Sunday, January 25, 2009

TLC's 2009 Annual Meeting a Celebration of People & the Land they Love!

About 130 people gathered at the Bull Valley Golf Club for The Land Conservancy's 2009 Annual Meeting Sunday January 25th. The audience re-elected Sandra Scheinfeld and John Sterling, and elected new board member Jim May (not pictured here!)

Two individuals were presented with the Living with Trees Award for 2008: Dale Shriver for his tireless management of nearly 80 acres of remnant oak woods that he owns, and Robert Roe for his tireless efforts to restore the fen and oak woods at Dutch Creek - all on land that is protected by a conservation easement in his subdivision, Dutch Creek Estates.

The stories of five easement donors were shared with the audience:

- Dale Shriver & Judy Rogers for their 53 1/2 acre easement on the oak woods that MCCD didn't want to buy - but they wanted to be sure it was protected. The woods, which have been there since at least 1837 when the first public land survey was done for the county, have been sustainably managed for many years. At some point in the past, the white oaks were harvested to make bowling pins! So if you find any wooden bowling pins at an antique mall, just think - they might have beem made from Marengo oaks!

- Marty & Lynn Sobczak (who were unable to attend) for the 3 acre easement they dedicated on land that adjoins MCCD property on two sides, and contains the last natural lily pond along Nippersink Creek.

- Randy & Karen Stowe and Orrin & Patricia Bangert for dedicating conservation easements on land they own adjacent to the MCCD High Point Conservation Area. Their willingness to pledge that they would donate conservation easements on their land if MCCD purchased the adjacent natural area that contains the highest glaciated point in the State!

- Phyllis & Tony Hennen (who were unable to attend), for choosing to dedicate their 25 acres south of Woodstock as a conservation easement, and donate the land to the City of Woodstock as a public natural area. Attorney Jane Collins accepted their plaque for them. Ms. Collins was instrumental in the "Stop the Stacks" Peaker Plant battle that the Hennens fought for years, even turning down a very high offer from the peaker plant company, choosing not to sell out their home. Today, their choice means that not only is there no peaker plant south of Woodstock, but there will be a public park for all future residents, forever.

Numerous green, organic, local and homemade items were available in a silent auction. Where else can you get an organic turkey, organic onions, and organic honey in addition to a hand woven-silk shawl and hand carved wooden bowls.

Personally, I'm thrilled that I had the winning bid for the Farmer John Gift Bag that includes the movie "The Real Dirt on Farmer John," a copy of the Farmer John Cookbook, two Angelic Organics t-shirts, 2 pounds of organic coffee, two jars of organic honey, a pound of worm castings to use as a soil amendment, plus a delicious collection of handmade milk soaps!

Batavia author Gina Olszowski delighted the audience with her story based on her self-published book. Gina is the youthful 25 year-old author of Coming Soon to a Town Near You: Voices of Urban Sprawl. The book combines black & white photos with excerpts of interviews with residents and public officials to tell the story of urban sprawl and the effects it has on communities.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to it being an inspiring day!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

You can help track climate change!

This is the year of change, isn't it? The whole presidential campaign was about change -- President Obama's Campaign theme was "Change We Can Believe In." The theme for his election is "Restoring America's Promise," which implies that we have lost our promise, and need to make some changes to earn it back...

While there are still a few folks debating the causes of climate change, it is pretty clear that our weather patterns are changing.
Here's an example that any gardener can relate to: Portions of the Chicago region have edged up from Hardiness Zone 5b to Zone 6 according to the Arbor Day Foundation.

“The USDA map just doesn’t seem right anymore,” said Woody Nelson, vice president of communications for the foundation. [Yes, that is his actual name - Woody - and he works for the Arbor Day Foundation!] “So we took it upon ourselvesto do our own map.” For an updated take on which plants are hardy in your region, look at the foundation’s map online.

The map puts the Chicago area in Zone 6 with an average low of 0 to -10 degrees. The area is in Zone 5 on the USDA map. The foundation used data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the same source the USDA map uses, but the data are more recent, collected from 1990 to 2004. The foundation’s map, like the USDA’s, is a compilation of average low temperatures because the lack of cold hardiness is the most profound barrier to plant success. Plants simply can’t adapt to regions where they are unable to survive the winter.The changes were startling. Many areas jumped one or two zones higher. “The climate has changed,” Nelson said. “It has warmed.”

It turns out that we can all help contribute real world information that will help scientists understand the implications of any changes that may be happening. The citizen tracking effort is called Project Budburst, and it is sponsored by organizations ranging from the US Forest Service to the Chicago Botanic Garden. You can join with thousands of gardeners across the country in tracking when the plants in your yard leaf and flower each year.
If you are at all like me, you delight in noticing those early blooms and sprouts - whether they are chives, crocuses or dandelions! Now, you can sign up to share that information with a national network, and be part of a pretty cool "citizen scientist" project that has practical applications for folks everywhere!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Cold ... ccccold

This morning, I had a call from someone who told me that his car's thermometer said it was 32 degrees BELOW ZERO while he was driving through a rural area in McHenry County.

Okay, I grew up in the Chicago area, and remember the big snow in 1978, and the deep freeze the winter 1981-2, but this is ridiculous.

First we have snow, snow and more snow, then this brrrr cold stuff! What's up? It's almost enough to make someone a global warming doubter...

I actually saw a cartoon earlier in the week that said: "Yea, long-term I'm worried about global warming, but today I'm worried about freezing my *ss off!"

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Inaugural Work Party!

Who's up for a winter work party?!

The Presidential Inauguration is going to be Tuesday January 20th, and the theme is "Restoring America's Promise," so what better way to celebrate than by attending the Inaugural Workday at our newest preserve: West Woodstock Prairie?!

The President-elect's Inaugural Committee is having a Day of Service on Monday, January 19th, the MLK Jr. Day Holiday, and encouraging people to volunteer in their communities to kick-off this new era of restoration!

It's practically a Presidential Decree! And you can be a part of this historic event by participating in TLC's Inaugural Work Party at West Woodstock Prairie!! You don't want to miss out on the fun!

Meet at 9am on Rose Farm Road, south of Kishwaukee Valley Road on the west side of Woodstock! You can park at the side of the road. Thanks to Seneca Township for clearing the shoulder for us to park on! Dress for the weather, and in work clothes. We plan to get a bonfire going to burn the brush we cut - and help us stay warm. We'll have something warm to drink and sweet things to eat!