................................... 12

Calendar ..........................................................................12

Gregory Peck

Jerry Stanley

J. Ronald Stewart

Don Streit

Liz Woedl

BOARD OF TRuSTEES


3/12ATMN 2008 .3v.g 3

As we wind down another year at the Three Valley

Conservation Trust, I am constantly reminded of

Thanksgiving.As with each of the last seven years, it is

time for us to give thanks for the outstanding support you

have given the Three Valley Conservation Trust and to

me through your hard work, commitment, dedication, and

nancial donations.

The Trust was quite fortunate to have had a few

major gifts, which, combined with your membership,

our Benefactors, small grants, and our outstanding

volunteer organizing for the various Trust fundraisers

and friendraisers, helped the Trust meet its 2008 basic

expenses. Don Streit, Dick Sollmann and Pat Dupps were

tremendous event chairs who devoted their year to theTrust. We are very excited about new friends and partners

with great energy and ideas, and look for new volunteer

efforts to help us grow.

I am proud of our staff, Development Director Lawrence

Leahy and Ofce Manager Mary Glasmeier; our

Volunteer Monitoring Coordinator Lois Nelson; and

our interns, most recently Carl Davis and now Jennifer

Prather, for their very professional achievements. I am

grateful for the superb leadership of the most amazing

Board of Trustees Ive ever had the pleasure of associating

with. The guidance of Chairman Frank House andthe Executive Committee have provided more than

Fm he Desk f...

LarryFrimermanExEcutivE DirEctor

governance and policymaking; they

have also provided the heavy lifting

and integrity to help move this

organization from good to excellent.

Our long-standing Board heroes and leadership team

members Liz Woedl (long-time Board Chair), Catherine

Hollins, and Jerry Stanley are stepping down for a well-

deserved break. New committee chairs Ray Arlinghaus and

Steve Gordon have stepped forward, and stronger policies

and procedures have been adopted to keep us strong and

protect our vitality. Our stellar Lois Nelson and our terric

Monitoring team have somehow kept us current on our

responsibilities on 72 easements.

Our unsung partners in federal, state, county, township

and municipal government, OSU Extension, Soil & Water

Conservation ofces, and park districts (notably Five

Rivers Metroparks and Butler Metroparks, along with

Preble County Park District) have contributed expertise,

letters of cooperation and support, important thinking

and collaboration, and in the case of Five Rivers, funding

support for land conservation. We thank the US Natural

Resources Conservation Service, the Ohio Department of

Agriculture, and the Ohio Public Works Commission for

the land conservation pass-through grants that will enable

us to near the 10,000-acre mark next month.z

Three Valley Conservation Trust joins with other land

conservation groups throughout Ohio in recognizing the

benets that will come from Ohios voters overwhelmingly

approving permanent extension of the Clean Ohio Fund

by a margin of 69% to 31%. Clean Ohio renewal ensures

continued protection of our environment and revitalization

efforts for Ohios economy.

Clean Ohio renewal does not raise taxes while making

$100 million per year available for these essential

programs. The Clean Ohio Fund makes $50 million

available for continued rehabilitation of urban browneld

sites, $37.5 million for greenspace conservation and

$6.25 million each for recreational trails and farmland

preservation.

L L Cv AppPg f C O

Clean Ohio was rst approved by Ohio voters in 2000. Since

2002, it has funded projects in all of Ohios 88 counties,

preserved 26,000 acres of farmland, 26,000 acres of natural

areas and 216 miles of recreational (continued on page 8)


4/124 .3v.g Vy T NS

spring rain falls affecting eld preparation and planting.

In addition to the changes in the amount and the timing of

rain, climate models indicate that the rain we do receive

in both the north and the south is more likely to arrive

as extreme rain events. An extreme rain event is one that

delivers two or more inches of rain in a 24-hour period.

This new rainfall pattern will result in more ooding. Weare likely to see accelerated erosion and compromised

water quality from increased agricultural and urban runoff.

Downstream, the deterioration of aging infrastructure

such as dams, channels and bridges will be accelerated.

This will especially be the case on water courses that have

not been given adequate care and protection in the past.

The importance of slowing rain runoff through stream

bank maintenance, wetlands restoration and protection

and improved agricultural practice cannot be overstated.

It will help protect soil and water quality and allow for

the recharge of the underground aquifers on which we all

depend for our drinking water.

The challenge of climate change highlights the benets

we receive from healthy, functioning natural areas. These

benets, often referred to as ecosystem services, are

undervalued if not totally overlooked by a large part

of our society. Though of fairly recent origin, the term

ecosystem services harkens back to the earlier idea of

natural capital and refers not just to ood control but

also to nutrient recycling, insect pollination, pest control,

carbon storage, waste disposal and

Cm Cg O

m y D P

In the next fteen years, as the effects of climate change

in Ohio become more obvious, the work of the Three

Valley Conservation Trust and similar groups will take on

even greater importance. Initial reports on global warming

emphasized early change indicators such as glacial melt

rates, ocean water temperatures and desertication. Even

today, reports emphasizing polar bear and other speciesextinction make it difcult to connect this global problem to

our local environment.

A number of recent studies on climate shifting due to

temperature rise all give a fairly consistent picture of how

these changes will affect Ohio. As temperatures increase and

anomalous weather events such as severe storms and drought

become more frequent, Ohio will experience fundamental

problems in the area of water quality and availability. For

this reason watershed protection will become a primary area

for the mitigation of the adverse effects of climate change in

Ohio.

In the past 100 years, Ohio has undergone a shift in

precipitation patterns. This shift is projected to continue

and accelerate. The northern half of the state has seen a

5-20% increase in rainfall. In the south an opposite trend

has lowered rainfall by almost the same percentage. This

division mirrors the states natural drainage pattern with the

result that any abundance in the north will drain to Lake Erie

and have little effect on the availability of water in the south.

Seasonal patterns are also predicted to change in ways that

will impact agricultural practice with heavier winter and (Continued on page 9)


5/12

Gf Mmp:T Eg Gf f L

By giving a Gift Membership to theThree Valley Conservation Trust you and your

recipient can help preserve southwest Ohios mostbeautiful, wild, and ecologically important places-

for yourselvesfor future generationsforever!

A Gift Membership is a great way to honor your

children, grandchildren, spouse, friends, and even

co-workers or employees--anyone and everyone

you know who loves southwest Ohio!

Just send us the name(s) of yourrecipient(s) and we will notify them that you have

made a gift in their honor-a years membership

with the Three Valley Conservation Trust. As

part of their Gift Membership, they will receiveour most recent Newsletter, future Newsletters,

invitations to our gatherings and events and, of

course, our sincere thanks.

For Gift Memberships of

$100 or more, your recipient(s) will

also receive a packet of beautiful

Three Valley Conservation Trust notecards.

Looking for a gift that lasts forever?

Consider giving the gift of land this year with

a Gift Membership to

Three Valley Conservation Trust!

Tp T R

Gv Gf f L1. Its always the right size, t and color.

2. You dont have to ship it (or wrap it).

3. Its tax-deductible.

4. It wont end up in the dumpster in next years

spring cleaning.

5. Theres no instruction manual to read.

6. You can eat a picnic lunch on it next time

youre outdoors.

7. It helps clean our air and water.

8. It provides the pear tree for the partridge

(habitat for our wildlife friends).

9. During the season of peace, youre helping

preserve some natural serenity.

10. It feels really good to help preserve our

beautiful places!

Gift memberships may be made at any of ourmembership levels:

Student $25

Member $50-99

Sponsor $100-249

Contributor $250-499

Guardian $500-999

Conservationist $1,000

Founders Society $2,500+

Great Blue Heron Group $10,000+

Am 2008 .3v.g 5


6/126 .3v.g Vy T NS

F & Fm Fm y p . g

A warm, lazy August afternoon provided a tting late

summer backdrop for Three Valley Conservation Trusts

Farm Tour of Montgomery and Preble counties. Co-

sponsored with Five Rivers MetroParks of Dayton, the

guided bus and walking tour showcased how working farms

and conservation can co-exist in the still pastoral setting ofthe upper Twin Creek drainage.

The Farm Tour gave participants an opportunity to

experience close-up the tangible benets of farm and land

conservation efforts taking place in the Twin Creek area.

After driving through Germantown MetroParks and therolling farmland of eastern Preble and western Montgomery

counties, the tour bus left the paved county road and

entered the gravel barnyard of the 635-acre farm owned by

Larry and Pam Ristaneo. Like many easement donors, the

Ristaneos are careful stewards who love the land they own

and are working hard to conserve it for future generations

to enjoy. The immaculate condition of the equipment and

machinery barn was echoed in the well managed elds and

woodlands that Larry proudly showed his guests. The farm,

straddling both sides of the road, exemplied progressive

conservation practices; grassy buffer strips and well-tended

crops interspersed among mature stands of upland woods

and wooded creek bottoms. The Ristaneo farm is yet another

example of how farmland easements support our agricultural

economy while sustaining the rural landscapes of the Three

Valley Conservation Trusts service area.

One of many highlights during the tour was the stop at the

Dupps property bordering Lower Twin Creek at the western

edge of Germantown. The group was greeted by Hank

and Robin Dupps under a tent for what folks down-home

call a real spread along with cold beverages and good

conversation. The Dupps welcomed tour-goers to their

recently restored and meticulously appointed 19th century

log home. They have also invested in prairie restoration.

By partnering with Five Rivers MetroParks and local

landowners, the Trust was able to showcase several

easements and farmland conservation efforts at work. TheTrust wishes to acknowledge and thank those who made

the Farm Tour possible, including Dave Nolin, Director of

Conservation at Five Rivers MetroParks, the entire Ristane

family, and Hank and Robin Dupps. z

TVCT HOf

Cmf CmmBAf H

From the top: Don Powell holding

his door prize, a TVCT Enviro-Tote;

Jackie Ponder, Miller Brewing

Company; Orie Loucks leads awalking tour of the Beck Farm.


7/12Am 2007 .3v.g 7

Dvpg Nfrom Lawrence Leahy,Development Director

There have been many activities that took place since our last

newsletter and I would like to thank everyone who has been

involvedincluding participants and guests, volunteers whohelped organize and implement, and our Board.

In conjunction with the Oxford Chamber of Commerce, we

hosted the monthly Business After Hours at our ofce in

late August. As you will see in other pages of the newsletter,

our annual Auction in September was a great success. In

early November, we also held our rst Wine Tasting event.

During these past few months three of our grant proposals

were approved. Miller/Coors is funding another student

intern from Miami University who produces maps and

additional data necessary so we can assist landowners.

The Greater Dayton Conservation Fund of the Dayton

Foundation is funding the Trust in providing landowners

in the Twin Creek Watershed with assistance regarding

land protection opportunities. The Middletown Community

Foundation is providing funding

assistance to help defer the costs

we will incur in 2009 as part ofour land protection and preservation efforts that affect the

Middletown area. We are very excited to have received this

support and are grateful to these organizations.

Our Development Committee has done outstanding work

this year. We have had many successful accomplishments

and we are looking forward to improving our achievements

in 2009. The Development Committee has been meeting

to establish our 2009 Activity Calendar which we plan to

include in our next newsletter. Early announcement of our

calendar of events will allow you to plan well in advance to

join us.I would like to thank everyone for your help and support

this year. Best wishes for a happy holiday season and a

successful, healthy and happy 2009. z

A S W,

A S MOn the evening of November 8th,eighty-ve people enjoyed a Salute

to Wine, a lovely wine tasting held

at Browns Run Country Club

in Middletown. Thirty different

wines from around the world were

available for tasting and purchase.

The wines were accompanied by

a truly delectable variety of hors

doeuvresthe centerpiece of which

was a beautifully presented salmon.

The Trust is very grateful to Pat

Dupps for organizing the evening;

the results reected

the many hours and

great efforts she

put into arranging all of the details. Cal

Conrad provided valuable advice on how to

implement the rst wine tasting ever held

by the Trust. He also identied the variety

of wines that were available, and recruited

Guests at one of the six regional wine samplingstations-Argentine/Chile/Spain, Australia,

California, France, Italy, and Pacic Northwest.

The seventh station offered specially selected

premium wines.

six wine-know-

ledgeable friends

who took ve hours

out of their busy

lives to pour. We would like to

thank Jerry and Pam Collins,

Barb Eshbaugh, Karen Ferrario,

Doug Shumanvon and Warren

Mason for their help in pouring.

We would also like to thank

MiddletownsArrow Wines,

56 degrees, and an anonymousfriend for providing lovely

wine gift baskets for the silent

auction. Most of the guests were

from Middletown and were

introduced to the Trust for the rst time. Many Board

members were present to mingle with the guests and tell

them the story of the Trust. All told, it was a fun evening

and we are happy to have made some new friends from

the Middletown area.zPat Dupps


8/128 .3v.g Vy T NS

We realize these are difcult economic times for our sup-

porters and landowners, and the Trust takes very seriously

its obligation to make every penny of your contribu-

tion work for the benet of the mission in which we all

believe. We actively look for ways to cut expenses so your

dollar goes farther. Buying the cheapest option works ne

for many items, but not yet for ofce and copier paper.The Trust recently took the step of purchasing only 100%

post-consumer waste paper (100% PCW) for its ofce

use instead of the commonly available 30% "recycled"

paper, and heres why. Ofce paper labeled as 30% "re-

cycled" has not necessarily been used by the consumer

and taken from our collection bins, but can simply mean

that scraps cut from the papers original manufacture are

added back during the papermaking process. It is true

that this meaning of "recycled" avoids some cutting of

more trees, but it is more an efciency advantage

for the manufacturer than recycled in the sense

as we commonly understand it. However,

paper labeled 100% post-consumer waste

provides a paper product indistinguishable

from virgin wood paper while totally by-

passing the need to cut any trees at all!

In addition, suppliers (such as Staples

and others) offer this paper processed

chlorine-free, avoiding the toxic

byproducts from chlorine bleaching.

trails. It also has helped clean up 173 abandoned and

polluted industrial sites, leveraging private investment for

projects that will create 14,750 permanent jobs and add

$2.6 billion to the states economy.

Locally, the program has helped Butler MetroParks and

Five Rivers MetroParks acquire critical parklands; the

Dayton, Cincinnati, Hamilton and other cities convert old

industrial sites into new viable uses; and TVCT and other

land conservation organizations to assist local governments,

parks, soil and water conservation districts and landowners

to preserve wildlife habitats and prime farmland. Forinstance, the Clean Ohio Fund has helped TVCT preserve

34 properties covering what will soon be 6800 acres of

permanently protected ground, saving some $65 million

in open space and agricultural values in Butler, Preble,

and Montgomery counties. The Trust holds conservation

easements on its own, as well as in conjunction with

state, federal and local organizations such as Five Rivers

MetroParks.

The Trust is grateful for voter support for this important

program, commented Larry Frimerman, the groups

Executive Director. These funds cannot be used for an

organizations operations they are passed through dollar

for dollar to landowners, he added.

The brownelds program cleans up abandoned and

contaminated industrial sites and reuses them for

reinvestment in local economies. This is not only good for

cities, but also helps preserve farmland and open space by

making urban areas more attractive so people and businesse

are less likely to build on agricultural land.

Renewal of Clean Ohio will greatly enhance efforts to

preserve greenspace and farmland in Ohio. We appreciate

the efforts of the Butler County Commissioners, who

approved a resolution in support of the Clean Ohio

program. Thanks to co-chairs U.S. Senators Sherrod

Brown and George Voinovich, with Governor Ted

Strickland, House Speaker Jon Husted and Senate

President Bill Harris for their leadership. For more

information, contact Three Valley Conservation Trust at

(513) 524-2150 or visit our website at www.3vct.org. z

Clean Ohio (continued from page 3)

The current difference in price for the 100% PCW is only

$8/carton, but for that modest increase, one saves in return

approx. 17 mature trees, reduces solid waste by 1000 lbs.,

reduces water use by 10,000 gal., reduces air emissions by

2000 lbs. and reduces natural gas consumption (or equiva-

lent) by 2,500 cubic feet after 40 cartons of use.

The environmental benets are enormous, and our purchaseof products like this builds a stable market for truly recycled

products that will undoubtedly in the near future bring the

price of this product in line with its more wasteful predeces-

sor. And we think you will agree, it makes little sense to

jeopardize the worlds other forests in order for the Trust to

protect the forests of Ohio.

We would be delighted if one of our woods-loving sup-

porters would underwrite the $120/year difference for the

purchase of this paper. Call Mary at the ofce.

Editors Note: The Valley Trust News is printed

on recycled paper supplied by our printer. For

those who wish to take it a step farther and

eliminate more waste, we can email a hotlink

to the Valley Trust News to you to read it

online! In keeping with the earth-friendly

environment,we regularly recycle paper,

cans, plastic, and glass in the Trust ofce

at the Beck Farm.

T T G 100% P-Cm Pp!


9/12Am 2008 .3v.g 9

A beautiful evening at

the Knolls of Oxford

helped the nancial cause

for land conservation

in Southwest Ohio

with the Three ValleyConservation Trusts

recent Auction For Acres

fundraising event. The

event, contributions, and

200+ items and services

donated generated nearly

$30,000 in net proceeds to

help fund the operations

of the Three Valley

Conservation Trust.

It all began on a snowy March day in a telephoneconversation with the Trust asking me to chair the 2008

Auction for Acres. And, it ended successfully more than six

months later following a land-based hurricane, plummeting

stock market and nancial crises, remarked Dick Sollmann,

Auction For Acres Chairman.

The Knolls of Oxford graciously donated the use of its

wonderfully appointed and functional facilities, with virtually

all food and wine donated. Many participants commented on

the excellent facilities, set-up and great food served.

A unique feature of this years auction was having it live

AND on-line through the Cincinnati-based on-line auctionservice Everything But the House (which donated their

services, as did Doug Ross, the excellent on-site auctioneer).

The major goals undertaken were to raise as much money as

possible at minimal cost and to broaden the exposure of the

TVCT. The Committee accomplished these goals.

There were 242 live

and silent auction

items/services

donated, plus the

generous donations

of piano playingby David Belew,

and the booked

performance of

Anachrorythms.

The top lots were

a one-week stay in

Cape Cod, and a

handmade Persian

Kashan carpet, each

selling for $1250.

Thirty four (one

quarter) of the live auction items sold to on-line bidders. Inaddition, eleven individual benefactors and one corporate

benefactor supported the auction. Finally, thirty-nine donor

contributed food and beverage items.

We are grateful for the support of our local community

here in Southwestern Ohio, as well as the terric work done

by the dozens of volunteers for the Auction. Dick and the

Committee did a great job, commented Larry Frimerman,

the Trusts Executive Director.

We are grateful to our local media for providing event

coverage, calendar listings and on-line sites throughout

the region. I want to thank the Auction Committee and itssub-committees for all of their effort, time and personal

contributions to the success of this event; the Three Valley

Conservation Trust Board for its condence in us and

support of our efforts; and staff for their support and

assistance, added Sollmann. z

A f A A N Fm

a whole host of other functions. Seen as a whole these

services impact every area of society, from the economy to

human health and beyond. Traditionally seen as free, these

benets have in fact been an unacknowledged subsidy todevelopment. Recognizing the economic and social value of

ecosystem services will help advance conservation and could

lead to the creation of a market system similar to a carbon

trade market. The U.S. Forest Service and other groups are

exploring the possibility of creating markets that could lead

to payment for such services. Movement toward market-

based conservation should be seen as one more strategy in

both watershed protection and climate change remediation.

Identifying a variety of conservation strategies is as

important as building the widest possible coalition of

Climate Change (continued from page 4)

Left: Dave Belew of Hamilton played a variety of tunes on the piano.

Right: An auction attendee studies the artworks on display for the live auction.

partners for this work. The vast scope of the problems

associated with the climate crisis can be seen as a silver

lining because there is no one whom these problems will

not touch. Here is a great opportunity for environmentaland conservation organizations to reach out in common

cause to business groups, health organizations, faith

communities and others. The streams and rivers of

Ohio have been called a delicate web binding together

our fragmented natural areas. As the effects of climate

change create a wider understanding of the importance

of watershed protection and our dependence on the

watersheds, perhaps this delicate blue-green web will

come to be seen as fundamentally connecting all of the

citizens of Ohio. .z


10/12

The Black-capped Chickadee is one of the most easily

identiable small birds in our area. With a subtle gray

and white feather coat set off by a black cap alternating

with white cheek and black throat, this little bird is in

nearly constant motion itting to the feeder, hanging

upside down on a suet cake or hopping quicklyalong a branch. Largely an insect eater, the

chickadee also consumes seeds and berries from

the natural environment.

Winter conditions and reduced natural food

sources are the greatest challenge to the survival

of this little bird. Unable to store much body fat, the

chickadee requires a continuous supply of high energy

food for survival. In preparation for winter this wise

little bird caches or stores seeds and insects, wedging

them into tree bark and other crevices. Chickadees

have a fantastic memory that allows them to relocatethis food months later. Researchers claim that the

birds brain actually expands in the autumn and winter as

a result of this memory need for caching and relocating

the stored food. The brain returns to normal size when

summer arrives.

Other adaptations for winter survival include an

increased number of feathers that are uffed up to

provide even greater warmth. The legs are one of the

most exposed parts of this little creature. Like others

W Cg f Av A!m y Mg Bk

of their species, chickadees have an

interesting solution to this challenge

of exposure. Birder and Board Member

Sam Fitton says that birds have an unusua

concentration of glycogen types of chemicals

that function like antifreeze allowing legtemperatures to decrease greatly without causing

cell damage. When at rest, the bird can

crouch down to nestle its feet and legs in

the under feathers, thus reducing

heat loss.

Experts believe that at nigh

the chickadee slips into

a crevice or cavity alone or with others, uffs out its

feathers (in winter) and undergoes a torpor state of much

lower metabolic activity, including lowering of body

temperature from the daytime 108 degrees to about 90degrees at night. By daylight, this spunky little bird is

again in search of sustenance.

It is said that starvation is the greatest threat to the

chickadee. So if you enjoy seeing this indomitable,

energetic little acrobat from your window during the

winter, offer some suet, peanut butter mix (see Anns

Homemade Suet/Crumbles recipe below) or seeds.

You will be generously rewarded and delighted by its

performance throughout the seasons.z

Ingredients:

1 part of peanut butter

2 parts of lard, rendered suet or lard/shortening mix

Equal amounts dog chow pelletsDirections:

This recipe is more a procedure than an exact recipe. In a

pot large enough to hold the contents, melt 1 part peanut

butter and 2 parts lard, rendered suet or lard/shortening

mix. Cool so it is not hot, but still pourable. Grind an

(approximately) equal volume of dog chow pellets in

a food processor to barley size (use earplugs) for small

birds. The next step is to decide how you want to shape

the product. The dog chow can be put in heat resistant

pans or tubs, pour the suet over, stir well and let sit, or

add the dog chow to the suet pot, stir and cool. Once the

suet hits the cooler crumbs, the product sets up rapidly so

mix quickly to avoid layering. Cut into blocks or simply

smear on tree trunks or pinecones. The key is to mix thesolid with liquid to the consistency of wet cement as that

will give a block with enough fat to hold its shape and

enough dry ingredient to prevent birds from choking. The

fat provides energy and the chow is better than corn or

oatmeal as it has added vitamins, and especially calcium

needed for shell formation. It appeals to insectivores

like woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches and chickadees.

Bluebirds often have difculty recognizing a suet block as

food, and may respond better to mixing in more chow to

make crumbles.z

A Hmm S/Cm

m y A G

10 .3v.g Vy T NS


11/12Am 2008 .3v.g 11

choosing recipient(s) the Three Valley Conservation

Trust Selection Committee will take into consideration

activities and projects that clearly reect Edwards

vision.

Traits relevant to efforts should include: perseverance;

patience; ability to cooperate with others; commitment

to the preservation of natural resources; and willingness

to listen to all sides; to explain and to teach; to ndcommon ground to promote the greater good; and

to look at the big picture, long-term outcomes. The

recipient of the Wallace I. Edwards Conservationist

Award need not be a member of the Trust. The

recipient of this award may be either professionally or

avocationally involved in conservation or protection.

Projects that would exhibit thesetraits include:

Demonstrating land use practices that are

environmentally, economically, and culturally

sustainable;

Nurturing a strong conservation ethic and good

stewardship habits in others;

Organizing community members to learn about and

work toward stewardship goals;

Volunteering time to improve others land or

organize others to take restoration action;

Organizing a coalition of diverse interests and

individuals to work toward a common goal;

Advancing or disseminating methods to control

invasive, non-native species;

Any combination of the above.

Instructions for nominations can be found on the reverse

side of the Nomination form (available at the Trust

ofce) and on the Trust website.

D f m Jy 5.

T A p

A Mg Fy 7, 2009.

NAME _________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________

CITY ___________________________________ ST _________ ZIP _______________

PHONE(S) _____________________________________________________________

EMAIL _________________________________________________________________

Conserve paper & postage. Send News notice via email.

I would like to volunteer. Please contact me.

I give permission to list my name as a supporter.

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

All receive the Valley Trust News (via mail or email)

T Bf

G B H Gp - $10,000+

F Sy- $2,500+

Cv

-

$1,000 - $2,499T P

G - $500 - $999

C - $250 - $499

Sp - $100 - $249 Mm- $50 - $99

S - $25 O - $_______

My company has a matching gift program, I will send the form.

CHECK MC VISA

CC# __________________________________ Exp. Date ____ /____

3 digit code_____ _________________________________________PRINT NAME AS IT APPEARS ON YOUR CARD

________________________________________________________SIGNATURE

Total Amount Enclosed $____________

Mail and make payable to: Three Valley Conservation Trust

TVCT, PO Box 234, Oxford, Ohio 45056.

vy v

Cvg

vm

g f S O

WIE AWARD(continued from page 1)


12/12

Non-Prot Org.

U.S. Postage

P A I DPermit No. 171

Oxford, OH

45056

www.3vct.org

Larry Frimerman, Executive Director

Lawrence Leahy, Development Director

Mary Glasmeier, Ofce Manager

MEMBER OF

Thi l tt i i t d l d d i l il bl i di it l f t E il f @3 t

5920 Morning Sun Road, PO Box 234Oxford, Ohio 45056

513-524-2150 513-524-0162 fax

CJy

7 Board Meeting, 7 pm, TVCT

Fy

4 Board Meeting, 7 pm, TVCT7 Annual Meeting & Dinner, 5:30 pm,

Marcum Conference CenterReservations $15

ReduceWa

ste:

RECEIVE,R

e-read

&Recycle!

W k y fk!

[email protected]

513/524-2150

TVCT, PO Box 234, Oxford, OH 45056

Mmp D Y

Three Valley Conservation Trust owes its success to the

generosity and interest of its members. A signicant part of the

TVCT budget depends on membership dues. Your membership

benets include:

Over 9,000 acres of permanently protected farm, forest and

recreation land;

Breathtaking views of farmland, wooded hills, wetlands and

streams;

Farm production will continue close to where you live;

Habitat for birds, sh, amphibians and furry creatures;

This newsletter; and

The lasting satisfaction that youve made the planet a better

place for generations to come.

Your support of land conservation makes our region a very

special place. Please renew or become a member today!

Fall 2008 Valley Trust Newsletter, Three Valley Conservation Trust

Documents

Transcript of Fall 2008 Valley Trust Newsletter, Three Valley Conservation Trust