Farm Land in Wonalancet to Be Conserved Wonalancet, the Quiet Intervale at the Conservation Easement on the Property
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Volume X, Issue III Summer 2007 A Quarterly Publication for the Ossipee Watershed Published by the Green Mountain Conservation Group Farm land in Wonalancet to be conserved Wonalancet, the quiet intervale at the conservation easement on the property. north edge of Tamworth is the current In less than two weeks, GMCG was able focus of a significant land conservation to draft and submit a grant application to effort by the Green Mountain United States Department of Agriculture Conservation Group. GMCG has been under the New Hampshire Farm and awarded a matching grant of $228,500 Ranch Land Protection Program of the from the USDA Farm and Ranch Lands Natural Resources Conservation Services. Protection Program, for the purchase of “It was clear from the first meeting with a conservation easement on 88 acres of Helen, that GMCG was very interested in the Birches Intervale Farm (also known helping to conserve this farm land,” said as the Steele Farm.) The property GMCG Executive Director, Blair Folts. includes the sprawling farm fields that “Not only does the land support important border Route 113A in Wonalancet agricultural soils, but the property abuts a Intervale, across the street from the conservation easement that GMCG picturesque Wonalancet Chapel. already holds on 405 acres on Mount The Birches Intervale Farm, with its Katherine. The property is also located open fields, the Wonlancet Chapel, and over an isolated but highly productive the nearby Sandwich Range have long part of the Ossipee Aquifer,” said Folts. been an icon of scenic beauty in the The Natural Resources Conservation White Mountains. GMCG considers Service (NRCS) is very pleased to be part this land conservation project who ran it as a dairy farm. He sold the of this conservation effort. “The significant for many reasons. Not only farm to his step-son Justin Brand who protection of New Hampshire farmland is is it pivotal in linking existing sold it to Whip Farnum. Whip owned it critically important to maintaining the conservation land to the White after WW II and ran it as a dairy and agricultural infrastructure in the State” Mountain National Forest, but this land horse farm. He built the unusual silos said George Cleek, State Conservationist. hosts valuable agricultural soils and is but was unable to maintain the “The Helen Steele Farm, with its highly important from a broader perspective of property. Small farms had already valued agricultural soils, is an excellent conserving crucial farm land in the become almost an impossible dream. example of the quality of farmland the Ossipee Watershed. GMCG needs to Helen Steele’s father, Richard Read, NRCS wants to help place under a raise $496,450 to realize the goal in bought it in the 50's to keep it from being permanent conservation easement.” protecting the Steele Farm. “We are sold for development. Helen bought it in GMCG and local individuals have very excited that the USDA has the 1980s and has run it as a sheep and begun fundraising efforts. The campaign awarded this project $228,500,” hay farm since. kicked off with Bread donated from reported Duane Dale, GMCG Board Helen Steele worked as a teacher for Tamworth resident Peg Loughran which President, “Now, we are hopeful that 41 years to support family and farm. brought in $255 at the Memorial Day at the community will step forward to Helen has continued to look for ways to the Wonalancet Chapel. This day also back this project by helping to raise an be a faithful steward for this beautiful saw a lead gift of $50,000 from a very additional $268,000 to realize the goal piece of Wonalancet. While she has generous anonymous donor committed to of protecting the Birches Intervale managed to continue the hay operation, conservation in Wonalancet. Farm.” tend a small sheep herd and grow two If you would like to make a donation please In the late 19th century, inn-keeper acres of vegetables, she also has been send Checks Payable to and mailed to Kate Sleeper established Birches aware that she had to find a way to Birches Intervale Farm Project–Green Intervale Farm and Wonalancet as conserve the farm in perpetuity. Mountain Conservation Group, c/o Stephen Gaal, Treasurer. PO Box 91, North prime vacation destinations. In the Helen was excited to learn that GMCG was interested in purchasing a Sandwich, NH 03259. or visit gmcg.org. 1930s, the farm was sold to Mr. Collins The Watershed News The Watershed News Special Places The Watershed News is a quarterly publication of the Green Mountain GMCG Accepts Easements in Freedom Conservation Group, a non-profit, 501(c ) 3, charitable organization established in 1997 and dedicated to Editor’s Note: Special Places is a regular the preservation of the natural feature of the Watershed News, highlighting an resources in the Ossipee Watershed. historical or cultural resource within the The towns of Effingham, Freedom, Ossipee Watershed. GMCG continues to Madison, Ossipee, Sandwich and endorse the Land and Community Heritage Tamworth make up the boundaries of Investment Program (LCHIP,) a public-private the Ossipee Watershed. This partnership committed to conservation of New watershed includes one of the largest Hampshire’s natural, cultural and historical and deepest stratified drift aquifers in resources. For more information, on LCHIP New Hampshire. It covers 47 square call 224-4113, or email www.lchip.org. miles and receives drainage from a 330 square mile area. It is a critically The Green Mountain Conservation Group is important resource for existing and very excited to announce the donation of two future community water supplies. conservation easements in Freedom. For over a year, GMCG has worked with Freedom GMCG’s purpose is twofold: resident, Penny Vestner to create two separate 1. To provide an organizational conservation easements on her beautiful explained Penny as we signed the easement in structure for a coalition of property on Old Portland Road. When Penny June in this very field. citizens and local officials first contacted GMCG, she was focused on “It is never dull living on the edge of this interested in identifying sensitive creating one conservation easement on the field. The winter sunsets fill the western sky. areas within the Watershed in lovely 20 acre field in front of her farm. As the The lake evaporation rising delineates the need of protection; process continued she realized that she was also pine plantation, and the snow falls on Green 2. To offer public educational very committed to seeing the 100 acre wood lot Mountain announcing the weather.” events about conservation issues behind her home conserved. In 1998, the Kennett Family offered the and possible solutions regarding According to Penny, Lt. Col. Eliot Vestner Rogers 101-acre woodlot to Penny and she the preservation of unique and Priscilla came to Freedom in 1955 and purchased it as a way to preserve it as open natural resources. purchased the house, surrounding fields and a space and animal habitat. She was also small shore lot from Dr. Albert Rogers. They interested in seeing that sustainable forestry Through research, education, bartered with various farmers to put their cattle would be practiced on the land. “I wanted to advocacy and land conservation we on the front field in exchange for keeping the make sure that the land would continue to be strive to promote an awareness and fence repaired and the field healthy. Later, the a peaceful home for animals and birds. Dr. appreciation of our watershed’s Vestners were thrilled when Arthur Nason of Rogers oversaw the planting of 6,000 trees in natural resources and encourage a Effingham brought his beautiful retired race stands of specific species and I wanted to commitment to protect them. horses to foal there – a gorgeous sight. make sure that proper forestry would continue Next, Alan Fall family brought their sheep to to be practiced on the woodlot,” Penny said. Board of Directors cultivate the field in succession. The Falls' “I am extremely thankful that the Green Duane Dale, President unique oxen of various colors and sizes did a Mountain Conservation Group will now David Little, Vice President superior job of bringing the field back. Finally monitor this land, it will be preserved Stephen Gaal, Treasurer a pair of their huge white oxen appeared in Mel forever.” Noreen Downs, Secretary Gibson's movie 'Patriot. Under Alan’s tutelage GMCG is very grateful to Penny for her Nat Scrimshaw, Education Coordinator the 4H kids came regularly and learned a lot vision of conservation on these lands. GMCG Town Representatives about farming. would also like to extend an enormous thank Effingham, Emelyn Albert Over the years, Penny has watched vehicles you to Land Conservation Volunteer, Theresa Freedom, Greg Bossart slow down to see what may be in the field: Swanick who spent hundreds of hours Madison, Dan Stepanauskus Deer, fox, coyote, bear, the smaller mammals working with Penny and GMCG to create Ossipee, Elizabeth Gillette like woodchuck, winter ferret and birds: Marsh these two easements. We would also like to Sandwich, Peter Pohl hawks, bobolink, bluebirds, turkeys, red-winged extend a thank you to Sue Hoople for her help Tamworth, C. Scott Aspinall blackbirds and above, herons, loons, and owls. at the Registry. Thank you all! Maine, Dennis Finn “One September day a pair of moose rolled over on the freshly-hayed field, Staff To learn more about Executive Director, Blair Folts scratching their backs, hoofs in the air – taking Conservation Easements visit www.gmcg.org Program Director, Tara Schroeder turns as a look-out near the road. Later, they headed down to Loon Lake. Unbelievable,” 2 The Watershed News Ossipee protects environ ment with new regulations BY ROBERT GILLETTE comparing and contrasting site plan review emphasize preservation of existing natural regulations from other communities in the vegetation on development sites and include The Ossipee Planning Board, drawing on Ossipee Watershed.