New Woodlands 4/2/10 2:27 PM Page 1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CONNECTICUT Woodlands CHECKING IN WITH THE FARMERS Gas pipes explode near a hiking trail | Students try hiking the Nipmuck The Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association Spring 2010 Volume 75 No. 1 CONNECTICUT Woodlands The Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association The Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Inc. Officers PRESIDENT, David Platt, Higganum VICE-PRESIDENT, Eric Lukingbeal, Granby VICE-PRESIDENT, Starr Sayres, East Haddam VICE-PRESIDENT, David Sullivan, Haddam TREASURER, Gordon L. Anderson, Glastonbury ASSISTANT TREASURER, James W. Dombrauskas, New Hartford SECRETARY, Eric Hammerling, West Hartford FORESTER, Dan Donahue, Ashford Directors Mark Ashton, New Haven Richard A. Bauerfeld, Branford William Breck, Killingworth Russell L. Brenneman, Westport Rob Butterworth, Haddam George M. Camp, Middletown Scott Livingston Starling W. Childs, Norfolk Blueberries await customers at the Coventry Farmers’ Market. Ruth Cutler, Ashford Laurence Diamond, Coventry Caroline Driscoll, New London Astrid T. Hanzalek, Suffield Connecting People to the Land Annual Membership Jean Crum Jones, Shelton Individual $ 35 The Connecticut Forest & Park Association David Leff, Collinsville Family $ 50 Scott Livingston, Bolton protects forests, parks, walking trails and open Supporting $ 100 Geoffrey Meissner, Southington spaces for future generations by connecting Karen Mignone, Fairfield Benefactor $ 250 people to the land. CFPA directly involves James Ritchie, Sandy Hook Jeff O’Donnell, Bristol individuals and families, educators, community Life Membership $ 2500 Donald L. Snook, Westport leaders and volunteers to enhance and defend Deborah Spalding, Guilford Connecticut’s rich natural heritage. CFPA is a Richard Whitehouse, Glastonbury Corporate Membership private, non-profit organization that relies on Club $ 50 members and supporters to carry out its mission. Honorary Directors Nonprofit $ 75 Harrol W. Baker, Jr., Bolton Richard F. Blake, Milford We envision Connecticut as a place of scenic Sustaining $ 100 Clyde S. Brooks, Gibsonia, PA beauty whose cities, suburbs, and villages are Landmark $ 250 Ann M. Cuddy, Lakeville linked by a network of parks, forests, and trails Stewardship $ 500 Samuel G. Dodd, North Andover, MA easily accessible for all people to challenge the Leadership $1000 John E. Hibbard, Hebron Philip H. Jones, Jr., Shelton body and refresh the spirit. We picture a state Edward A. Richardson, Glastonbury where clean water, timber, farm fresh foods and L.P.Sperry, Jr., Middlebury other products of the land make a significant Sally L. Taylor, Mystic contribution to our economic and cultural Henry H. Townshend, New Haven well-being. Staff Executive Director, Eric Hammerling, West Hartford Connecticut Woodlands Director of Development, James W. Little, Hebron Office Manager, Teresa Peters, Durham Published quarterly by the Printed on recycled paper Financial Management Assistant, Linda Cunningham, Portland Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Trail Stewardship Director, Clare Cain, Niantic 16 Meriden Road, Education Director, Lori Paradis Brant, Rockfall Rockfall, CT 06481-2961. WalkCT Director, Leslie Lewis, Lyme WalkCT Communications Manager, Jennifer Benner, Roxbury Indexed in the Connecticut Periodical Index, Forester & Program Director,Goodwin Forest Center,Steve Broderick, Eastford ISSN 00106257. Membership Coordinator, Martin Gosselin, Durham Telephone: 860-346-2372. Fax: 860-347-7463. EDITOR, Christine Woodside GRAPHIC DESIGNER, Karen Ward E-mail address: [email protected] World Wide Web site: http://www.ctwoodlands.org 2 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Spring 2010 CONNECTICUT Woodlands The Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association Spring 2010 Volume 75 No. 1 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS Contents 6 Checking in with the Farmers. 4 President’s Message. Volunteers make the Public’s enthusiasm for local produce world go round. By David Platt. lessens sting of a dismal economy. By Christine Woodside. 5 Executive Director’s Message. A tough way to make a living. By Eric Hammerling. 10 Fatal Explosion Kills Workers Near Mattabesett Trail. Is it dangerous to 16 Book Reviews. How rocks made hike near industrial sites? Connecticut and the outdoors formed By Christine Woodside. Teddy Roosevelt. Reviewed by David K. Leff and Robert M. Ricard. 12 Try This Hike, Special Edition. 18 WalkCT. New Milford Hospital program Exploring the Nipmuck Trail: connects its townspeople to healthy living. By Leslie Lewis. Ǡ The West Branch and Wolf Rock. By Jeremy Katz. 19 Forester’s Notes. Spring break can include Ǡ Rambling by the reservoir, kettle watching bud break. By Thomas E.Worthley. ponds, and the dam. By John Kennedy. Exploring the New Ǡ North/south junction to Gurleyville 20 On (and Near) the Trails. Gristmill. By Ellis Sant’Andrea. England National Scenic Trail. Ǡ The Fenton River’s industrial past ǠTaking boots to rugged traprock; meet- and trout-laden present. ing with people in some of the 39 towns. By Jack Sullivan. By Clare Cain. ǠCCC Camp Filley designated a state archaeological preserve. By Nicole Chalfant. ǠSpring Trail Races. 21 Obituaries. John Olsen and Douglas Christie. 22 From the Land. Asparagus, the sweet gift of spring. By Jean Crum Jones. 24 Essential Facts of Life. Visiting farms teaches children where food comes from. By Lori Paradis Brant. 26 Environmental Update. News from around the state. On the Cover: Kristin and Peter Orr in front of the sign for their Fort Hill Farms in Thompson. Courtesy of the Orr family Spring 2010 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE About Connecticut Forest Volunteers make the world go round & Park Association and Connecticut Woodlands BY DAVID PLATT The same holds true Magazine on regional and state- ometimes the most obvious bulwarks wide scales. Our youth of society are hidden right in front of are served by Boy you. Volunteerism, and that most Scout and Girl Scout amazing and difficult to describe spirit troops, boys’ and girls’ S behind it, have a tendency to be two clubs, and Big Brother of these. / Big Sister programs. When you stop to think about it, volun- Our less fortunate teers engaged in multifaceted activities per- neighbors are fed by meate the world around us in ways too food pantries, housed numerous to count. I don't know whether by homeless shelters, anyone has ever tried to specifically quantify CFPA President and clothed by other the economic value of the volunteer activities David Platt charities. Increasingly taking place around us, but the sum total rare farmlands and seems to me to be pretty much priceless. forests are being pre- On the world stage, people volunteer their served one vital piece at a time by charitable time and resources for numerous causes, organizations. Our businesses are ably many of which are highly visible. The relief assisted on a multitude of levels by chambers efforts in Haiti and New Orleans, Herculean of commerce and professional organizations. efforts to address disease and famine in third Are all of these efforts 100 percent successful? Connecticut Woodlands is a quarterly world countries, the Peace Corps, and the No, but where would we be without them? magazine published since 1895 by CFPA, the doctors who provide much-needed health In our own little niche, the Connecticut private, non-profit organization dedicaed to care in needy communities are just some Forest & Park Association is no different. conserving the land, trails, and natural examples that we all read about on a regular CFPA members support an enormously capa- resources of Connecticut. basis. But the volunteer efforts that surround ble staff of professionals who run our envi- us in our everyday lives, in our own cities and ronmental education, land conservation, Members of CFPA receive the magazine in the towns, often go unnoticed and underappreci- advocacy, and “people and paths” programs. mail in January, April, July, and October. CFPA ated because we tend to take for granted the However, without our dedicated corps of vol- also publishes a newsletter several times a year. sacrifices and benefits that these activities unteers, our mission—“conserving Connecti- involve. For more information about CFPA, to join cut, connecting people to the land”—would or donate online, visit our newly expanded Stop for a moment and consider what you be unattainable. Members of the CFPA see around you in Connecticut. Although our website, www.ctwoodlands.org, or call Board of Directors, numbering 29 strong, 860-346-2372. towns are run by elected officials and profes- devote scores of hours annually to our strate- sional staffs, so much of the local fabric is knit gic and fundraising work. Our members work Give the gift of membership in CFPA . by the dedicated volunteers. Every town hard on the ground in their communities. Contact Jim Little at 860-346-2372 . body, whether it be a planning and zoning or One shining example of volunteerism at work economic development commission, wet- at its best lies with our trails volunteers. They Advertising Rates for lands agency, or school board, is manned by are charged with the sometimes-daunting Connecticut Woodands volunteers, elected or appointed. Historical task of maintaining our more than 800 miles commissions, land trusts, and chambers of of Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails throughout Half page: commerce all run predominantly on the Connecticut. In 2009 alone, hundreds of $180 per issue / $600 yearly (four issues) energy and commitment of people giving trails volunteers logged more than 12,000 Quarter page: their time