July 2011 Archives
The New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) seeks an experienced, well organized, detail oriented person for the position of Natural Resource Specialist.Candidates should hold a degree natural resources, Master’s degree preferred, and 3-5 years of experience.
This is a part time position funded through June 2013. LCHIP is an independent state authority that provides matching grants to New Hampshire communities and non-profits to protect and preserve the state’s most important natural, cultural and historic resources. Its legislatively mandated mission is to ensure the perpetual contribution of these resources to the economy, environment and the quality of life in New Hampshire.
The Natural Resource Specialist assists in design, review and implementation of natural resource conservation projects supported with LCHIP grants to ensure that projects meet the high standards required by LCHIP’s enabling legislation. The position is based in LCHIP’s Concord NH office. This part time position offers prorated benefits and flexible scheduling.
See complete job description and desired experience in “Contact Us” at www.lchip.org. Submit resume and cover letter to info@LCHIP.org or to Natural Resource Specialist Review, Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, 13 West Street, Suite 3, Concord NH 03301.
Applications will be accepted until August 22, 2011.
LCHIP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Coverts Cooperator and falconer Nancy Cowan (CC98) reports that her NH School of 
Falconry is having an open house this Saturday, July 30, from 9 to 11 AM. It is sponsored by the Deering Recreation Committee and is open to the public. A number of different kinds of falcons and hawks will be on display, and there will be a flight demonstration. The school is located on Rt 149 in Deering, just one and one quarter miles south of the Hillsboro downtown.
If you have questions, you can call Nancy at: 603-464-6213. Sounds like fun!
Volunteers Needed for Invasives Work Day at Piscassic Greenway - August 12!
Sponsored by
The Southeast Land Trust
Join us for this year’s third work day at the Piscassic Greenway in Newfields! The Southeast Land Trust needs your help pulling, digging, and cutting invasive plants on the Piscassic Greenway and Cole Farm. We will supply pruners, shovels, weed wrenches, gloves, snacks, and water if you can supply the muscle and enthusiasm. If you like to weed your garden, you will love pulling out invasive plants, knowing that the remaining native flowers and shrubs will grow better and provide better habitat for wildlife. The main targets are glossy buckthorn, Autumn olive (see photo), bush honeysuckle, and barberry. This work will build on two previous work sessions that have already significantly reduced the population of these plants. Please sign up by contacting Ellen Snyder or 659-6250.
Giants Cradle Hike, Saturday October 29th
Roger Sweet and Eric White (CC08), land stewards for the Forest Society’s Piper and Olsen Forests, will lead this moderately strenuous 5-mile round-trip hike that is co-sponsored by SPNHF and the Harris Center for Conservation Education. The destination will be Giants Cradle, an interesting geological feature on the Olsen Family Forest. Bring lunch and water!
Where: Piper and Olsen Forests, Sullivan NH. Meet at the Piper Forest gate on Gilsum Road.
When: Saturday, October 29th, 9:30AM-3PM.
Pre-registration is not required, but questions can be directed to Roger Sweet at 603-847-3463 or rogerandannsweet@gmail.com
Join Carrie Deegan (of The Forest Society) and Andy Deegan (of Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust) for an exploration of dragonflies at The Forest Society's Langenau Forest in Wilmot. They'll discuss their volunteer work with the NH Dragonfly Survey, talk about dragonfly biology, and catch and release as many types of cool dragonflies as time allows. Children are welcome! This is a very short and flat walk around a small pond, but footing can be mucky so wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet.
Where: Langenau Forest, Wilmot (directions will be sent to those who register!)
When: Thurs Aug 11, 2-4PM. Raindate: Fri Aug 12, 2-4PM
For more information or to sign up: call or email Tina Ripley (signup@forestsociety.org) or 224-9945.
The Nature Conservancy: 50th Anniversary Celebration & Annual Meeting
Saturday, August 27th, Harris Center for Conservation Education
More Information & Registration - Click Here
2011 marks 50 years since The Nature Conservancy's first protection effort in New Hampshire. The project - a 400-acre peninsula between Lake Nubanusit and Spoonwood Pond in Hancock and Nelson - would also be the Conservancy's first in all of Northern New England, marking an institutional milestone.
Known then as the "Louis Cabot Preserve" and affectionately as "the island" by locals, this land's story is one rich with history: a family's legacy, a development plan, a grassroots fundraising effort that didn't cower in the face of a seemingly impossible task and a young conservation organization ready to take the plunge along with those local "nature lovers".
We're excited to share the tale with you, to celebrate the success all those years ago, the ones in between and those ahead. Register Today!
Today is the big 100th Year Celebration of the Weeks Act, up at the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road. I guess if you aren't already there, I'm a little late in telling you about it! But there are lots of other events in store...all of which are listed online at:
Oh, and if you don't know what the Weeks Act is (for shame! ha ha), read more here. It's key to NH history and natural heritage!
Did you know you can read "NH Outside" stories online? These are personal pieces, 
written by UNH Cooperative Extension volunteers, including Master Gardners, Coverts Cooperators, and Natural Resource Stewards. They are wonderful...they are part of a news stream that is sent to local papers. If your local newspaper or newsletter wants to print them, they are available for your use. I always enjoy reading them!
I'm sad to report that the wonderful Extension staffer who edits and coordinates this collaborative writing project, Peg Boyles, will be retiring later this year. It's truly awesome to see the fruits of her...and your...efforts!
2011 New Hampshire Children in Nature Conference
Where the Children Play: Discovering, Creating and Using Outdoor Spaces
October 5, 2011 at the Cody Outdoor and Conference Center on Ossipee Lake
Mark your calendars and join us to explore the many ways we can reconnect children, youth and families with nature, whether by discovering ways to use our backyards, city parks and other existing outdoor spaces; creating new outdoor spaces in schoolyards and neighborhoods; or conserving community land and providing access to community spaces. We invite teachers, city planners, environmental educators, artists, community members, park and recreation professionals, business owners, health practitioners, and others with experience, expertise and ideas to attend.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Stephen Kellert will open the conference speaking on “The Human Need for Nature, Childhood Development and the Built Environment.”
For more information, including registration and directions, go to:
http://www.nhchildreninnature.org/events
Randolph Forest Day and Annual Tour
Saturday, August 6, 9 a.m. (celebration begins), 10:30 (start of hike)
Sponsored by the Randolph Forest Commission
Ten years ago, the Town of Randolph received from the Trust for Public Lands the title to over 10,000 acres of land once owned by Hancock Timber Resources Group: the Randolph Community Forest was born.
This year the annual Forest Day will be a celebration of the anniversary. It will be held, as usual, on the first Saturday in August, which this year is August 6th. In looking back over the ten year management history of the Community Forest, there are many specific achievements and accomplishments which might be recognized. But one element stands out above all others. It is therefore wholly appropriate that the theme of this year’s anniversary forest tour will focus on the close working relationship which has grown up between the Town and the United States Forest Service (FS).
The celebration will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the new parking lot at the western end of the Pond of Safety Road. The parking lot can be easily reached by car by turning off U.S. Route 2 in the Town of Jefferson onto Ingerson Road almost immediately opposite the Six Gun City amusement park. Drive in about one mile to reach the intersection with the Pond of Safety Road where Ingerson Road veers left. Drive straight for a couple of hundred feet on the Pond of Safety Road. Then, just past an open gate, turn left into the parking lot.
All are welcome to participate. Feel free to come to the parking lot but not go on the field trip or to join the field trip at 10:30 after the initial celebration. The field trip will not involve any long hikes, but those who go on it are reminded to wear shoes appropriate for moderately rough terrain and to bring a lunch and mosquito repellant. Children as young as 6 years of age should enjoy the experience. For more information or directions contact David Willcox at (603) 466-5104 or by e-mail to dlw@ncia.net.
Monadnock Localvores: Endangered Wild Medicinals Workshops, with Katy Locke
Sunday, August 14, 2-4pm, Keene, NH
On Sunday August 14, 2011 from 2-4pm Katy Locke will host an Endangered Wild Medicinals Presentation and Garden Tour in Keene NH through the Monadnock Localvores. The workshop will begin with a slideshow presentation of the United Plant Savers designated "At Risk" endangered wild medicinal plants of the U.S - many of which are native to eastern woodlands. Following this will be a discussion of the UpS Botanical Sanctuary Network and a tour of a recently designated UpS sanctuary garden.
This workshop is open to 15 participants, so please register early. Sliding scale fee is $5-15; but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. To register: visit www.cheshireconservation.org orcall 603-756-2988 ext.116. Directions to workshop location will be shared upon registration.
Katy Locke, M.Ed. / PDC has been applying Permaculture Design Principals to her yard and home since 2010. Previously an organic gardener of annual vegetables, she is now establishing perennial food and medicinal gardens as a way to rebuild the health and diversity of her neighborhood environment while reducing her dependence on fossil fuels.
Saturday August 13, 2011,
10 am – 3 pm
Branch Hill Farm,
307 Applebee Road, Milton Mills, NH
Lots of incredible events at this annual festival sponsored by Moose Mountain Regional Greenways and Branch Hill Farm.
Click here to download the brochure, which outlines ALL of the events. It looks awesome!
Sorry for the late notice!
Mapping Invasive Plants for IPANE
Saturday, July 30, 2011, 10 am – 4 pm
Are you a plant lover or enthusiast? Are invasive plant species the scourge of your garden? Are you looking for a way to make a difference to the future of New England’s environment? Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE) and NH Division of Forests & Lands, Caroline A. Fox Research & Demonstration Forest are teaming up to offer this one-day hands-on workshop:
Time/date: 10 am – 4 pm, Saturday, July 30, 2011
Location: Caroline A. Fox Research & Demonstration Forest, 309 Center Road, Hillsborough, NH
Instructors: Sarah Treanor Bois, IPANE
Interested? Please use this form to apply. Questions? Contact Sarah Treanor Bois by email at
sarah.treanor@uconn.edu
Dave Govatski (CC10) and Leslie Bergum (CC08) are both involved in the Ammonusuc Chapter of NH Audubon. They have several program planned for the fall, including Dave Govatski giving "NH Natural Communities," part of the Speaking for Wildlife program, on October 19th at the Rocks Estate in Bethlehem.
Learn more about Ammonusuc Chapter events and Dave's talk here!
Natural Resource Network Publications are research reports and publications of interest to natural resource professionals and tend to be technical in nature.
This publication was written by UNH Cooperative Extension's Andy Fast, and UNH Professors Mark Ducey and Dick Weyrick
Here is its abstract:
Prescribed fire is an important management tool in select northeastern United States habitats. Accurate and effective prescription parameters are necessary to safely and successfully meet prescribed fire management objectives. This paper presents prescription parameters that are commonly used in northeastern United States fuels (grass, shrub, timber, slash) and habitats. Findings are based on document analysis of prescribed fire burn plans supplied by agencies and organizations using prescribed fire in the region. Natural resources professionals can interpret the presented prescription data as standard practice and use to it to inform their planning.
We had a blast with all of the participants who attended the July 21st "Field Trips 101" workshop at the Forest Society. There were lots of Coverts Cooperators there, plus Land Stewards from the Forest Society, land trust board members, and Conservation Commissioners from a variety of towns. Everyone AMAZED the staff with their knowledge of nature facts and stories, as evidenced in a fun game we played outside. Congratulations to Dave Anderson's team!
Dave Anderson and Ben Haubrich
Kristen Murphy searches
Coming up with our lists
Searching the forest for clues
Emma, Linda Brownson, and Carol Andersen-Botsford
As of July 2011 New Hampshire has banned the importation of untreated firewood without a commercial or home heating compliance agreement. Learn why here.
