The article describes the conservation of Walnut Hill Farm in Wake County, North Carolina, which has been in the Williamson family for over 225 years. The sisters Sally Greaser and Betty Brandt Williamson spent much of their childhood on the farm, where their father Bailey dutifully farmed the land. Though farming was financially challenging, their father felt most at home on the farm and deeply valued being a good steward of the land. The sisters have worked to permanently protect the family farm through a conservation easement to honor their family's agricultural legacy and preserve the land for future generations.
Reiser Relief Inc. is a volunteer run non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded by Father Bernard Reiser of Coon Rapids, MN, its mission is to help the impoverished people of the Caribbean country of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Reiser Relief projects are located in Cite Soleil (a shanty town located in Port-au-Prince), Les Pinasse (a mountain village located two hours south of Port-au-Prince) and Titanyen (a coastal village located about one hour north of Port-au-Prince).
http://www.reiserrelief.com.
Donations can be made to Reiser Relief, Inc.’s Haiti Earthquake Relief by visiting
http://www.razoo.com/story/Haiti-Earthquake-Relief.
We make choices every day in what we do and how we do it. Take a look at the people and organizations who led the way in environmental stewardship in Saskatchewan in 2016.
20 Years Part II - Your Stories & Why I Plant Trees AdsFriends of Trees
Part II of Friends of Trees' 20th anniversary slide show presents stories and photos from the people who plant with Friends of Trees and the Why I Plant Trees ads printed in The Oregonian, our 20th anniversary sponsor, during the past two years.
Reiser Relief Inc. is a volunteer run non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded by Father Bernard Reiser of Coon Rapids, MN, its mission is to help the impoverished people of the Caribbean country of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Reiser Relief projects are located in Cite Soleil (a shanty town located in Port-au-Prince), Les Pinasse (a mountain village located two hours south of Port-au-Prince) and Titanyen (a coastal village located about one hour north of Port-au-Prince).
http://www.reiserrelief.com.
Donations can be made to Reiser Relief, Inc.’s Haiti Earthquake Relief by visiting
http://www.razoo.com/story/Haiti-Earthquake-Relief.
We make choices every day in what we do and how we do it. Take a look at the people and organizations who led the way in environmental stewardship in Saskatchewan in 2016.
20 Years Part II - Your Stories & Why I Plant Trees AdsFriends of Trees
Part II of Friends of Trees' 20th anniversary slide show presents stories and photos from the people who plant with Friends of Trees and the Why I Plant Trees ads printed in The Oregonian, our 20th anniversary sponsor, during the past two years.
A guide to the San Jose neighborhood of Willow Glen, complete with school information, a walking tour featuring local architectural highlights, restaurants and local interest. This is a great resource for anyone thinking of relocating to Silicon Valley and looking for unique architecture, a neighborhood feel and walkability
.
Even the most conscientious motorist can have significant difficulties driving in nighttime conditions. Not only does the lack of sunlight reduce motorists’ ability to see, but the darkness can affect a variety of other details as well. For more details, please visit - http://applelawoffices.com/common-night-driving-risks/
Even the most conscientious motorist can have significant difficulties driving in nighttime conditions. Not only does the lack of sunlight reduce motorists’ ability to see, but the darkness can affect a variety of other details as well. For more details, please visit - http://applelawoffices.com/common-night-driving-risks/
A guide to the San Jose neighborhood of Willow Glen, complete with school information, a walking tour featuring local architectural highlights, restaurants and local interest. This is a great resource for anyone thinking of relocating to Silicon Valley and looking for unique architecture, a neighborhood feel and walkability
.
Even the most conscientious motorist can have significant difficulties driving in nighttime conditions. Not only does the lack of sunlight reduce motorists’ ability to see, but the darkness can affect a variety of other details as well. For more details, please visit - http://applelawoffices.com/common-night-driving-risks/
Even the most conscientious motorist can have significant difficulties driving in nighttime conditions. Not only does the lack of sunlight reduce motorists’ ability to see, but the darkness can affect a variety of other details as well. For more details, please visit - http://applelawoffices.com/common-night-driving-risks/
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 million people are involved in car accidents each year. There are a variety of factors that contribute to car accidents in the United States, but three factors in particular lead to an outsized proportion of these potentially devastating events. Drunken driving, Speeding and Distracted driving are the top three causes of car accidents in United States. For more details, please visit - http://applelawoffices.com
Balangiga Massacre was an incident in 1901 in the town of the same name during the Philippine–American War. It initially referred to the killing of about 48 members of the US 9th Infantry by the townspeople allegedly augmented by guerrillas in the town of Balangiga on Samar Island during an attack on September 28 of that year.
SoUTHErN STorMA hUrriCAne’s LeGACYWe’LL BUiLD BACK Bette.docxwilliame8
SoUTHErN STorM
A hUrriCAne’s LeGACY:
“We’LL BUiLD BACK Better”
MARCH/APRIL 2006
A GroWING TrENd
FArMinG Moves
to the BiG CitY
h o r i z o n s | J O U R N E Y T O G R E E N E R B E G I N N I N G S
Dear
Friends …
By Jo Luck
President and CEO
inspire other organizations to build green-
er futures too. As citizens of the Earth,
we must be purposeful in our efforts to
conserve natural resources. At Heifer, we
are proud to be a leader in environmen-
tal preservation and restoration, at home
and especially in our project work.
Many people are familiar with Heifer’s
livestock projects, but some are unaware
of our work in agroecology, which is just as
important to help families lift themselves
from poverty to self-reliance.
Heifer project participants learn which
crops grow best in their environment,
how to use natural fertilizers, and
how to conserve and improve soil and
water conditions.
In Peru, for example, families in the
dry tropical forest receive seeds, tree
saplings and training on managing
natural resources. Project participants in
the Andean mountain communities learn
how to reforest their lands and how to
use terracing to grow crops on the steep
hillsides of their villages.
I have no doubt that Heifer’s
agroecology initiatives in the field and
our commitment to conserve, recycle
and educate in our own backyards
will make an enormous difference
by making the world a better place.
Thank you for supporting Heifer in our
collective journey to greener beginnings
for future generations.
S
pring is the season of hope,
when the bareness of winter
gives way to the wonderment of
new beginnings. In March, as
nature unfolds her colorful blossoms
and awakened trees, Heifer will unveil
a “greener” beginning at the dedication
of the new Heifer International World
Headquarters. This dedication marks the
tremendous progress of our work to end
hunger and poverty and our efforts to
heal and replenish the environment.
Heifer’s new headquarters is no
ordinary building—it’s a “green” building,
showcasing many environmentally friendly
features. Caring for the environment is a
journey, not a destination—and it plays a
pivotal role in Heifer’s ongoing mission.
We are practicing what we preach by
building a headquarters that conserves
water through a tower that collects and
uses rain for flushing toilets. We also
save energy because the sun is the main
source of interior lighting, thanks to the
building’s narrow width.
Walkways, countertops and tile floors
are made of recycled materials, includ-
ing tires, bricks from abandoned ware-
houses and glass from discarded soda
bottles. The location is a living exam-
ple of sustainable development—the
headquarters is built on a restored
industrial brownfield, land that was
once tainted by pollutants and hazard-
ous contaminants.
Adjacent to the Clinton Presidential
Library, the Heifer International
World Headquarters is highly
visible.
Sharing our Stores in New Media, Technologies, Tourism and More: Wild RiceDeborah McLaren
Sharing our Stores in New Media, Technologies, Tourism and More: Wild Rice
presentation by Deborah McLaren, American Indian and Native Alaskan Tourism Association Conference, Oct 2008, Couere D'Alene.
Describes the goals behind our 1,000 Backyard Farm campaign, along with a brief review of several other similar local food movements, economic implications, and ideas for the new backyard farmer association.
What Happens When Native People Lose Their Traditional Foods .docxphilipnelson29183
What Happens When Native People Lose Their Traditional Foods?
What Happens When Native People Lose Their Traditional Foods?
by Deborah Small
November 17, 2016
Purepecha public health worker Abe Sanchez
gathers chia seeds. | Photo: Deborah Small
“The revitalization of tradition is much more
complex than people can imagine. It really is a
process that reaches far into the silenced
knowing. Recovering from intergenerational
historical trauma is something that continues
to seep into the lives of California Indians
today. Growing, nurturing, harvesting, and
preparing native foods not only feed and renew the body—they feed the mind, the soul, the
dreamtime of the people. Most importantly, our practices contribute to the healing of our
common relative, our Mother Earth, and right now, she is sick and unable to attract all the
beauty of the universe to come to her. And if our Mother Earth is sick, so are we, simply
because we are part of her.” —Cindi Alvitre, Tongva educator, Chia Café Collective
The native people I have worked with in southern California for the past 16 years have a
profound spiritual connection to the land through their ancestors and their long history of living
on the land. They pay homage to plants and consider them as their teachers. They’re dedicated
to passing on what they know to others. All stress our interdependence with other species. All
have a fierce devotion to revitalizing their culture as part of the larger cultural revitalization
sweeping California.
Cahuilla/Apache elder Lorene Sisquoc describes a reciprocal relationship with the plants and the
land. “The plants are waiting for us to come take care of them so they can take care of us.
In Temalpakh, Katherine Saubel writes that the Cahuilla word for an oak grove, meki'i'wah,
means ‘the place that waits for me.’ It’s our responsibility to take care of the land, to get out
there and gather, to sing songs, tell stories, do ceremony, share our laughter and our language.
To preserve our oral traditions by passing our knowledge to our kids and grandkids. It’s
important that they start learning very young. Taking care of the plants helps make our families
healthy. We’re working hard to heal our communities by deepening our connection to the land.”
Sisquoc is a founding member of the Chia Café Collective, or CCC, a grassroots group of
southern California tribal members and their allies committed to the revitalization of native
foods, medicines, culture and community. Their work to revitalize native foods honors the vast
traditional knowledge and spiritual relationship to the land, and explores the nutritive and
medicinal bounty the land offers us.
Through workshops, classes, demonstrations, and native foods celebrations, the CCC focus on
ways to re-incorporate native food plants into their daily diets to take back responsibility for
their health and well-being. Their work helps others to reconnect with the land through
ga.
The Georgia-Alabama Land Trust's annual publication which profiles land conservation in the southeast. The Georgia-Alabama Land Trust's mission is protecting land for present and future generations.
Reiser Relief Inc. is a volunteer run non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded by Father Bernard Reiser, who has been involved with Haiti outreach programs for over 13 years; Bringing Hope To Haiti. Reiser Relief is based in Coon Rapids, MN and its mission is to help the impoverished people of the Caribbean country of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The social and environmental problems are the greatest challenges the people of Haiti are facing today.
In the midst of these problems, we are compelled to provide the essential services to aid in day-to-day survival. The services we provide include: fresh water delivery, food centers, and housing, primary grade education and eldercare facilities. Many projects are in or near Cite Soleil; the suburb of the Haitian capital of Port au Prince.
http://reiserrelief.com/
Technical expectations- 300 – 350 words one each- double sp.docxrudybinks
Technical expectations:
- 300 – 350 words one each
- double spaced
- in a 12 point non serif font (Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Candara, Verdana are some examples)
Paper expectations:
This paper is not a formal essay or term paper. This paper is not a summary, an opinion or a simple response. The objective of this paper is to allow students to show they have an understanding of course concepts and can apply them to current social conditions. It will include the following conditions:
- After reading one of the articles on Blackboard, students will consider 2 concepts from this course that can be applied to the article. These concepts will be defined according to the definitions in this class. No dictionary, encyclopedia or other source definitions are acceptable.
- Papers will NOT have:
— introduction
— opinion
— citations
— references
- Each paper must include 3 quotes from the article.
Format of the paper:
- Paragraph 1: Identify and define the first of the two concepts you will be applying.
— note: The definitions MUST come from either our textbook or class notes. Papers using dictionary, Wikipedia, etc definitions will not be read.
- Paragraph 2: Identify and define the second of the two concepts you will be applying.
— note: The definitions MUST come from either our textbook or class notes. Papers using dictionary, Wikipedia, etc definitions will not be read.
- Paragraphs 3 and 4: Show how each of these concepts can be applied to the article you’ve read.
paper 1 reading: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/rampage/wp/2016/05/07/ivy-league-economist-interrogated-for-doing-math-on-american-airlines-flight/?utm_term=.d9c4e8c06b49
paper 2 reading:
https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2018/06/01/75-years-ago-zoot-suit-riots-marked-a-dark-period-in-southern-california-history/
paper 3 reading:
https://www.sbsun.com/2018/02/15/neo-nazi-fliers-delivered-on-san-bernardino-doorsteps-have-residents-floored/
paper 4 reading:
What Happens When Native People Lose Their Traditional Foods? by Deborah Small November 17, 2016 Purepecha public health worker Abe Sanchez gathers chia seeds. | Photo: Deborah Small “The revitalization of tradition is much more complex than people can imagine. It really is a process that reaches far into the silenced knowing. Recovering from intergenerational historical trauma is something that continues to seep into the lives of California Indians today. Growing, nurturing, harvesting, and preparing native foods not only feed and renew the body—they feed the mind, the soul, the dreamtime of the people. Most importantly, our practices contribute to the healing of our common relative, our Mother Earth, and right now, she is sick and unable to attract all the beauty of the universe to come to her. And if our Mother Earth is sick, so are we, simply because we are part of her.” —Cindi Alvitre, Tongva educator, Chia Café Collective The native people I have worked with in southern California for the past 16 y ...
2. Recently, I returned from a family
reunion held on the farm that
has been in my family for three
generations in Upstate New York.
These 400 acres of rolling hills
produce feed for the cows that
supply milk for Cabot Cheese, and
we are preparing to celebrate the 100th
anniversary
since my great grandparents purchased the farm in
1916. At these gatherings, we remember relatives who
walked the land but are no longer with us, reconnect
with our heritage, and the cousins of my generation
talk about how we will steward the farm in the
generations to come.
Experiences we have on our own family lands or at
special natural areas are often cornerstones of our
traditions. Whether it’s gatherings at long-held family
lands, beach or mountain vacations, visits to a favorite
park or greenway, or produce purchased at a local farm,
land so often plays a critical role in grounding our
traditions and our sense of place in our community.
TLC serves a key role in our community by helping
ensure as the Triangle grows and matures into a major
metropolitan area our region’s “livability” remains
high (and even increases in many communities) by
providing rich opportunities to easily access open
space, parks, trails, and rivers. To do so requires
foresight, planning and investment. I was overjoyed to
see in November that residents of the City of Raleigh
and the Town of Wake Forest voted to pass $92 million
and $41 million, respectively, to support greenways
and parks. With the recent decrease in state and federal
funding for open space protection, it is increasingly up
to local municipalities to protect open spaces in our
communities, and TLC is here to partner with them!
Triangle Land Conservancy, and our steadily increasing
community of supporters, is here to champion the
importance of open space for ensuring clean water,
supporting farms and food, connecting people with
nature and protecting iconic natural lands. The future
generations of our families will most certainly thank us
for our efforts, as we appreciate the spectacular parks
and trails that generations before us established.
Happy Holidays,
Betsy Bennett, Orange County
Tom Bradshaw, Wake County
Patty Briguglio, Wake County
Jack Clayton, Wake County
Josie Scott Dorsett, Wake County
Pam Hemminger, Vice-Chair, Orange County
Chris Hitt, Secretary, Orange County
Alan Hughes, Wake County
Russell Killen, Wake County
Michael Mankowski, Orange County
John McAdams, Chair, Orange County
Sepi Saidi, Wake County
Delphine Sellars, Durham County
Mark Soticheck, Treasurer, Wake County
Larry Tombaugh, Past Chair, Wake County
Dean Urban, Durham County
Staff
Chad Jemison, Executive Director
Katherine Baer, Director of Conservation
Ben Blankenship, CFO & Director of Administration
Diana Hackenburg, Communications Manager
Robert (Bo) Howes, Associate Director of Conservation
Paula Mazzanti, Development Operations Manager
Kyle Obermiller, Land Maintenance Technician
Matt Rutledge, Associate Manager of Stewardship
Sandy Sweitzer, Director of Development
Tonya Taylor, Community Engagement Coordinator
Walt Tysinger, Senior Land Manager
Board of Directors
- Director’s Note -
514 S. Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
919-908-8809
www.triangleland.org
Chad Jemison
TLC Executive Director
Connect with Chad on
Twitter @ChadJemsion
Family, Generations and the Land
3. Vision
We see the Triangle region as an increasingly healthy and vibrant place to live where wild and working lands
are protected and everyone has access to open space, clean water, and local food.
Mission
TLC strives to create a healthier and more vibrant Triangle region by safeguarding clean water, protecting
natural habitats, supporting local farms and food, and connecting people with nature through land protection
and stewardship, catalyzing community action, and collaboration.
Features
4 Busy Schedules Don’t Keep the Scislowicz
Family from Getting Outside
5 Honoring a Land’s Legacy: The Conservation of
Walnut Hill Farm
10 Wild Ideas - a Triangle Land Conservancy Series
On the cover: Walnut Hill at Dawn
by Diana Hackenburg, October 2014
News & Notes
2 Director’s Note: Family, Generations and the Land
8 TLC Members Elect Board of Directors for
2014-2015
8 Two New Staff Members Join TLC
9 Stakeholders Key to Developing Strategic Plan
9 Remembering B. B. Olive
9 Partnership Conserves 83 Acres to Protect Clean
Water Supply
11 Upcoming Events: MLK Day of Service
-Table of Contents -
Conservation Connections Winter 2014 | 3
Wild Yam at Horton Grove Nature Preserve by Diana Hackenburg, October 2014
- AboutTriangle Land Conservancy -
4. Elise, a bright and spirited 6-year-old, normally
wakes up on Saturday mornings eager to
get outside and play. Unfortunately, a broken leg
temporarily sidelined her from joining her parents and
sister Quinn (3) on their usual outdoor adventures.
Like Elise, most of us take for granted our mobility
much in the same way we do not give a second thought
to how quickly the natural landscapes around us may
change if not permanently protected. Having seen this
play out near their own backyard prompted Elise’s
parents, Jana and Jason Scislowicz, to lend their
financial support to TLC.
“It is nice to be able to give to a local organization
whose work is so tangible,” remarked Jason. “We are
very fortunate to have so many protected natural
places close to where we live.”
Proud southerners, Jana and Jason moved to Raleigh
from Washington, D.C. twelve years ago to escape the
concrete jungle and to be closer to their families. Jason,
a competitive cyclo-cross biker, works as Vice President
for BridgePoint General Contracting in Durham, a firm
focused on fit-ups, interior and historic renovations,
and other similar property reuse projects. A former
French teacher, Jana works
for RTI in their International
Development Group, a
position which has given her
unique insights into global
environmental issues.
“When I’ve had colleagues
visit the area from Haiti they
are amazed by the number of
trees,” Jana explains. “Some
of them have never seen a
forest before.”
The Scislowicz family is
fortunate to be surrounded
by trees at their North
Raleigh home, but they
also spend a lot of their free time exploring the area’s
diverse natural settings. Jana and Jason enjoy the
exercise and fresh air while the young girls find plenty
of entertainment in examining rocks and listening to
nearby owls and coyotes.
“Hiking in nearby parks is an easy way for us to
get outside while the girls are young,” shared Jana.
“When Elise talks to her friends about going on hikes,
many of them don’t have any similar experiences to
share. Being outside was always part of my youth,
and I want that for my kids too.”
Jana’s parents not only
instilled a love for
hiking and camping in
their daughter, they also
inspired her family’s
support of TLC.
“Seeing her parents contribute to organizations and be
good stewards of their legacy inspired us to emulate
their success,” described Jason. Jana added, “Not only
did they pass down their love of the outdoors, but
they also passed down their philanthropic intent.”
4 | Conservation Connections Winter 2014
- Meet Our Supporters -
Busy Schedules Don’t Keep the Scislowicz Family from Getting Outside
Jason, Quinn, Jana, and Elise Scislowicz pose for a family photo (credit: Tierrey Farrell)
“Being outside was
always part of my
youth, and I want
that for my kids too.”
5. Conservation Connections Winter 2014 | 5
- Feature Story -
Sun breaks over the horizon on a crisp winter’s morning. Mom and dad, still
bundled in their thick night-robes, brew a pot of coffee or tea while the
children begin stirring in their beds. Soon, the house buzzes with the excitement
of Christmas Day and the promise of gifts, food and family. However, the
attention suddenly shifts from indoors to the frosty grounds outside when dad
announces ‘it’s time.’ The whole family quickly bundles up and marches out to a
red-painted barn where they watch in amazement as a baby calf is born; a true
Christmas miracle not entirely uncommon 100 years ago when one out of every
two people lived in rural areas or even just as recently as 40 or 20 years ago.
For Sally Greaser and Betty Brandt Williamson, this is a real, not-so-distant
memory of spending parts of their youth at Walnut Hill Farm in southern Wake
County with their parents, Bailey and Sara Williamson. While the family’s
primary residence was in Raleigh, the sisters spent plenty of time, including
whole summers, out on the farm. Their father, Bailey, dutifully farmed the land,
following in the footsteps of his father before him. In fact, the land known as
Walnut Hill has been in the Williamson family for over 225 years.
“In elementary school, I would bring in a paper bag with barley and oats to
show my class what was grown on our farm,” remembered Sally. Over the years,
their father also grew wheat, oats, cotton, and tobacco on the farm. Betty Brandt
recalled how the crops changed over time depending on the costs of labor
and on the shifting markets. Eventually, their father rented the land instead
of planting it himself because as Betty Brandt recalled, it was the “middleman
making the money.” Their father often lamented that “farming was an honorable
way to live, but a terrible way to make a living.”
Despite the economic pitfalls and long hours required, Bailey Williamson felt
most at home on the farm. “He felt closer to God down there on the farm
than sitting on a pew in church,” explained Sally. Betty Brandt added, “Dad
could have had an easier life, but he loved the land. He talked often about being
connected to nature and being a good steward of the earth.” Their mother, Sara,
shared a similar land ethic, but devoted her energies to historic preservation
projects in Raleigh. Together, the parents and sisters embarked on what would
become a 12-year-long process to permanently protect Walnut Hill Farm.
Honoring a Land’s Legacy:
The Conservation of Walnut Hill Farm
continued on next page...
6. Since 1960, Wake County’s population has swelled
from just 169,000 people to over 1 million residents
this past August. During this time of growth, families
shifted away from traditional farming communities to
more urban and suburban lifestyles. Ordinary
people, like the Williamsons, began to see the
effects of such profound growth on the landscape
as parts of the historic Walnut Hill Farm were
swallowed by development. Bailey and Sara wondered
how they might protect the agricultural and natural
legacy of the farm long after they were gone.
This desire to keep the land from being developed
led the family to initially approach Triangle Land
Conservancy back in the early 2000s. Unfortunately,
the process of conserving a property isn’t always
straightforward, it varies considerably depending upon
the conservation values of the property, the landowner
and their goals, the partner organization(s) involved,
and the chosen conservation method.
For the Williamson family, the value of permanently
protecting their property was immediately evident.
Walnut Hill Farm’s high-quality soils once supported
over 2,700 acres of farming, making it once one of
the biggest agricultural operations in Wake County.
Consequently, part of the farm, along with the
neighboring property to the east, was officially listed on
the National Historic Register in October 2000 as the
Walnut Hill Historic District.
In addition to its agricultural and historical
significance, Walnut Hill Farm contains contiguous,
unfragmented forests as well as several streams that
drain into Marks’ Creek and the Neuse River. NC
DENR has identified the southwest portion of the
property as a Natural Heritage Site. The property is
also adjacent to the Riverwalk conservation tract to
the south, which is owned by the State and under a
stewardship management agreement with the Town of
Clayton. The Riverwalk tract links Walnut Hill Farm
to the Neuse River and the Neuse River Greenway, a
segment of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
While seeing the conservation values of Walnut Hill
Farm was easy, finding the right conservation method
and resources proved more difficult. The original
plan was to place the property under conservation
easements in separate phases, but unfortunately,
Mr. Bailey Williamson passed just weeks before the
planned signing of the first easement. Following his
passing, a new plan for permanently protecting Walnut
Hill Farm developed as TLC continued working to
create a shared vision and commitment to open space
protection amongst local partners and communities.
This new vision, to purchase the property for future
use as a public nature preserve, was finally realized in
October 2013. The future preserve was made possible
by investments from the Wake County and Johnston
County Boards of Commissioners; private donations
made to Triangle Land Conservancy’s Our Water,
Our Land campaign; North Carolina’s Clean Water
Management Trust Fund, and the Environmental
Enhancement Grant Program; and of course, the
unfailing generosity and foresight of the Williamson
family (see next page for a list of resources contributed).
6 | Conservation Connections Winter 2014
-The Conservation ofWalnut Hill Farm continued -
Bailey Williamson at Walnut Hill Farm circa 1960
(photo courtesy of the Williamson family)
The Conservation
“He felt closer to God down there on the
farm than sitting on a pew in church.”
7. Conservation Connections Winter 2014 | 7
TLC is now working to solidify the vision for the future
of Walnut Hill Farm as a preserve with the intention of
opening the property for public access within 4-7 years.
Both Sally and Betty Brandt are interested in making
sure the property’s future honors its agricultural past.
“I want visitors to understand the history of the area,
what farming meant to the community,” suggested
Sally. Betty Brandt added that she’s excited to “see
how today’s farmers mix old techniques with new
knowledge,” but worries “they can’t afford the land” to
pursue their late father’s “noble lifestyle.”
Thus, similar to TLC’s Irvin Farm, Walnut Hill could
become a hub for TLC to host community partnerships
that foster agriculture, similar to our work with
Transplanting Traditions, an organization providing
refugees with access to land for growing fresh food at
Irvin Farm.
Both Sally and Betty Brandt
agree that giving people
access to the farm fits with
their parents’ wishes. “I
want it to be open to the
citizens,” affirms Sally.
For her, “this project is
about encouraging others
to preserve open space and enjoy the outdoors for
generations to come. It is a place where families can
come and spend time together.” Besides the potential
for trails within the preserve, the ultimate design may
also include linking Walnut
Hill Farm to the nearby
Neuse River Greenway,
a connection that could
certainly draw in visitors
near and far to the farm.
Like the many lessons
bestowed by parents Bailey
and Sara while on the
farm, Betty Brandt hopes Walnut Hill confers upon
its visitors “an appreciation for nature. Dad and mom
would say that there are things more important than
money and that money can’t buy happiness. Seeing
the beautiful vistas, the stars, and hearing the wind –
those are things you can easily take for granted.”
Thankfully, the Williamson family, through many years
of hard work and with great determination, has given
our community an opportunity to experience this land
for themselves, for generations to come.
Resources Contributed to the Conservation
ofWalnut Hill Farm
Wake County $1,600,000
Clean Water Management Trust Fund $700,000
Triangle Land Conservancy $400,000
(derived from the OWOL Capital Campaign)
Johnston County $231,000
Environmental Enhancement Grant Program $121,000
+ the tremendous generosity of the Williamson Family
Total cost for what will become a 410-acre public nature
preserve that safeguards clean water, protects natural
habitats, honors the region’s agricultural heritage, and
connects people with nature? PRICELESS.
Sara and Bailey Williamson
For more information and
photos related to Walnut Hill
Farm, scan the code at left
with your phone or visit
triangleland.org/walnuthill
(photocourtesyoftheWilliamsonfamily)
The Future
“Dad and mom would say that
there are things more important
than money and that money can’t
buy happiness. Seeing the beautiful
vistas, the stars, and hearing the
wind – those are things you can
easily take for granted.”
8. As a nonprofit, TLC is governed by a volunteer
Board of Directors, nominated by TLC’s Nominating
Committee and elected by the general membership.
During the last board election held in June 2014,
our members elected ten new board members and
reappointed two sitting members.
New Board members include: Betsy Bennett of Orange
County, Strategic Counsel for CapDev and former
Director of the North Carolina Museum of Natural
Sciences; Patty Briguglio of Wake County, President of
PFB Connect; Jack Clayton of Wake County, Regional
President for Wells Fargo Triangle East Community
Banking; Josie Scott Dorsett of Wake County, founder
and CEO of OrgAMI, LLC.; Pam Hemminger of
Orange County, Chair of the Upper Neuse River Basin
Authority; Christopher Hitt of Orange County, former
President of Whole Foods Market; Alan Hughes of
Wake County, Executive Vice President and COO
at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina;
Russell Killen of Wake County, Mayor of the Town of
Knightdale and Partner at Parker Poe; Sepideh (Sepi)
Saidi of Wake County, President and Owner of SEPI
Engineering and Construction; and Mark Soticheck
of Wake County, Senior Vice President and COO of
Fidelity Bank.
Re-elected Board members include: Tom Bradshaw
of Wake County, former Mayor of Raleigh and retired
co-head of the transportation group of Citigroup
Global Markets, and Michael Mankowski of Orange
County, Senior Director of Corporate Development
at Quintiles Transnational.
A complete list of board members can be found on
page 2 of this issue of Conservation Connections and
online at triangleland.org/board.
- News & Notes -
TLC is proud to announce the recent hiring of Kyle
Obermiller as Stewardship Maintenance Technician
and Diana Hackenburg as Communications Manager.
Kyle is from western North Carolina and graduated
from NC State University with a degree in Natural
Resources Systems Assessment. Since June, Kyle
has been working on a wide range of stewardship
and maintenance activities, including trail building,
invasive species removal, and volunteer management.
Originally from Ohio, Diana started in September after
moving to the Triangle from Roanoke, Virginia. She
previously worked with the Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality as a watershed field coordinator
and with the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy as their
project manager.
Read more about Kyle and Diana’s work on TLC’s blog,
The Dirt - triangeland.org/the-dirt.
TLC Members Elect Board of Directors for 2014-2015
8 | Conservation Connections Winter 2014
Two New Staff Members Join TLC
New Board members, clockwise from top left: Betsy Bennett,
Patty Briguglio, Jack Clayton, Pam Hemminger, Alan Hughes,
Russell Killen, Sepi Sadi, and Mark Soticheck (not pictured -
Josie Scott Dorsett and Christopher Hitt)
9. Safeguarding clean water: Population growth
in our community increases demand for
clean water, while associated pollution has
compromised supply.
Protecting natural habitats: Natural areas and
well-managed forests support healthy ecosystems
and balance our built environment by providing
habitat for native plants and animals.
Supporting farms and food: Well-managed
farms and associated woodlands enhance our
communities by producing food and other
crops and sustaining local economies.
Connecting people with nature: Connecting
people with nature is essential as we look to
balance our increasingly indoor, urban lives
with the benefits and fun of being outside.
Sept. 2014 - TLC partnered with The Trust for Public
Land to purchase Southview - 83 acres of forested
land and stream corridor along an unnamed tributary
of Lick Creek in eastern Durham County. Acquisition
of the Southview property was made possible by a
$600,000 grant from the Clean Water Management
Trust Fund (CWMTF) and a $300,000 grant from the
Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative (UNCWI).
Lick Creek is considered impaired due to high
levels of coliform bacteria and nutrients as well as
habitat degradation. The protection of undeveloped
properties, like Southview, within the creek’s watershed
is critical to stopping and reversing this degradation.
The long-term plan for this property, which is less
than 30 minutes from both downtown Durham and
downtown Raleigh, is to open it for public use. This
plan may also include trails that connect to land across
the street owned by the City of Durham and Durham
County, thus forming a large trail network easily
accessible to many communities in the Triangle. For
more on Southview, visit triangleland.org/southview.
Conservation Connections Winter 2014 | 9
Stakeholders Key to Developing Strategic Plan
Partnership Conserves 83 Acres to
Protect Clean Water Supply
- News & Notes -
In June 2014, following six months of work, TLC finalized a new strategic plan that will advance the
organization’s work toward creating a healthier and more vibrant Triangle through 2020. The plan, which was
informed by stakeholder input from partners,members, board and staff, clarifies TLC’s vision and mission as
well as the strategies that will guide its role, effectiveness and relevance in the Triangle. The new strategic plan
identifies the following key outcome areas:
In January of 1983, Logan
Irvin (of TLC’s Irvin Farm),
hosted a small dinner meeting
to invite B. B. Olive, a highly
respected intellectual property
lawyer and noted community
volunteer, to join an emerging
regional organization. B. B. said
“yes” and soon after became a
charter member of TLC.
Sadly, B. B. Olive passed away on December 4, 2014 in
Durham. A man described as “someone you can always
count on” in a letter by Bob Healy, Billy Brown
“B. B.” Olive made a lasting impact on TLC. He
served as TLC Board Secretary from 1983-1988 and
as Treasurer from 1983-1985. B. B. also volunteered
with the Durham Inventory of Natural Resources, the
Historic Preservation Society of Durham, and more.
Learn more about B. B. Olive by reading a short bio, a
story about his involvement in TLC, and letters from
the community at triangleland.org/bbolive.
The plan also defines specific outcomes for each area to be achieved within a six-year time frame as well as
strategies for achieving those outcomes. You can read the whole plan online at triangleland.org/strategicplan.
Remembering B. B. Olive
TLC Founder and Past Board Member
10. Triangle Land Conservancy is interested in exploring
some new ideas that may sound a little crazy at first,
but have the potential to improve communities
throughout the Triangle. That’s why we’ve created the
“Wild Ideas” forum as an opportunity for both experts
and community members to share their wildest ideas
for safeguarding our water, protecting natural habitats,
supporting farms and food, and connecting people
with nature. On October 22nd
, over 100 community
members joined us for the first event in the series,
Wild Ideas for Feeding the Triangle: Increasing Access
to Fresh Food and Farms.
“A lot of folks thought it was a wild idea that we wanted
to be small scale farmers over 30 years ago,” began
panelist Alex Hitt of Peregrine Farm. “My wife Betsy
and I just wanted to live in the country and make our
living there. Now, we run a profitable business.” Living
proof that wild ideas can and do work, Alex shared
two of his wild ideas for promoting agriculture in the
region: providing secure access to land for beginning
farmers and protecting the best farmland to ensure
those young farmers stand a chance.
“The average age of a farmer is my age, 58,” Alex
admitted. “How do we get people on the land that will
do the real hard work to improve the soil and know
that at the end of five, ten, or even twenty years that
they will be able to get their money back or have a
secure situation?”
Following up on Alex’s comments on the aging farming
community, panelist Chef Amy Tornquist of Watts
Grocery and Hummingbird Bakery noted how she has
seen many of the North Carolina’s food traditions also
begin to disappear, most notably her favorite Jerusalem
artichoke pickles. “I want all those kinds of North
Carolina traditions to stay,” remarked Amy, a self-
avowed “real” North Carolinian. “I am a Durhamite.
I look at the people who come in my restaurant and
the people at the farmers market and I just wish that
everyone in town had access to fresh, local food.”
Her wild idea for increasing access? Raise the
minimum wage. “Make sure farmers get paid an
actual wage. As a small business owner, I believe in
the minimum wage being raised, but I would also like
10 | Conservation Connections Winter 2014
-Hike, Play, Learn-
Left to right: Panelists Alex Hitt, Amy Tornquist, and Jared Cates
“Every really new idea looks crazy at first.” - Alfred North Whitehead
save
the
date
save the date:
for Getting Outside
MARCH 3, 2015
save
the
date
- Hike, Play, Learn -
11. customers to support us in this.”
Everyone Amy mentioned - farmers, restaurant
workers, and customers – are all part of the
community food system, as explained by the third
panelist, Jared Cates of the Carolina Farm Stewardship
Association. “When talking about food systems, they
are anything or anyone that affects the production,
distribution, sale, consumption, and disposal of food.
These are big systems with many different pieces.”
Jared’s wild idea? “Getting everyone, including
public health, economic development, cooperative
extension and folks supporting farmers, tourism,
local governments and elected officials to sit down at
the table and work together.” That way, they can work
together to figure out what gaps need to be filled to
create a more sustainable community food system.
Following the panelists, audience members asked
questions and shared their own wild ideas such as
better integrating food into public schools and using
churches as a venue for encouraging healthier eating
habits. The conversations continued during the
reception which featured locally-crafted beers from
Lonerider Brewing Company and a delicious array
of appetizers prepared by Chef Amy’s Sage & Swift
Gourmet Catering Company. Even though the forum
has ended, we hope some of these wild ideas become
reality, potentially through partnerships like the new
Durham Food Policy Council and through TLC’s
ongoing work to protect farmland.
Many thanks to our platinum series sponsor, Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina; our silver
sponsor, the Research Triangle Park Foundation; and
Lonerider Brewing Company for donating the tasty
beverages. We hope you’ll join us this spring to discuss
your wild ideas for connecting people with nature!
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
January 19, 2015, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Horton Grove Nature Preserve
5000 Jock Road, Bahama (northern Durham county)
Honor Dr. King’s legacy through service at TLC’s
Horton Grove Nature Preserve. Volunteers will help
build trails, remove trash, and hang signs. Please
register at triangleland.org/mlkday by January 14th
.
- Upcoming Events -
- SupportTLC -
• TLC memberships make a great gift with lasting
impact and a $40,000 matching challenge from
TLC’s board means your gift has twice the impact!
Learn more and give at triangleland.org/donate.
• Give to TLC through the Indy Give!Guide and
receive a punch card with great local freebies.
Visit give.indyweek.com to donate.
• Shop at smile.amazon.com to support TLC
year-round at no cost to you! For every eligible
purchase, Amazon donates a portion of the
purchase price to TLC.
• Donate your vehicle to TLC as an easy solution
for both getting rid of that old car, truck or boat
and supporting conservation! Visit triangleland-
cardonations.org to learn more.
Here are a few ways to show your support this season:
Stay current with all the different ways you can
support TLC, including as a volunteer, and learn
about upcoming events by signing up for our
e-newsletter at triangleland.org/enews.
-Hike, Play, Learn-
MLK Day of Service 2014 volunteers at Horton Grove
Image courtesy of Wendy Banning, Learning Outside
- Hike, Play, Learn -
Conservation Connections Winter 2014 | 11
12. a non-profit land trust
www.tlc-nc.org
514 South Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
Chip Holton, Artist in Residence for the O.Henry Hotel in Greensboro, painted
this scene from a photo of Triangle Land Conservancy’s Irvin Farm Preserve in
Orange County. The painting was created on September 13th
in Raleigh as part
of Farm Aid 2014, a benefit concert to help family farmers thrive while inspiring
millions of people to learn about the Good Food Movement. For more information
about TLC’s efforts to support local farms and food, visit www.triangleland.org.
@ConserveTriLand
@trianglelandconservancy
triangleland.org/the-dirt
facebook.com/trianglelandconservancy
Supporting Farms & Food