Trustees | Special Places | Winter 2022-23

Olmsted Now Named Conservationists of the Year

The Trustees is pleased to honor a coalition-led effort to elevate Boston’s parks as places of inclusion and equity, where all feel safe and welcome to explore and engage with nature in their own backyards. Olmsted Now—Greater Boston’s Olmsted Bicentennial, a partnership between the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and the National Park Service, has been awarded the 2022 Charles Eliot Award as Conservationists of the Year. One of the Trustees’ highest honors, this award is presented each year to an individual, group, or organization that represent the values, qualities, and principles of Trustees founder, Charles Eliot. Olmsted Now is one of the nation’s most innovative examples of using the historic vision of Frederick Law Olmsted—the father of American Landscape Architecture and mentor to Charles Eliot—for public parks as a springboard for big ideas and bold actions. In his 200th birthday year, The Trustees is especially thrilled to honor these green space advocates for keeping Olmsted’s vision and spirit alive, active, and thriving today. Olmsted Now has created a dynamic, constantly evolving platform, through their website olmstednow.org, that brings voices and diverse perspectives of community members, civic leaders, musicians, artists, writers, and poets together to make Boston’s parks more inclusive, equitable, and relevant in our daily lives. The Trustees celebrates the work of Olmsted Now as innovators of public discourse and engagement for the greater good of our community.

Trustees Joins Host Committee for Earthshot Prize; Piers Park III Highlighted

The Trustees Boston Waterfront Initiative, One Waterfront, took part in the recent Earthshot Prize Awards event hosted in Boston by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Trustees Vice President of Urban Outdoors Vidya Tikku joined as Host Committee member, partnering with other local organizations involved in climate resilience work in Boston. During a walking tour in East Boston the day before the awards ceremony, Prince William and Princess Catherine were shown the abandoned pier that will become Piers Park III and Tikku shared details about the design plan, with its unique and exceptional access to the harbor. The most recent design draft for the park was shared with the public in November for more community feedback, and aims to increase accessibility and visibility of the harbor while improving habitat and water quality in and around the site. To learn more about the Piers Park III design or the Earthshot prize winners visit thetrustees.org/waterfront.

The Prince and Princess of Wales’s visit to Piers Park was highlighted in this tweet from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

Major Policy Wins for Public Parks, Outdoor Recreation

At an early-December event to announce the creation of the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation, The Trustees’ Senior Director of Government Relations, Linda Orel (first row, right) joined representatives of the Appalachian Mountain Club and American Whitewater, along with Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Environmental Secretary Beth Card, Fish and Game Commissioner Ron Amidon, Senator Anne Gobi, Senator John Cronin, Representative Natalie Blais, Representative Kimberly Ferguson, former Environmental Secretary Matt Beaton and Jeff Crowley, operator of the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area.

Several policy victories have recently been secured through extensive advocacy work by The Trustees in partnership with multiple organizations. The Public Lands Protection Act and the formation of a statewide Office of Outdoor Recreation represent two major steps forward for land conservation and outdoor recreation. Passage of the Public Lands Protection Act (PLPA) follows more than 20 years of advocacy by The Trustees and a coalition of local, regional, and national land conservation and environmental organizations. Signed into law in November by Governor Charlie Baker, the PLPA will—when it takes effect in 2024—strengthen existing safeguards to the preservation of open space in the Commonwealth. In addition to providing more transparency and formality to the process of replacing developed public land, the PLPA also helps to protect Environmental Justice

Trustees’ 131st Annual Meeting Held

The Trustees held its 131st Annual Meeting on November 3, 2022, at the State Room in Boston. A live, in-person gathering for the first time in three years, the meeting provided an opportunity for the organization’s governance members to hear reports and updates from members of the Board of Directors and Trustees executive staff, celebrate award winners for Volunteer of the Year (see page 28) and Employee of the Year, welcome new members, and honor those who have recently retired. The entire meeting and presentations were recorded and remain available for all to view, at thetrustees.org/annualmeeting.

communities that lack adequate open spaces by strengthening safeguards for their dwindling natural areas. The new Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (OREC) will be tasked with coordinating outdoor recreation policy, identifying funding opportunities for programs and infrastructure, and enhancing and advancing equity and access to outdoor recreation opportunities. OREC will support and stimulate the outdoor recreation economy, which plays a significant role in the overall economy of the state. The creation of the new office—which will be part of the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs—follows more than six years of administrative and legislative advocacy and makes Massachusetts the 18th state in the nation to establish such an entity. A new director of outdoor recreation will work alongside other state agencies in the outdoor recreation arena, including the Department of Fish and Game, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. To learn more about these and other policy updates, visit thetrustees.org/blog.

©TRUSTEES

PHOTO BY KRISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

Wildlife Edition

Sally Naser, the Trustees’ Conservation Restriction Stewardship Director, maintains an array of her own trail cameras on CR properties around the state and often gets terrific close-up shots of wildlife among the cameras’ images. Here are just a few of the many species that are “out and about” on Trustees-held conservation restrictions.

Dear Members:

We looked upon a world unknown, On nothing we could call our own. Around the glistening wonder bent The blue walls of the firmament, No cloud above, no earth below,— A universe of sky and snow!

—John Greenleaf Whittier, from “Snowbound”

Winter is a time of transformation, from the delicate to the dramatic. From the intricate lace of frost on a windowpane to the remaking of the world when a pure blue sky arcs above a blanket of snow that reaches to the horizon. The Trustees offers you myriad ways to experience winter’s joys: snowshoeing at Fruitlands Museum, Firelight Nights concerts at Castle Hill, cross-country skiing at Notchview and Appleton Farms. I hope you will accept our invitation to explore our properties in new ways, whatever the weather. Layer up and have a blast!

Winter is also one of the best times of the year to take a nature hike. With the foliage gone, animals have fewer places to hide—and with fewer people on the trails, our winter critters also have fewer inhibitions. It’s important, though, to be respectful of our wildlife and their habitats this time of year, especially as off-season hiking grows in popularity. In this issue, Education Manager Val Perini has some terrific tips for ways to hit the trails safely and respectfully this winter. Just getting started? Consider one of our guided hikes, such as a snowy owl prowl at Crane Beach.

Agroecology. It’s not yet a common term, but it refers to farming practices that advance natural climate solutions and foster biodiversity. That might sound contradictory to some of you: isn’t agriculture one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions? But as our Agriculture Director Jen Core explains in these pages, leading-edge farming practices, like the ones we use on our Trustees farms, are actually restoring ecologies, by building soil health, improving water quality, and increasing carbon sequestration. After reading about the work we’re doing to advance these revolutionary practices, I’m sure you’ll be even more excited to visit with and learn from our farmers, just as I have been.

Even as we continue to push ourselves to advance new ideas, we also remain committed to the principles that have guided us for decades. A half century ago, we launched our Conservation Restrictions program, which allows private landowners to preserve their natural resources in perpetuity while still getting to own and enjoy their land. You can learn more about the ways that conservation restrictions have benefitted both our environment and our state’s residents—and take inspiration from the hundreds of landowners who have partnered with The Trustees over the years to make sure their land is protected forever.

The other thing I love about winter? The chance to slow down. I hope all of you can find some time over the next few months to decelerate—or as Ralph Waldo Emerson might say, “adopt the pace of nature.”

See you on our properties.

Nicie Panetta Interim President & CEO

PHOTO BY KRISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

Farm Forward

Fostering the role of agriculture as a natural climate solution

BY JENNIFER CORE, TRUSTEES STAFF

Farmers around the globe are at the forefront of climate change and how it impacts land and agricultural systems. It is these careful land managers, including Trustees farmers, who have been closely observing accelerating changes in precipitation, temperature, pest pressure, and invasive species over the past several years.

“In the current time of a changing climate, circumstances dictate that we evolve our farms to absorb extreme and unpredictable precipitation events, temperature fluctuations, winds, and droughts, all of which have the potential

to devastate crops,” says Andrew Lawson, Field Crop and CSA Manager at Appleton Farms. “The window of opportunity to accomplish field production tasks is narrower, and, at times, crop loss is inevitable. We are trying to build resilience into the way we farm by planning ahead for extreme weather and by focusing on soil health to help mitigate the effects of a changing climate.”

RESTORING ECOLOGIES

While agriculture is often cast as one of the “villains” in the climate change narrative, regenerative farming practices, such as those employed at Trustees farms, flip that

narrative by restoring ecologies, building soil health, improving water quality, and increasing carbon sequestration. Unlike intensive industrial agriculture, which relies on chemical inputs and heavy machinery to support a single crop, regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that leverages the power of photosynthesis to close the carbon cycle, building soil and natural crop resilience. These practices strengthen agricultural resources for future generations.

To this end, Trustees farmers are thinking critically about tillage, how to manipulate or prepare the soil prior to and during planting. Every pass with a tractor has greenhouse gas implications, while soil disturbance negatively impacts overall soil health. Incorporating new reduced tillage technologies will promote biological activity, enhance soil aggregation, and increase water holding capacity and infiltration, which will preserve soil structure, resist erosion, and better maintain plant residue and enhance nutrient retention. The farmers are also working on improving soil fertility using livestock nutrient cycling, cover cropping, crop rotation, and maintaining adequate soil pH. Balanced soil fertility helps to restore the soil microbiome, which results in a noticeably more resilient agroecosystem.

CHANGE IS A CONSTANT

Biodiversity across Trustees’ crop fields is another crucial consideration. “Adding diversity to our crop plan and being careful of where and when we plant has been important,” Lawson says. “Crop varieties are constantly changing, and we are constantly testing new varieties for better tolerance to heat, drought, disease, and pest pressure. Willingness to adapt the crop plan to the current conditions is paramount.”

Finally, careful rotational grazing is a critical soil-building tool, effective in countering climate change. Permanent grasslands have some of the best soil structure and organic matter levels because of the grazing cycle, which encourages diverse pasture plant productivity and corresponding root biomass, as well as increased nutrient cycling. Proper grazing management makes farmland more drought resistant and improves resilience in heavy precipitation events by increasing the waterholding capacity of soils and contributing to good soil structure. Livestock grazing keeps the fields open and preserves important native species habitat while increasing the sequestration of carbon in the soil.

LONG-TERM GOALS

“Our farms and agricultural fields play a significant role as a natural climate solution, accounting for over 10% of carbon sequestered annually on the 27,000 acres of Trustees properties,” notes Tom O’Shea, Trustees Vice President of Conservation and Resiliency. “Our agroecology initiative will trial climate-smart practices to show how we can build healthy soils that can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store carbon in the soil for a long time.”

“Once soil organic carbon has worked its way into the stable zones of our soil, our job as farmers is to keep it there,” adds Trustees Director of Agriculture, Jennifer Core. “This is why permanent pastures, perennial crops,

Clockwise: Rotational grazing at Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough; Appleton’s farmers plant crops; in-field soil assessment at Powisset Farm in Dover; Peas planted as cover crops at Appleton Farms in Hamilton & Ipswich.

and tillage reduction are so critical, and why long-term use rotation between tilled crop fields and semi-permanent pasture is a valuable tool. Pastures are populated largely by deep-rooted grass plants and can go undisturbed for years or decades, while accumulating soil carbon, and supporting high protein food.”

Massachusetts’ ability to sustain its farms, preserve farmland, and build a climate resilient food system for the future is a monumental challenge spanning many scales and disciplines. The Trustees and its farms are uniquely positioned to address some of the most pressing of these challenges by defining best production practices in a changing climate, managing agricultural land as a natural climate solution, and providing secure land access for farmers across the state to engage in these best practices.

For more information on Trustees’ farms and farming practices, visit thetrustees.org/farms.

Jennifer Core is the Trustees’ Director of Agriculture.

DIG DEEPER!

Here is a brief glossary for some of the terms used in this article:

BIODIVERSITY The variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture, including crops, livestock, forestry, and fisheries.

ROTATIONAL GRAZING The shifting of livestock to different units of a pasture or range in regular sequence to permit the recovery and growth of the pasture plants after grazing.

SOIL FERTILITY The capacity of a soil to provide crops with essential plant nutrients.

TILLAGE The preparation of soil for planting and the cultivation of soil after planting. Tillage is the manipulation of the soil into a desired condition by mechanical means.

Piping Plover on its nest with a newly hatched chick.

BALANCING ACT A Shorebird Season on Martha’s Vineyard

BY SHEA FEE, TRUSTEES STAFF

The expansive and beautiful beaches of Martha’s Vineyard provide a space for islanders and visitors alike to recreate, escape the heat, and enjoy each season. These beloved places are also critical habitat for many species, including beach nesting birds. Shorebirds, overall, are a class of birds experiencing large-scale global declines and, as the largest private owner of protected coastline in the state, The Trustees must manage its properties in a way that balances public access and enjoyment while ensuring the success of threatened species. This stewardship is inherent in the organization’s mission and values.

HOW ARE SHOREBIRDS PROTECTED?

All migratory birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and shorebird habitat is protected under State

and Federal Wetlands Protections Acts. The birds actively managed on Trustees beaches include the Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, and Least Tern—the most frequent and abundant nesters—along with the Black Skimmer, Common Tern, and Roseate Tern. Piping Plovers and all three species of tern are protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (ESA). While oystercatchers and skimmers are not listed under the MA ESA, they are species of conservation concern and The Trustees chooses to protect them similarly to its listed species.

The three most abundant species prefer to spend their time on wide sandy beaches or sand spits with gently sloping dunes, laying their eggs in shallow divots in the sand (called “scrapes”), sometimes decorated with pebbles or small shell fragments. Eggs are incubated for about one month through wind, rain, and heat until the chicks hatch.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO STEWARD A SHOREBIRD SEASON?

The Trustees uses guidelines developed by state and federal governments to manage the shorebirds on its properties. Shorebird staff conduct intensive daily monitoring to document the birds’ successes and setbacks—which includes tracking nesting pairs, chicks and fledglings, communicating shorebird activity and movements with beach staff, and sharing information with the public. At the end of each season, ecology staff compose detailed reports on the season for Trustees record-keeping and for submission to the state.

MARTHA’S VINEYARD SHOREBIRD NUMBERS

In the summer 2022 season, a record 29 pairs of Piping Plovers nested on Trustees’ owned or managed Martha’s Vineyard properties, including Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, Wasque Reservation, Norton Point

Adult

Beach, Leland Beach, and Long Point Wildlife Refuge. This record is part of an encouraging trend: As nesting pairs have continued to increase statewide, so do breeding pairs on Trustees beaches.

This summer’s 29 intrepid pairs produced 17 fledged young, achieving a final productivity of .59 fledglings per breeding pair. While this was a record number of breeding pairs on Trustees’ managed beaches on the island and an increase in productivity over the 2021 season, the actual productivity, or success, of breeding pairs is not high enough to replace the population. The federally instituted U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) benchmark for productivity required to sustain and grow a healthy population of Piping Plovers is 1.24 fledglings per breeding pair. Trustees’ numbers are well below that benchmark, so we have to assume, then, that these record numbers of breeding pairs are birds coming from other beaches in the state where breeding success is much higher.

Meanwhile, the 19 oystercatcher breeding pairs on Trustees’ managed beaches fledged 18 chicks, yielding a productivity of .95 fledglings per breeding pair. This number is well above the USFWS target for oystercatchers of .50. For both plovers and oystercatchers, all shorebird cooperators up and down the Atlantic Coast aim for these productivity benchmarks.

Predation accounted for 36% of Piping Plover and 50% of oystercatcher nest

losses, including from skunks, crows, and raccoons—all notorious egg lovers that can have serious impacts on ground nesting birds, especially if their populations become inflated due to a lack of natural predators and human food subsidies, as is the case on Martha’s Vineyard. Additional losses are harder to document, but evidence is clear that human disturbance (including vehicles, pedestrians, and pets) are a large piece of the puzzle.

To put these numbers into an islandwide perspective, Trustees properties supported 39% of the Vineyard’s overall breeding population of 74 pairs of nesting Piping Plovers this summer. Similarly, 41% of the island’s 46 breeding American Oystercatcher pairs chose to nest on Trustees beaches. The amount of wellmanaged and undisturbed habitat The Trustees provides benefits an extremely significant portion of the local populations of these focal species.

Massachusetts has been protecting Piping Plovers since 1982 and has developed some of the most successful protection guidelines and management practices in the country. In the 2022 breeding season, 970 pairs of Piping Plovers nested on the shores of the Bay State—with a midpoint productivity of 1.25 fledglings per breeding pair—which is more than half of the entire North Atlantic breeding population. Unfortunately, while Piping Plovers are doing well in Massachusetts, they are declining in the rest of their Atlantic range.

THE CHALLENGES AND HOW YOU CAN HELP

While it is important to celebrate these birds’ successes, we must also acknowledge the growing mountain of challenges they face. Habitat loss from human activity and coastal development limit the options for birds to nest and successfully rear their young. A side effect of this coexistence is often an increase in garbage, which attracts predators like raccoons and skunks and can even boost predator populations by providing them with a reliable food source. Climate change also poses a major threat: Rising sea levels and more frequent and intense storm events will increase the number of nests lost to overwash and lead to the ultimate steepening and narrowing of beaches.

The habitat in which these three focal species can live and breed is extremely limited, but Trustees beaches can help provide these birds with a safe space to rest, reproduce, and thrive. Beach nesting birds perform incredible physical feats every year to raise a family on our shores. While Trustees staff put a significant amount of time and effort into the shorebird protection program, it ultimately takes a village.

In summer 2022, Trustees implemented the Habitat Conservation Plan for Piping Plovers at Norton Point Beach, a state-run procedure that allows for continued Over-Sand Vehicle (OSV) access while following a strict protocol designed to limit harm to the birds. This allowed Trustees to provide continued OSV access, including staff-led traffic direction and control as seen in this photo, in areas where chicks were active—areas that would otherwise be closed to OSV traffic under state and federal laws and guidelines.

The obstacles these birds face are many, but anyone can help be a part of their success in several ways, starting with understanding what these threatened species are up against and sharing the beaches. When visiting, please respect symbolically fenced areas and vehicle closures, keep pets leashed at all times and out of shorebird areas, properly dispose of trash, maintain a safe distance from any shorebirds, and be open to learning about the journey and lives of these species. All of these considerations can go a long way towards helping to protect these important species long into the future.

Shea Fee is the Trustees’ Coastal Ecologist for the Islands, South Coast, and Cape Cod.

©TRUSTEES

PHOTO BY BEAR GOLDEN RETRIEVER; VIA CC BY 2.0 American Oystercatcher with chicks.

I Spy, with my (Respectful) Little Eye

Handy habits for viewing wildlife

BY VAL PERINI, TRUSTEES STAFF

The leaves have fallen and suddenly the views from our trails have become much more expansive. It’s a great time of year for hiking and wildlife viewing—and with fewer leaves among which critters can hide, a keen observer can spot a variety of wildlife on a winter outing.

The chance to see wildlife is a great incentive to get outside and enjoy nature. But, as winter hiking gains in popularity, it’s more important than ever to be respectful of wildlife and the habitats that support them. Whether you’re a seasoned wildlife watcher or are hitting the trail for the first time, here are some tips to ensure your outdoor time is fun and safe for both you and the wildlife you might encounter along the trail.

PHOTO BY RYAN PENNESI

#1 RESPECT THE HABITAT

Think of a visit to the woods like a visit to someone else’s home—this is where wildlife lives and you are paying a visit. Stay on marked trails. Just off the trail are delicate plant roots or sometimes even nests. Avoid striking out on trails that aren’t clearly marked for you to follow. Animals such as deer and coyote create “game trails” that are often narrower than those trails intended for human use. And when people create their own unauthorized shortcut paths (aka “social trails”), they may damage habitat areas. Follow “Leave No Trace” practices and try to leave the trail cleaner than you found it: bring a bag and pick up trash you may encounter along the way.

#2 PRACTICE QUIET OBSERVATION

Tread lightly and quietly. Keep your group small and talk in hushed tones to avoid scaring wildlife. Keep your phone silent or off, and don’t play any sounds. Mimicking or playing animal sounds is inherently disruptive to wildlife.

#3 RESIST THE URGE TO FEED WILD ANIMALS

Never feed wild animals in an attempt to get closer to them or because you fear they are hungry. The food you provide could easily make them sick and could habituate them to humans, resulting in negative interactions. Report sightings of sick, wounded, or abandoned animals to staff—a ranger, gate attendant, steward, or the land manager. Trustees staff will get information to the right folks so that a specialist can be called for help.

#4 KEEP YOUR DISTANCE

Some animals you encounter in winter are typically using the land to rest and recharge, such as snowy owls and seals. While it is exciting for us to get close to an animal, consider that it takes a lot of energy for the animal to launch an alarm/ escape response—when you scare an animal, their response uses vital energy reserves needed to escape a true predator.

In areas known for animal mating, nesting, and feeding, it is even more important to keep your distance and not disturb activities that are critical to the animal’s life cycle. If you see an animal in the wild, move away to give it space. This is especially important if you see a nest or babies—you could be tipping off predators to the location of a vulnerable nest.

Stay at least 150 feet from wildlife, particularly sensitive winter visitors such as snowy owls and seals. To get a good view from this safe distance, bring binoculars or a spotting scope. If animals get spooked or change their behavior because of you, you are too close and should move even farther away.

#5 RESERVE THE WILDERNESS FOR THE WILDLIFE

If wildlife viewing is the goal of your hike, it’s best to keep pets at home and indoors. The presence of a pet can activate an alarm response in wildlife, thinking your pet is a predator. If you are hiking with your dog (at a reservation that allows dogs), be sure to follow all rules about leashing and where dogs can and cannot go on the property.

For further information on these and other handy wildlife observation tips, visit thetrustees.org/viewwildlife

Val Perini is the Trustees’ Education Manager at the Crane Estate.

GET TRACKING!

See what our wide variety of wildlife are up to in winter and get tips from the pros in these wildlife tracking programs. More are listed online at thetrustees.org/tracking and in our Things To Do calendar on page 16.

WINTER ANIMAL TRACKING & WILDLIFE SURVIVAL GUIDED HIKE

Saturday, Jan 14 | 10-11:30AM Chestnut Hill Farm, Southborough

CraneExplorer: IT’S A WILD LIFE! WINTER SURVIVAL IN THE DUNES

Saturdays, Jan 21 & Feb 11 10AM-12Noon

Sundays, Feb 5, Mar 5 & 19 10AM-12Noon Crane Beach, Ipswich

WILDLIFE TRACKING AT COPICUT WOODS

Sundays, Jan 22 & Mar 5 1-3PM Copicut Woods, Fall River

YOUNG EXPLORERS WINTER TRACKING Saturday, Jan 28 10:30AM-12Noon

The Old Manse, Concord

CraneExplorer:

READING THE TRAIL: TRACKING WORKSHOP & HIKE

Sundays, Jan 29 & Feb 19 11AM-2:30PM

Castle Hill, Ipswich

WILDLIFE TRACKING AT SLOCUM’S RIVER RESERVE

Sunday, Feb 19 | 12Noon-2PM

Slocum’s River Reserve, Dartmouth

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously advised, in several college addresses he gave in the 1860s, “…adopt the pace of Nature. Her secret is patience.” This time of year is ideal for heeding Emerson’s words. Take a long pause while on a walk in the woods or snowshoeing across an open field. Listen as the sounds of nature emerge from the quiet stillness all around you. Winter is magical— especially when you take it at nature’s pace!

Winter Magic

Take in the pace of nature at Trustees places!

ON THE TRAILS

Trustees has so many ways to enjoy the magic of winter. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, guided moonlight adventures, winter tracking hikes and bird walks, mindfulness hikes, and so much more. Hike in the Dunes or go on a Snowy Owl Prowl at Crane Beach with CraneOutdoors. See the world by moonlight on Full Moon Hikes at many of our farms, World’s End in Hingham, Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, or Slocum’s River Reserve in Dartmouth. World’s End has Bird Walks, too—as do Appleton Farms in Hamilton & Ipswich, Lyman Reserve in Buzzards Bay, and Copicut Woods in Fall River.

Grab your cross-country skis and head out to Fruitlands Museum, Appleton Farms, or the miles of groomed trails at Notchview, our Nordic ski center in Windsor. Ski the fields of

Field Farm in Williamstown and take in the power of Rose B. Simpson’s Counterculture as you traverse the trails. Cross-country skiing is welcomed at a number of reservations, from Bartholomew’s Cobble in Sheffield to Weir Hill in North Andover, Brooks Woodland Preserve in Petersham to Whitney & Thayer Woods in Cohasset & Hingham.

PHOTO BY @JEFFER47

Snowshoeing is another terrific way to experience the magic of Trustees’ special places in winter. Strap on your own snowshoes at Bird Park in Walpole, Doyle Community Park in Leominster, Noanet Woodlands in Dover, and many more places. Don’t have your own and want to give it a try? Snowshoe rentals are available at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, as well as Appleton Farms, Fruitlands Museum, and Notchview! For a full list of places to snowshoe or crosscountry ski, visit thetrustees.org

COOK UP A STORM

After winter days outside, there’s nothing better than the warmth and cheer of a cooking class in one of the Trustees’ farm kitchens! Sharpen your cooking skills with farm fresh ingredients and new friends at Appleton Farms’ Farmhouse Workshops, Powisset Cooks programs in Dover, and Cooking Classes at The FARM Institute in Edgartown. Try Sourdough Bread Baking, Baking with Beer—Pretzels, Chicken Pot Pie, and more at Appleton Farms. The FARM Institute offers Knife Skills and Butchery Basics classes, as well as Artisanal Breads of the World with Vineyard Baker. And Powisset

PHOTO BY @SUSANLINDA

Look inside for a snapshot of programs available this season. There are many more on our website—see the full list and sign up at thetrustees.org/ things-to-do, today!

Jan | Feb | Mar

THINGS TO DO

PHOTO BY @DEMOSSKIPITARIS

Noanet Woodlands, Dover

FOR THE HEART

Sweet things to do this Valentine’s and Galentine’s Days!

APPLETON FARMHOUSE WORKSHOP:

VALENTINE’S DAY SWEET TREATS

FRIDAY, FEB 3 | 6-8PM

Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

CraneE xplorer: VALENTINES COASTAL CRAFTS

SATURDAY, FEB 4 | 10AM-12NOON Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, Ipswich

APPLETON FARMHOUSE WORKSHOP: VALENTINE’S DAY MIXOLOGY

TUESDAY, FEB 7 | 6-8PM

Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

LOVELY LIBATIONS MIXOLOGY CLASS (ONLINE)

THURSDAY, FEB 9 | 6-7:30PM Boston Community Gardens, Online, Boston

ROMANCE AT THE MANSE

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, FEB 10 & 11 | 5:30-8:30PM The Old Manse, Concord

VALENTINE’S DINNER AT POWISSET FARM

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & TUESDAY, FEB 10, 11 & 14 | 6-8PM

Powisset Farm, Dover

KIDDOS IN THE KITCHEN: VALENTINE’S DAY TREATS

SATURDAY, FEB 11 | 10AM-12NOON

Powisset Farm, Dover

VALENTINE FIRE PIT DATE NIGHT

SATURDAY, FEB 11 | 4:30-6:30PM & 7-9PM

Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

APPLETON MIX & MINGLE SINGLES HIKE FOR BEER

SATURDAY, FEB 11 | 5-6:30PM

Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

GALENTINE’S DAY HIKE & SIP AT WEIR RIVER FARM

SUNDAY, FEB 12 | 2-3:30PM

Weir River Farm, Hingham

GALENTINE’S DAY FLORAL WORKSHOP

MONDAY, FEB 13 | 6-7:30PM

Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, North Andover

APPLETON FARMHOUSE WORKSHOP: VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER

TUESDAY & FRIDAY, FEB 14 & 17 | 6-8PM

Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

IN THE KITCHEN

Sharpen your cooking skills with farm fresh ingredients and new friends. (NOTE: all March cooking classes are listed online only; those programs marked with * are also scheduled in March.) Visit thetrustees.org/ cooking for the most up-to-date list.

Appleton Farmhouse Workshops

Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

TUESDAYS | 6-8PM

New Year, New You–Resolution Cooking | JAN 24 Farm to Kitchen–Root Cellar* | JAN 17 & 31, FEB 21 Foundational Sauces & Stocks | FEB 28

FRIDAYS | 6-8PM

Sourdough Bread Baking | JAN 13 & FEB 10 Chicken Pot Pie | JAN 20 & FEB 24 Baking with Beer–Pretzels* | JAN 27

Powisset Cooks

Powisset Farm, Dover Tasty Tapas | THURSDAY, JAN 12 | 6-8PM Sublime Stir Fry! | THURSDAY, JAN 19 | 6-8PM Delicious Dumplings | THURSDAY, JAN 26 | 6-8PM Ramen–the ultimate Asian comfort food! | THURSDAY, FEB 2 | 6-8PM La Creperie de Paris | THURSDAY, FEB 16 | 6-8PM The WHOLE thing… Chicken! | THURSDAY, FEB 23 | 6-8PM

Cooking Classes at The FARM Institute

The FARM Institute, Edgartown SATURDAYS

Artisanal Breads of the World with Vineyard Baker* | JAN 14 & 28, FEB 11 & 25 | 10AM-12NOON

Knife Skills with Cathy Walthers | JAN 21 | 10-11:30 AM Butchery Basics: Pork Breakdown | JAN 21 | 1-4PM Butchery Basics: Sausage Making* | FEB 18 | 10AM-12NOON Fermentation 101: Sauerkraut | FEB 4 | 10-11:30AM

Kids Cooking Classes

Powisset Farm, Dover TOTS IN THE KITCHEN*

TUESDAYS, JAN 24, FEB 14 & 28 | 10-11:30AM SATURDAYS, JAN 14, FEB 18 | 9-10:30AM

KIDDOS IN THE KITCHEN* Stir Fry–You can be a Wok Star! | WEDNESDAY, JAN 25 | 4-6PM Burger Bistro! | WEDNESDAY, FEB 1 | 4-6PM Crazy Crackers & Dips | WEDNESDAY, FEB 15 | 4-6PM

Don’t forget to REGISTER ONLINE FOR YOUR PROGRAM at thetrustees.org/things-to-do

Program details subject to change. For up-to-date event information, or to search for events in your area, at a specific property, by type or by date, click on Things To Do at thetrustees.org.

Use your member code (above your name on your member card) to qualify for member discounts. If you need to find your member code, account information, or look up ticket and registration status for specific programs, visit thetrustees.org/customerservice

ON THE TRAILS

Experience the wonder of Trustees properties this winter! Join these hikes and many others being offered, including more Bird Walks, Mindfulness Hikes, Moonlight Adventures, and hikes to celebrate the Spring Equinox. (NOTE: all March hikes are listed online only; those programs marked with * are also scheduled in March.) Find the full list at thetrustees.org/guidedhikes

CraneOutdoors: CASTLE NECK HIKE IN THE DUNES*

SATURDAYS, JAN 14 & 28, FEB 1 | 1-3:30PM

TUESDAY, FEB 21 | 1-3:30PM | Crane Beach, Ipswich

FOREST BATHING AT APPLETON FARMS*

SUNDAYS, JAN 15 & FEB 12 | 11AM-12NOON

Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

CraneOutdoors: SUNSET HIKE TO CEDAR POINT

SATURDAY, JAN 21 | 2:30-4:30PM | Crane Beach, Ipswich

APPLETON FARMS HOT CHOCOLATE HIKE

SUNDAY, JAN 29 | 11AM-12NOON

Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

SALT MARSH EXPLORATION HIKE

SUNDAY, JAN 29 | 2-4PM | Cornell Farm, Dartmouth

WINTER WONDERLAND HIKE*

SUNDAYS, FEB 12 | 10AM-12PM East Over Reservation, Rochester

WOMEN’S WELLNESS WALK, EMBRACING INDEPENDENCE

SATURDAY, FEB 18 | 3:30-5:30PM | Noanet Woodlands, Dover

HIKING IS FOR THE BIRDS

BIRD WALKS AT WORLD’S END*

SATURDAYS, JAN 14 & FEB 11 | 9-11AM | World’s End, Hingham

WINGS OVER WATER HIKE

SUNDAYS, JAN 22 & MAR 5 | 9-11AM Lyman Reserve, Buzzards Bay

OWL PROWL: COPICUT WOODS*

SUNDAYS, JAN 29 | 5-7PM & FEB19 | 4:30-6:30PM Copicut Woods, Fall River

OWL PROWL HIKE AT APPLETON FARMS

FRIDAY, FEB 3 | 4-5PM | Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

CraneOutdoors: SNOWY OWL PROWL*

SATURDAYS, FEB 4, 11, 18 & 25 | 10AM-12:30PM SUNDAYS, FEB 5, 12, 19 & 26 | 1-3:30PM

Crane Beach, Ipswich

CraneExplorer: FAMILY SNOWY OWL PROWL*

SATURDAYS, FEB 4, 11, 18 & 25 | 10AM-12NOON

Crane Beach, Ipswich

MOONLIGHT ADVENTURES

NEW MOON HIKE AT APPLETON FARMS

SATURDAY, JAN 21 | 5-6PM

Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

SOUP, STARS & SNOWSHOES HIKE

FRIDAY, JAN 27 | 5-7PM

Powisset Farm, Dover

CraneExplorer: FAMILY FULL MOON HIKE IN THE DUNES*

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, FEB 3-5 | 4:30-6:30PM Crane Beach, Ipswich

CraneOutdoors: DUNES BY THE LIGHT OF THE FULL MOON* FRIDAY-SUNDAY, FEB 3-5 | 4:30-7PM Crane Beach, Ipswich

CHESTNUT HILL BY MOONLIGHT* SATURDAY, FEB 4 | 3:30-5PM Chestnut Hill Farm, Southborough

YOUNG EXPLORERS FULL MOON NIGHT HIKE SATURDAY, FEB 4 | 5-6:30PM Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

FULL MOON HIKE AT WORLD’S END*

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, FEB 4 & 5 | 4:45PM

World’s End, Hingham

FULL SNOW MOON HIKE AT SLOCUM’S RIVER RESERVE

SUNDAY, FEB 5 | 4:30-6:30PM Slocum’s River Reserve, Dartmouth

FULL MOON HIKE AT APPLETON FARMS* SUNDAY, FEB 5 | 5-6PM

Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

For a FULL LISTING OF PROGRAMS not shown here, visit thetrustees.org/things-to-do

©TRUSTEES

Winter 2023Highlights & Special Events

A glimpse at just a few of the hundreds of things to do at our special places across the state this season. Visit thetrustees.org/things-to-do to see all of our programs, get the latest updates, find more information and, for events that require them, get tickets. We hope to see you at one of our reservations soon!

Firelight Nights

Get outdoors for a magical night for grownups. Think picnic concert... but with roaring fire pits and hot adult beverages (and without the bugs and kiddos)!

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, FEB 10 & 11, 17 & 18 5-6:30PM & 7-8:30PM

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, Ipswich

Celebrate Art at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum and Fruitlands Museum

View the current art exhibitions or join one of these curator tours (see page 18 for exhibit details).

CURATORIAL TOUR: DOWNSTREAM

FRIDAY, FEB 3 | 1-2PM deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln CURATORIAL TOUR: WIND FROM THE HILLS SATURDAY, FEB 18 | 2-3PM | Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

CURATORIAL TOUR: NEW FORMATIONS

SUNDAY, MAR 5 | 1-2PM deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln thetrustees.org/art

Clockwise: Installation view of Downstream (October 7, 2022–March 12, 2023) at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln, MA. ©Mel Taing, 2022; Robert Weir, 1803–1889, American, View of the Hudson River from West Point, 1897, Oil on canvas, Collection of Fruitlands Museum, The Trustees, FM.G.1945.156. Image Courtesy: Ellen Harasimowicz Photography (2014); Installation view of New Formations (October 7, 2022–March 12, 2023) at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln, MA. ©Mel Taing, 2022.

Rooms in Bloom at Long Hill

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, FEB 10-12 | 10AM-3PM

The Main House at Long Hill comes alive with fragrant blooms and colorful displays.

PLUS! ROOMS IN BLOOM FLORAL DESIGN WORKSHOP

SUNDAY, FEB 12 | 11AM-1PM

Long Hill, Beverly

Don’t forget to REGISTER ONLINE FOR YOUR PROGRAM at thetrustees.org/things-to-do

Program details subject to change. For up-to-date event information, or to search for events in your area, at a specific property, by type or by date, click on Things To Do at thetrustees.org.

Use your member code (above your name on your member card) to qualify for member discounts. If you need to find your member code, account information, or look up ticket and registration status for specific programs, visit thetrustees.org/customerservice

©ANANTHA KONDALRAJ

PHOTO BY KRISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

Farm Adventures for the Kids

Historic House Tours at The Old Manse

Soak up some history this winter. Special themed tours offered every weekend along with a new Transcendental Reading Group, which meets once a month. Tours include: “On the Gold Light” Twilight Tours; Flipping the Script: The Women of the Manse; FamilyFriendly Tour of The Old Manse; Attic Tours of The Old Manse; and American Contradictions: Slavery and the American Revolution at The Old Manse.

Visit thetrustees.org/oldmanse for details and to register. The Old Manse, Concord

Trustees

farms are buzzing this winter with loads of activities for the kiddos, including Preschool Farm Explorers, Barnyard Activities, Farm Chores, Afternoon Adventures, Game Nights, All About Sheep and Wool, and Story Hours

Appleton Farms (Hamilton & Ipswich), Chestnut Hill Farm (Southborough), Powisset Farm (Dover), The FARM Institute (Edgartown), Weir River Farm (Hingham) thetrustees.org/farmadventures

Theatre in the

Great House

What does your best friend really think about the art on your wall? If they tell you the truth, will you kill them or kiss them?

‘ART’ — A PLAY BY YASMINA REZA

THURSDAY, FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS, MAR 10-11, 16-18 | 7PM

SUNDAYS, MAR 12 & 19 | 6PM

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, Ipswich

47th Annual Gardeners’ Gathering

Calling all Boston-area gardeners! Celebrate the start of the gardening season with a free day full of workshops, exhibitors, and fun!

SATURDAY, MAR 18 | 10AM-4PM Shillman Hall, Northeastern University 115 Forsyth Street, Boston

Winter Adventures at Notchview

Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, lessons, and programs for the whole family! Visit thetrustees.org/notchview for schedules and registration information.

Notchview, Windsor

For a FULL LISTING OF PROGRAMS not shown here, visit thetrustees.org/things-to-do

PHOTO BY TOM KATES

©TRUSTEES

A PLAY BY YASMINA REZA

ON WINTER BREAK

Bring the kiddos to farm camp or cooking camp, art classes, firepit picnics, or take in the crisp air on a hike with the whole family. Here are just some of the activities in store for kids and families during winter break. For the full list visit thetrustees.org/febvacation.

SCHOOL VACATION WEEK FIRE PITS AND WINTER CRAFT

SATURDAY-MONDAY, FEB 18-20 | 2-4PM Long Hill, Beverly

FAMILY HIKE AT WORLD’S END MONDAY, FEB 20 | 1-2PM World’s End, Hingham

FAMILY ADVENTURE: OFF THE BEATEN PATH HIKE AT WORLD’S END TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY, FEB 21 & 22 | 10-11AM World’s End, Hingham

CraneExplorer: FAMILY SNOWY OWL PROWL TUESDAY-FRIDAY, FEB 21-24 | 10AM-12NOON Crane Beach on the Crane Estate, Ipswich

CraneExplorer: IT’S A WILD LIFE! WINTER SURVIVAL IN THE DUNES

WEDNESDAY, FEB 22 | 10AM-12NOON

Crane Beach, Ipswich

FEBRUARY BREAK FAMILY YOGA WEDNESDAY, FEB 22 | 11-11:30AM deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln

OPEN BARNYARD AT WEIR RIVER FARM WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, FEB 22 & 23 | 11AM-12NOON Weir River Farm, Hingham

ARTfull FEBRUARY VACATION

WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY, FEB 22-24 | 1-2PM deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln

WILDLIFE TRACKING AT COPICUT WOODS WEDNESDAY, FEB 22 | 1-3PM

Copicut Woods, Fall River

BARNYARD STORY HOUR AT WEIR RIVER FARM WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, FEB 22 & 23 | 10-11AM

Weir River Farm, Hingham

WINTER TRACKING ON THE TRAILS

FRIDAY, FEB 24 | 1-3PM

Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

WILDLIFE TRACKING AT SLOCUM’S RIVER RESERVE FRIDAY, FEB 24 | 1-3PM

Slocum’s River Reserve, Dartmouth

DROP-OFF PROGRAMS

FEBRUARY FARM CAMP AT APPLETON FARMS

MONDAY-FRIDAY, FEB 20-24 | 9AM-3PM Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

KIDDOS IN THE KITCHEN: FEBRUARY VACATION!

MONDAY-THURSDAY, FEB 20-23 | 9AM-12NOON Powisset Farm, Dover

FEBRUARY ON THE FARM (FEBRUARY VACATION WEEK!)

TUESDAY-FRIDAY FEB 20-24 | 9AM-12NOON Chestnut Hill Farm, Southborough

FEBRUARY BREAK: ARTfull VACATION CLASS

TUESDAY-FRIDAY, FEB 21-25 | 9:30-11:30AM deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln

MARCH VACATION CAMP AT APPLETON FARMS

MONDAY-FRIDAY, MAR 20-24 | 9AM-3PM Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

WINTERFESTS

Family fun and games, with firepits, food and drink, and much more. Celebrate the season!

CRANE BEACH WINTERFEST

FRIDAY, FEB 24 | 6-9PM

Crane Beach on the Crane Estate, Ipswich

WINTERFEST AT FRUITLANDS

SATURDAY, FEB 25 | 11AM-4PM

Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

Don’t forget to REGISTER ONLINE FOR YOUR PROGRAM at thetrustees.org/things-to-do

Program details subject to change. For up-to-date event information, or to search for events in your area, at a specific property, by type or by date, click on Things To Do at thetrustees.org.

Use your member code (above your name on your member card) to qualify for member discounts. If you need to find your member code, account information, or look up ticket and registration status for specific programs, visit thetrustees.org/customerservice

IN THE GARDEN

Sharpen your gardening skills this winter with Trustees experts. Learn about composting, garden design, pruning, tool sharpening, seed starting, and more! For our full array of garden workshops, visit thetrustees.org/gardening.

COMPOSTING FOR BEGINNERS

SATURDAY, JAN 21 | 11AM-12NOON Long Hill, Beverly

WINTER FLORAL ARRANGING: DESIGNING OUTSIDE THE BOX, WITH DERBY FARMS

SATURDAY, JAN 28 | 11AM-12:30PM & 1-2:30PM deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln

HERBAL WORKSHOP WITH LIANE MOCCIA

SATURDAY, FEB 11 | 12NOON-2PM

Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, North Andover

DESIGNING YOUR OWN CUTTING GARDEN

SATURDAY, FEB 11 | 1-2PM | Long Hill, Beverly

WINTER PLANT ID WALK

SATURDAY, FEB 18 | 11AM-12:30PM | Long Hill, Beverly

TOOL SHARPENING WORKSHOP

SATURDAY, FEB 25 | 10:30AM-12:30PM Long Hill, Beverly

SEED STARTING AT HOME (ONLINE)

TUESDAY, FEB 28 | 6-7PM Boston Community Gardens, Boston

WINTER PRUNING WORKSHOP

SATURDAY, MAR 4 | 1-3PM | Long Hill, Beverly

WHY DOESN’T MY GARDEN LOOK LIKE THOSE IN THE MAGAZINES?

SATURDAY, MAR 4 | 9AM-12NOON Long Hill, Beverly

GARDENING 101: THE BASICS FOR SUCCESS SATURDAYS, MAR 11-APR 1 | 11AM-12:30PM Long Hill, Beverly

TERRARIUM DESIGN: WORKSHOP WITH DERBY FARMS

SATURDAY, MAR 11 | 11AM-12:30PM & 1-2:30PM

deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln

SPRING PREVIEW FLORAL WORKSHOP

TUESDAY, MAR 14 | 6-7:30PM

Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, North Andover

SPRING FLORAL ARRANGING: WORKSHOP WITH DERBY FARMS

SATURDAY, MAR 25 | 11AM-12:30PM & 1-2:30PM

deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln

SEED STARTING WITH KIDS

SATURDAY, MAR 25 | 10-11AM

City Natives, Boston

MAPLE SEASON

Get ready for some sugary sweetness as we tap our maple trees and fire up the sugar shack! thetrustees.org/maplesugar.

MAPLE SEASON AT APPLETON FARMS SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS, FEB 18-MAR 26 10AM-3PM Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

MAPLE STROLL AT APPLETON FARMS SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS, FEB 18 & 19, FEB 25, MAR 4 & 5, MAR 11 & 12, MAR 18 10-11AM, 11AM-12NOON, 12NOON-1PM Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

MAPLE TAP-A-THON SUNDAY, FEB 26 | 10-11:30AM, 12:30-2PM Chestnut Hill Farm, Southborough

APPLETON FARMHOUSE WORKSHOP: MAPLE MIXOLOGY TUESDAY, MAR 14 | 6-8PM Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

APPLETON FARMHOUSE WORKSHOP: COOKING WITH MAPLE TUESDAYS, MAR 21 & 28 | 6-8 PM Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

MAPLE MADNESS PIZZA POP UP AT THE APPLETON FARMHOUSE SATURDAYS, MAR 4-25 | 12NOON-4PM Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

For a FULL LISTING OF PROGRAMS not shown here, visit thetrustees.org/things-to-do

©TRUSTEES

SAVE THE DATE! HUGH HAYDEN: AMERICAN VERNACULAR OPENS APRIL 2023

Member Preview: FRIDAY & SATURDAY, APR 7 & 8 deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

Field Farm 554 Sloan Road, Williamstown

ROSE B. SIMPSON:

COUNTERCULTURE

THROUGH SPRING 2023

Counterculture is a mixed-media installation that honors generations of marginalized people and cultures whose voices have too often been silenced by colonization. Counterculture consists of twelve 10-foot-tall cast-concrete figures adorned with ceramics and found objects, and is installed along the horizon line of a Field Farm meadow, standing watch

ART ON VIEW

For more information on these and all Trustees exhibitions, visit thetrustees.org/exhibitions.

Fruitlands Museum 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard

WIND FROM THE HILLS THROUGH FEBRUARY 2023

Drawn from Fruitlands’ permanent collection, this exhibition is inspired by select poems from Fruitlands founder Clara Endicott Sears’ 1935 anthology Wind from the Hills and other Poems The galleries feature 19th-century landscape paintings, folk art, Shaker textiles, and Indigenous artworks revealing the complexities of Sears’ artistic interests while reviving her words.

RACHEL HAYES:

THE SCALES OF SINCERITY MARCH 11, 2023–MARCH 1, 2024

Textile artist Rachel Hayes uses nylon, polyester, and cotton segments from earlier projects and stitches them together into abstract art works. Her solo show at Fruitlands Museum features several large, color-block pieces alongside new works.

deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln NEW FORMATIONS THROUGH MARCH 12, 2023 New Formations celebrates human bodies in motion through dance, athletics, and parades.

CAROLINA CAYCEDO: APARICIONES/APPARITIONS THROUGH AUGUST 2023

This haunting video follows a group of Afro-Latinx, Indigenous, and queer individuals as they wander The Huntington Art Galleries, Library, and Botanical Gardens. The piece showcases marginalized experiences that remain absent or buried throughout The Huntington’s collections.

DOWNSTREAM

THROUGH AUGUST 2023

Drawn from deCordova’s permanent collection, Downstream explores environmental ethics through art.

Don’t forget to REGISTER ONLINE FOR YOUR PROGRAM at thetrustees.org/things-to-do

Program details subject to change. For up-to-date event information, or to search for events in your area, at a specific property, by type or by date, click on Things To Do at thetrustees.org.

Use your member code (above your name on your member card) to qualify for member discounts. If you need to find your member code, account information, or look up ticket and registration status for specific programs, visit thetrustees.org/customerservice

PROGRAM REFUNDS/CANCELLATIONS:

In the event that a program is cancelled due to severe weather, low enrollment, or other circumstances, we will notify you as soon as possible by email and issue you a full refund within 14 days of the cancellation. If you cannot attend a program as planned, contact the Trustees property 7 days prior to the start of the program to receive a full refund. Refunds will not be granted for registration cancellations placed fewer than 7 days before the start of the program. There are no refunds for missed classes. The Trustees reserves the right to change program locations, schedules, or instructors when necessary. Note: Summer Camps and our inns and campgrounds each have separate cancellation policies.

Time outside is fundamental to a life well lived.

PHOTO BY KRISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

Cooks has something for everyone, from Sublime Stir Fry! and Fantastic Fromage for adults, to Tots and Kiddos in the Kitchen offerings throughout the season.

SWEET TREATS

Celebrate Valentine’s (and Galentine’s) Day with sweet Trustees things to do! Make Sweet Treats or try Valentine’s Day Mixology at Appleton Farms or a Galentine’s Day Floral Workshop at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover. Go on a Valentine Fire Pit Date Night at Fruitlands Museum, or a Galentine’s Day Hike and Sip at Weir River Farm in Hingham. Experience Romance at the Manse, at The Old Manse in Concord, or settle into a farm-fresh Valentine’s Day Dinner at Appleton Farms or Powisset Farm. Your BFFs and SOs will be tickled pink!

NURTURE YOUR GREEN THUMB

Get ready for the spring growing season— sharpen your gardening skills with Trustees experts. Long Hill in Beverly is your place for all things horticultural, from Composting for Beginners to a Tool Sharpening Workshop and a Winter Plant ID Walk. Or experience the Main House as it comes alive with fragrant blooms and colorful displays during Rooms in Bloom at Long Hill. Our Boston Community Gardens offer Seed Starting at Home and Seed Starting with Kids, and the always popular Gardeners’ Gathering, our annual urban gardening confab. Brighten your world with Winter and Spring Floral Arranging at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln or a Floral Workshop at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover. Your green thumb needs some love this winter!

GO BEHIND THE SCENES

Learn more about the current exhibitions at Trustees museums with a Curatorial Tour at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum and Fruitlands Museum (see page 14 for details). As a Member, you can be the first to see deCordova’s spring exhibition—Hugh Hayden: American Vernacular —during one of our Member Preview days in early April. Soak up some history this winter with special themed tours offered every weekend at The Old Manse in Concord. And now you can

delve more deeply into the works of Emerson and Thoreau and their compatriots with a new Transcendental Reading Group at the Manse, too!

CASTLE HILL IS HOPPING

Far be it for a magnificent site like Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich to go into hibernation this time of year! Don’t miss the special events going on at the Great House— Firelight Nights is a magical evening event in February for grownups, with roaring fire pits and hot adult beverages; and the latest Theatre in the Great House production: Art, a play by Yasmina Reza, takes the stage in March. See pages 14 & 15 for details.

TAKE A BREAK ON BREAK

Trustees has loads of activities for kids on winter break from school. Bring the kiddos to farm camp, cooking camp, art classes, firepit picnics, or take in the crisp air on a hike with the whole family! Visit our Open Barnyard or Barnyard Story Hour at Weir River Farm in Hingham, go on a Family Snowy Owl Prowl with CraneExplorer at Crane Beach in Ipswich or an Off the Beaten Path Hike at World’s End in Hingham. Learn about winter denizens of our woods with Winter Tracking on the Trails at Fruitlands Museum in Harvard or Wildlife Tracking at Slocum’s River Reserve in Dartmouth. Or enjoy ARTfull February Vacation at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, or Fire Pits and Winter Craft at Long Hill in Beverly. There are Drop-Off Programs at three of our farms and at deCordova, as well. Then cap off your week with games, firepits, food and drinks, and loads of family fun at Winterfest at Crane Beach and/or Fruitlands Museum.

There’s so much going on at our reservations this winter that we couldn’t fit them all into our Things To Do listings in the center of this magazine. Be sure to check for more programs, and the latest information and details on all our offerings, at thetrustees. org/things-to-do. And don’t forget to register today… experience the winter magic!

©TRUSTEES

CRs Turn

Fifty years ago, The Trustees of Reservations activated a powerful instrument allowing landowners to safeguard their property’s conservation values forever, while still continuing to own and use their land.

Conservation restrictions (also known as conservation easements in other states) are permanent legal agreements that protect the important natural resources, or conservation values, primarily on privately owned land. Protecting these resources (e.g., water quality, farmland, scenic value, and wildlife habitat) benefits not only the

BY VICTORIA ABBOTT RICCARDI

private landowner, but the public as well. “Conservation restrictions are an absolute must because they encourage people to preserve their land, while at the same time giving them tax benefits,” says Martha’s Vineyard native Kib Bramhall, who has worked with The Trustees since 1968, serving on myriad committees and as a corporate trustee for thirty-four years. Since a conservation restriction may be considered a charitable donation, landowners can attain possible federal tax savings. The appraised value of the restriction may be deducted from the donor’s estate, perhaps reducing

estate taxes. While the restricted property may be sold, the CR runs with the land and will always be binding upon all future owners, heirs, or assigns.

Because Massachusetts has stricter regulations and oversight than most states, the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs must review and approve proposed conservation restrictions. The Board of Selectmen or City Council in the city or town where the land is located must also grant approval. Ultimately, every CR is then recorded at the Registry of Deeds.

GETTING STARTED

The Trustees accepted its first three CRs on December 27, 1972, when Mrs. Muriel Lewis, her brother Richard Saltonstall, and her son George Lewis (who sadly passed away just last spring) generously preserved a portion of their property on the Charles River in Sherborn bordering The Trustees’ first reservation, Rocky Narrows. What was unusual about these CRs was their allowance for trail access by walkers and horseback riders.

“Conservation has always been important for our family, who was fortunate to own a large amount of land in the town of Sherborn but who also wanted to share that land and keep it protected,” says Lisa Lewis, daughter of George Lewis and granddaughter of Muriel Lewis. “My grandparents were big horseback riders, so growing up in Sherborn, we had riders coming through all the time. Now, we have fewer riders and more walkers, so our land along the river affords people a wonderful walk.”

–Sally Naser

Above: Part of the Great Marsh neighboring the Crane Estate in Ipswich is held under multiple conservation restrictions with The Trustees.

Below (l to r): The Trustees’ first CRs bordering Rocky Narrows in Sherborn; an aerial view of Nashawena Island, the Trustees’ largest CR; a photo that appeared in the Winter 1995 issue of Special Places showing (from left) Trustees Land Conservation Committee member Al Creighton, Nashawena landowner Elliott Forbes, Trustees then Director Fred Winthrop, and Nashawena Trust Managing Director Mac Davidson aboard the Trustees Islands boat en route to visit Nashawena Island in October, 1994. (Photo courtesy of The Trustees Archives & Research Center); Wampanoag Common Lands in Kingston.

“

As The Trustees celebrates its 50th anniversary of acquiring its first CRs, the people who should be celebrated are the hundreds of charitable landowners who have partnered with The Trustees to protect their land forever.”

A MOVEMENT GROWS

Nationwide, conservation easements are estimated to protect over 40 million acres of mostly private land—nearly the size of Washington state and approaching half the size of the national park system. To date, The Trustees is the largest private holder of CRs in Massachusetts, protecting 308 properties on over 20,000 acres. The Trustees’ largest conservation restriction is the 1,900 acres of grasslands and coastlines on Nashawena—one of the Elizabeth Islands—which is home to several statelisted species such as Grasshopper Sparrow and Piping Plover, as well as a variety of Tern species and many rare plants.

On Martha’s Vineyard, twenty-three Trustees’ CRs protect a total of 1,956 acres, including the historic Brickyard. Long privately held, The Brickyard was donated to The Trustees several years ago and since has become one of the organization’s newest reservations. It’s a great example of how landowners who have partnered with The Trustees on a CR can deepen their relationship with the organization by eventually donating the protected land to become a reservation. Similarly, since 1972, the Lewis family has donated a portion of those first three CRs in Sherborn to The Trustees, which has expanded the size of Rocky Narrows.

With climate change being an ongoing global crisis, conservation restrictions are a valuable way for land conservation organizations like The Trustees to contribute to the climate struggle, says Wesley Ward, The Trustees’ former long-time Vice President of Land Conservation. “CRs allow much more land to be protected from development, conversion to agriculture, and deforestation at a much lower cost to

the conservation community, towns, and the federal government.” They also align with the federal “30x30” plan to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.

Coastal resiliency has long been an imperative for The Trustees, including under the early leadership of Directors Gordon Abbott Jr. and Fred Winthrop, who used conservation restrictions to help save, heal, and restore forty-one miles of Massachusetts’ shores, marshlands, and coastline. In fact, CRs represent 42% of the state’s coastline that is now being protected by The Trustees.

Trustees-held Conservation Restriction

“Years ago, my wife wrote a book called Seven Gates Farm, The First One Hundred Years,” says Bramhall. “There is a paragraph in it about the day when Seven Gates Farm agreed to turn over 1,126 acres of their land through a conservation restriction with The Trustees. Chuck Schmidt, who was President of the farm, wrote, ‘We hosted a farm party that evening… I will never forget climbing the deck on top of our roof and looking down at all the happy laughing Seven Gaters and feeling we have just accomplished one of the most meaningful things in our lives.’”

This year, plans are underway to conserve between 120 and 260 acres through six potential new CRs, including protecting 32.4 acres of the Wampanoag Common Lands in Kingston.

“As The Trustees celebrates its 50th anniversary of acquiring its first CRs, the people who should be celebrated are the hundreds of charitable landowners who have partnered with The Trustees

to protect their land forever,” says Sally Naser, the Trustees’ Conservation Restriction Stewardship Director. “I am truly humbled to be able to work with all of them, including several Grantors from the [early days of CRs in the] 70s and 80s. They’re an amazing group of people with strong conservation ethics who would do it all over again if the opportunity arose.”

For more information about conservation restrictions through The Trustees, visit thetrustees.org/ontheland.

Victoria Abbott Riccardi is a Newton-based freelance travel, food, and lifestyle writer, and author of Untangling My Chopsticks: A Culinary Sojourn in Japan (Broadway).

Below: Several of the more unique properties that have conservation restrictions held by The Trustees include Myricks Airport in Berkley (left), which contains a rare grass landing strip still in use today; Eastover Farm in Rochester (right), where many acres of cranberry bogs are protected through several CRs; and several ammunition bunkers on one of two CRs at the former Fort Devens military base in the towns of Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley.

PHOTO BY MIKE DUPONT, TAUNTON PILOTS ASSOCIATION

7 TOWNS 9 CAMPS ONE EPIC SUMMER

Whether your kids prefer farms or fields, woods or waves, art-making or culinary creation, an amazing summer awaits! Nine different Trustees camps at some of our most inspiring places, for ages 4-17. Registration for Members opens Thursday, January 12. • Chestnut Hill Farm, Southborough • Crane Estate, Ipswich • deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln

The FARM Institute, Edgartown

Powisset Farm, Dover • Rocky Woods, Medfield • Weir River Farm, Hingham • World’s End, Hingham thetrustees.org/camps

Gaining Momentum

Over the course of nearly five years, The Trustees has focused considerable energy and resources to achieve the ambitious goals of its strategic plan, Momentum. The plan has enabled the organization to rapidly scale its conservation and programming efforts to make more open space available and welcoming to a broader range of the Commonwealth’s residents and visitors, more fully activate and energize some of the organization’s most beloved reservations, and address some of the great environmental challenges of our day, including, among others, the effects of climate change and the pressing need to engage children—our next generation of conservationists—in the wonders of the outdoor world.

Here are just a few highlights of the work initiated by the Momentum plan in the last five years.

DISCOVERY

2,133 OPEN SPACE

Acres of open space added since 2018.

Through the acquisition of critical lands such as Gerry Island, Jewell Hill, Becket Historic Quarry & Forest, and 66 acres at Moraine Farm, as well as taking on management of previously protected areas like Mary Cummings Park, Momentum has enabled The Trustees to establish seven new reservations and add significant acreage to a number of existing reservations—with all now able to be open for everyone, forever.

1,414 RESILIENCY

Acres of salt marsh in line to be restored.

Funding seeded through Momentum is enabling innovative, nature-based remediation efforts to heal the scars of agricultural ditching that date back to colonial times. This work is one of several Trustees initiatives designed to respond to the crisis facing our coast due to the effects of climate change.

CREATIVITY

54%

Audience growth at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.

69,500

Kids engaged in the outdoors in just the last year.

Momentum has enabled The Trustees to add four new summer camps, significantly boost school field trip opportunities, launch Trustees Mobile Adventures (see Special Places, Summer 2022), and provide many more educational and engagement program opportunities—drastically increasing the number of kids the organization is able to engage in the wonders of the outdoor world each year.

Since deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum was integrated into The Trustees in 2019, annual visitation and program participation at this iconic contemporary art mecca has increased by as much as 54%, thanks to investments in art installations and programming made possible by Momentum.

513,950 VITALITY

Bulbs planted at Trustees’ public gardens.

Long Hill (Beverly) and Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens (North Andover) have been completely rejuvenated through Momentum. The Rose Garden at Castle Hill (Ipswich) received a stunning makeover, Naumkeag (Stockbridge) has welcomed more visitors than ever before, and the twelfth Trustees public garden was opened with the addition of Armstrong-Kelley Park (Osterville).

108 INCLUSIVITY

New programs focused on celebrating our rich diversity this year.

Through an organizationwide focus on Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion, and Equity launched in 2020, the Trustees has established a robust and growing selection of new programs to celebrate culture and diversity, programs designed to improve accessibility to our special places, partnerships with community-based organizations that welcome diverse communities, and programs that bring the wonders of the outdoors to the community, so all can experience nature firsthand.

4,696 COMMUNITY

Community participants in the design of Piers Park III in 2022.

Momentum has propelled the Trustees’ work to create iconic and resilient parks along the harborfront in Boston. Work on the first of these critical new open space areas, Piers Park III in East Boston, has involved a series of community-focused discussions, surveys, and design reviews intended to help create a space for and by the residents and businesspeople of East Boston.

Fundraising for Momentum comes to an end in a few months, but the initiatives established through the plan will continue for many years to come. Indeed, while many of these initiatives are just at their earliest stages, their successes signal an even greater need for ongoing support and investment. Your contribution is welcome, before the campaign comes to an end on March 31.

Learn more and add your support at thetrustees.org/momentum.

Bridge Island Meadows, Millis Cedariver, Millis

Charles River Peninsula, Needham Chase Woodlands, Dover

Fork Factor y Brook, Medfield

Medfield Meadow Lots, Medfield Medfield Rhododendrons, Medfield

Noanet Woodlands, Dover

Noon Hill, Medfield

Pegan Hill, Dover and Natick

Peters Reser vation, Dover

Powisset Farm, Dover

Rocky Narrows, Sherborn

Rocky Woods, Medfield

Shattuck Reser vation, Medfield

Creative Service

2022 Volunteer of the Year: Keith Piwowarski

WWhen Keith Piwowarski first inquired about volunteering with The Trustees, it was immediately evident that he was someone who was deeply inspired by the organization’s mission and values. Without much advance notice, he jumped right in and spent a full day taking photos of a property-wide spring volunteer cleanup day at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum—putting everyone at ease as he digitally documented the day.

Soon, Keith began to volunteer to document a wide variety of programs and was quickly recognized as someone who could capture the heart and soul of so many of our people, places, and events. “Keith is passionate about his artistic photography and has a keen eye for the beauty within even the simplest landscape,” says Eileen Small, Trustees

Director of Volunteer Programs. “He is able to capture the joy in the eyes of a small child or partners dancing at an event.” Exemplifying the spirit of volunteering, Keith has served as a true partner and ambassador, working to catalog important scenes and moments while welcoming visitors wherever he goes. He traversed the state photographing everything from a beautiful sunset at the Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate to the Roaring 20s Party at Castle Hill. He has documented Dunes’ Edge Campground’s new bungalows to help with marketing efforts, the shores of the South Coast for the third annual State of the Coast report with the Trustees’ natural resources team, and the site of the Trustees’ soon-to-be first waterfront park in Boston, Piers Park III, on behalf of the One Waterfront initiative.

Wanting to help the organization while improving his photography skills, Keith has quickly evolved from novice enthusiast to true professional, taking sweeping landscape images of coastal and woodland reservations as well as intimate observances of participants in a therapeutic mindfulness hike. His photos have appeared in Special Places and other publications, on the Trustees website and its social media channels, among others.

The Trustees is grateful for the talents Keith has been so willing to share in service to the organization’s mission, as well as his exemplary ability to represent the organization to visitors and program participants he is asked to photograph. We are honored to name Keith Piwowarski as The Trustees’ Volunteer of the Year for 2022.

© ABOVE SUMMIT

PHOTOS BY KEITH JOSEPH PIWOWARSKI

The Trustees is Massachusetts’ largest, and the nation’s first, conservation and preservation nonprofit. We are supported by members, friends, and donors. Explore more than 120 amazing places across Massachusetts, from beaches, farms and woodlands, to historic homes, museums, urban gardens, and more.

Nicie Panetta Interim President & CEO Christine Morin Chief Operating Officer Brian Therrien Chief Financial Officer Edward Wilson Chief, Development &

We invite your input, letters, and suggestions. Please send them to:

Special Places | The Trustees 200 High Street, 4th Floor Boston, MA 02110 tel 978.921.1944

email marketing@thetrustees.org

For information about becoming a Member please contact us at 978.921.1944, email us at membership@thetrustees.org, or visit our website at thetrustees.org.

If you need to find your Member code, account information, or look up ticket and registration status for specific programs, visit thetrustees.org/customerservice

Special Places, Winter 2022-23. Volume 30, Issue Number 4. Special Places (ISSN 1087-5026) is published quarterly and distributed to members and donors of The Trustees of Reservations.

Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved. Photographers may retain copyrights.

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