A Look Back At Our 2022 Milestones
2022 was another exciting and fulfilling year for Five Rivers. We hope many of you were able to join us at an event or activity this past year. Your support made these highlights possible, so we want to reflect on the milestones of 2022 together:
JANUARY – Sloping Acres Farm in Canterbury was conserved. The Canterbury community has a long history of conservation and interest in agriculture, and the town’s Conservation Commission strongly supported this project. With the farm conserved, brothers Peter and Eric Glines, the fifth generation of Glines farmers, can continue to raise their cattle, provide milk wholesale to Hood in Concord, and sell their sustainably raised beef directly to customers and through the Canterbury Country Store.
FEBRUARY – Jeff Evans transitioned from a Five Rivers board member to our Director of Conservation. Jeff earned his Ph.D. in Entomology and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Michigan State University. His research on the biology and management of invasive species and agricultural weeds gives him a valuable perspective on the conservation challenges and opportunities on Five Rivers’ conserved lands.
MARCH – On a beautiful day in March, members of Five Rivers’ Events and Land Protection and Stewardship Committees strapped on their snowshoes to lead a group on a trek through the Janeway Conservation Area in Webster. Thank you to Betsy Janeway for welcoming our group onto her property.
APRIL – Conservationist Chris Kane completed an ecological inventory of the Armstrong Family Forest in Concord, identifying flora, fauna, natural habitats, and cultural features. Having this report will help us plan how to manage the property in the future—where to site potential trails and identify the many features we may highlight for education.
AUGUST – Wyman Farm in Loudon was conserved. Judith Wyman Merrow was the sixth generation of the family to have owned the property since the original King’s grant in 1780. It was Judy’s wish that the farm be conserved, and following her passing in January, her son Jim Polley worked with Five Rivers to honor his family’s stewardship of the land and ensure its integrity is upheld in perpetuity.
AUGUST – Five Rivers achieved renewed accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission through August 2027. This distinction from the national accrediting body for land trusts affirms that our organization has sound finances, practices ethical conduct and responsible governance, and can ensure lasting stewardship.
SEPTEMBER – Five Rivers hosted our 2022 Annual Celebration at the unique, beautiful, and historic Sanborn Mills Farm in Loudon. The afternoon featured updates from Five Rivers, live music by Celtic fiddler Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki, and tours of the grounds, sawmill, grist mill, and blacksmith shop.
SEPTEMBER – After a multi-month rain delay, Five Rivers held another installment of Evening Yoga at Dimond Hill Farm. About 40 people at various levels of experience and ability experienced an evening of gentle flow yoga taught by David Breen and Laurie Farmer of Sharing Yoga in Concord.
NOVEMBER – At the end of the month, the 121-acre Vegetable Ranch in Warner was conserved. It consists of agricultural fields, wildlife habitats, and water resources along scenic Kearsarge Mountain Road. The farmers of Vegetable Ranch grow organic vegetables and livestock products for Concord Farmers’ Market, Concord Food Co‐op, Warner Public Market, and more.
DECEMBER – Five Rivers was awarded a $118,000 grant from LCHIP to help conserve Blue Moon Berry Farm. This property, perched on Waldron Hill in Warner, has been in continuous operation as a u-pick berry farm since the 1960s. It is a treasured local resource, well-known and loved by residents and surrounding communities.
We thank you for your support, participation, and your committed dedication to preserving vital farms, forests, wildlife habitats, and water resources in the greater Capital region Here’s to more conservation successes and time in the great outdoors throughout 2023!
