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Become a member online
or mail in your tax deductible contribution to:
27 Crescent Street, Weston, MA 02493
What's available at the farm stand:
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Assorted Greens
- Cherry Tomatoes (PYO)
- Heirloom and Regular Tomatoes
- Honey
- Onions
- Herbs, including basil
- Cut Flowers and bouquets
- Garlic
- Carrots
- Zucchini, Summer Squash & More
- New T-shirts , hats and bags
- and more!
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A Note from the Director
A Season of Heat, Bounty, Berries, Sweat and Growth
Summer greetings to you all. This issue of the newsletter combines July and August due mostly to the editor's vacation schedule! Last issue we were welcoming the warmer weather that finally arrived. Now, we wonder when the heat will end.
Despite the heat, the crops are thriving in the fields and we have a wonderful bounty of produce available, both for picking and at the farm stand. The diligence and hard work of this year's farm staff have kept the farm looking tip-top with healthy crops, well tended beds and beautiful plots of vegetables. Hats off to Mike Raymond and his incredible staff!
The Land Management Staff at Land's Sake has also been hard at work tackling the poison ivy and tending to the arboretum at the Case Estate. This effort, which includes health diagnosis, tree identification, labeling, inventory and mapping of the trees is headed up by Ivy Schlegel and the rest of the Land Management crew. Visitors can now sit under many of the trees at the farm without fear of poison ivy and one can actually reach the trunks of many of the historical trees.
In addition, the collective Land's Sake crews and volunteers have given unprecedented attention to the perennial garden at the front of the farm. Plants are increasingly labeled and walking paths are clear. Thanks to the sweat and hard work of everyone, the gardens continue to be a beautiful place to come walk and learn.
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The June newsletter issue was sent out the day of our annual Strawberry Festival. We had an incredible turnout, great music, fun activities and gained a lot of new Land's Sake supporters too. The Strawberries mark the start of our berry fruit crops at the farm. With a short hiatus between crops, Land's Sake farm offers raspberry and blueberry picking during July and August. The blueberrries are all but gone, but the raspberries continue to fruit, though the summer peak is over. The ever-bearing raspberries are forming now and give promise of a sweet and fruitful September!
This year has seen a lot of change and growth. As you will read later on, we are finalizing our Strategic Plan which we hope to unveil at our 25th Anniversary celebration. In addition, Land's Sake now has a feature column in the Town Crier twice a month called From the Farm. We have many new faces on the board and on our staff who will be introduced to you over time. In future issues, you will learn more about such projects as the bio-toilet, updates on the Chestnut Tree Project, the covered storage shed, development and recommendations in sustainable landscaping and horticulture, the Harvest for Hunger event, and a Land's Sake cook book.
Many students come to Land's Sake between semesters to learn more about agriculture, sustainable horticulture, education and land management. But as the end of August approaches, we must say goodbye to so many of our wonderful volunteers, staff and supporters as they prepare to return to their schools. I personally want to thank each of them for their enthusiasm and commitment. Everyone who comes to Land's Sake, however short their time with us, adds to the diverse family of people we have and contributes to our long history of connecting people to the land. Good luck to all of our returning students! We hope you return in the spring!
Enjoy this issue of the newsletter. Let us know what you think.
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Faces at Land's Sake: The Board
 Ned Rossiter, President |
 Nina Danforth, Vice President |
 Cameron Peters, Treasurer |
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 Tom Ward, Board Trustee (Membership Committee)
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 Alyson Muzila, Board Trustee (Strategic Plan Committee) |
 Grey Lee, Board Trustee |
 Clover Nicholas, Board Trustee |
 Cindie Mattox, Board Trustee |
 Trish Scozzafava, Board Trustee |
 Kevin Fitzgerald, Board Trustee |
more introduced next month!
Click on a photo to read about them.
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 Meg Kelly, Board Trustee |
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FIREWOOD
Land's Sake is accepting reservations for firewood purchases. We sell from 1/4 to 2 cords per delivery. One cord is $300. Reserve your cord(s) now!
- Our firewood is harvested sustainably from town land and has seasoned naturally since last winter.
- Our firewood is primarily oak, birch and ash, with most pieces cut between 16-17".
- A cord of firewood is equivalent to a 4'x4'x8' tightly packed stack.
- We deliver and stack your wood upon your request. Labor and delivery rate is $50/hour, and we bill at quarter hour increments. Call the office 781-893-1162 or send email admin@landssake.org for a price quote
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25th Anniversary Celebration Under the Stars!
- Harvest Supper - Trish Scozzafava, professional caterer, cooks with Land's Sake Produce
- Live Band and later Music from Mocha DJ
- Silent Auction - Cruises, specialty items, wine collection, and more!
- Child activities and child care available upon request
- If you missed last year's celebration Mid-Summer Nights Dinner at the farm, you won't want to miss this year's special celebration in recognition of our 25th anniversary.
- Please RSVP by phone or email, or send in your invitation by September 1, 2005.
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| PICKING PASSES
Dear Picking Pass Holders,
We hope you are enjoying the bounty that summer offers here at the farm. Our beautiful tomatoes are abundant and delicious! And almost every day brings something new to our tables and to our farm experience.
We very much appreciate your support of the farm. We would like to take a moment to remind you , however, of the “Rules and Regs” that accompany your picking pass privileges. There are just a few, but we ask your compliance with all of them.
This mid-season notice is in response to a few "bad apples" out there in the fields. As always, we hope you’ll let us know if there’s anything we can do to enhance your farm experience. And if you have any questions, please call the office.
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Picking Pass Rules:
1) Please sign in BEFORE you pick. There is always information in the sign-in book about what’s new, what’s coming soon, and what NOT to pick. It is important that you obtain this information.
2) NO after hours picking. No exceptions please! Our hours are 10 am to 6 pm daily, including Sundays and holidays. Please pick within these hours. Even if you’ve had a pass for years and know the farm well, we ask that you pick only when we are open. We have requested our neighbors to advise the police of anyone picking during off hours.
3) If you aren’t sure how to pick something, do not pick it until you ask for instructions. This avoids accidental crop damage.
4) The Picking Pass is for you and your immediate family only. No exceptions please! Passes are not transferable to friends or relatives when you are on vacation or unable to visit the farm. Friends accompanying you to the farm are of course welcome to make purchases at the farm stand. They may also pick whatever is available for public picking and will be charged for what they pick. (At this time of year, we usually have Pick-You-Own cherry tomatoes, green beans, herbs including basil and flowers available.)
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5) The Picking Pass is a way to support the farm, not a way to get an unbelievably great deal on produce! Please pick enough for yourself, but leave enough for others as well. Then there will be enough for everyone.
6) Picking Passes do not include items that are grown or processed elsewhere such as corn, apples, honey and baked goods.
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LAND'S SAKE LAND MANAGEMENT SERVICES
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| Land's Sake Land Management Services is more than just Forest and Field! We offer Sustainable Horticulture and Landscape Services: Organic-based private land management services, including tree and shrub health care, landscape design and installation. Working with nature, we use environmentally friendly methods to unlock your landscape's natural vigor and vitality.
 Scheduling of fall installations and clean-ups are underway. Give us a call to reserve your spot or ask for a free estimate. We also provide weeding, pruning, instruction and consultations. Call Stanely Arno, Land Management Services Manager at 781-893-1162 or send email to stanley@landssake.org
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| Wayland Whole Foods - to present donation to Land's Sake
Whole Foods Wayland and Whole Foods Framingham held their 5% day on June 7, 2005 to help support the educational and sustainable land use efforts of Land's Sake. Five percent of all sales at the two locations came to a generous $5,900 ! The two stores experienced a substantial increase in sales per store on that day compared to last year. So lots of shopping went on at the two stores that day in support of Land's Sake. THANK YOU to our members and readers, and thank you to Whole Foods.
This donation will help support the building of our 3-bay covered storage barn for housing our tractors and keeping them out of the weather, as well as aide in the writing of educational curriculum for our Green Power Summer Youth Program for Middle School kids, and K-2 curriculum design around our Maple Syrup and Farm Tour Programs.
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Pirjo Silen of Whole Foods will be presenting Land's Sake with a check for $5,900 at the Farm on August 17th at 10:00 am. Ned Rossiter, President, Lelia Elliston, Executive Director and Joanne Johnson, Farm Stand Manager will be accepting the donation.
Whole Foods
Community Involvement
Whole Foods Wayland and Framingham to donate $5,900 to Land's Sake from their 5% day on June 7, 2005.
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Town Crier biweekly featured article.
Pick up the Town Crier or visit Weston Town Online and read past featured columns on environmental interests related to connecting people to the land written by Land's Sake staff, board and members.
- Finding Shade in the Hot Summer - Ivy Schlegel
- Nature's Memory Makers - Alyson Muzila
- The Biology of Field Mowing - Lelia Elliston
- Next week, article about the gardens at Land's Sake - Kate Rossiter
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Land's Sake Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
1980-2005
25 Years of Connecting People to The Land
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Proposed Regis Development
Be informed - Voice Your Opinion - Call our Selectmen
Summary of Proposed Regis Project:
- Location: on the east side of Wellesley Street across from the main Regis College campus
- Site: 59.25 acres of which 14 acres are wetland and another 13 acres lie within the 100 foot wetland buffer zone.
- Use: senior living
- Proposed Buildings: 8 buildings, 4 of which are interconnected
- Number of Units: 362 units
- Parking Spaces: 616 spaces – 360 covered and 256 surface spaces
- Height: ranging from 4 to 11 stories
- Gross Floor Area: 766,600 SF of living area plus; 360 garage parking spaces
- Sewage Treatment: On site sewage treatment plant and leaching field
- Other: Tunnel under Wellesley Street to connect the campuses
At the Selectmen's meeting on August 2, 2005, the Board of Selectmen discussed the Regis plan and heard from many residents who attended that meeting. Michael Harrity summarizes the discussions at that meeting as follows:
- The Selectmen would like to support Regis College in their efforts to improve their financial position and recognize that some development of their excess land is necessary to achieve that goal.
- The Selectmen are disappointed that Regis is not involving the town or the neighbors in a cooperative review of their development plans so that the negative impacts of any proposed development can be mitigated. Their approach has been heavy-handed and, to some, disingenuous.
- The scale of Regis’s proposal is unprecedented and will likely result in horrendous traffic problems on Wellesley Street (and beyond), and in severe strains on other town services especially fire and ambulance, not to mention the change in the character of the town that will result from such a dense and tall development.
- Regis’s claim to rights as an educational institution to avoid local zoning regulations under the “Dover Amendment” (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A section 3) strains credibility because this new development undertaking is a commercial venture aimed principally at generating revenue to cover their purported $3,000,000 operating deficit.
- Many residents feel that the Board of Selectmen should engage attorneys to aggressively challenge Regis’ proposal.
Regis’s filing with the Zoning Board of Appeals on July 12 initiated a legal process which will be heard by 3 designated members of Weston’s ZBA. The ZBA has scheduled an initial public hearing on this matter for 7:30 PM on Monday, September 12, 2005 at Town Hall. The ZBA has also asked various town committees, department heads and boards, including the Board of Selectmen, to offer their comments on the proposal in writing by August 31, 2005.
The Board of Selectmen has no special legal role in the ZBA review process. However, the board can authorize the expenditure of funds for legal services. To that end, the Board of Selectmen has engaged special counsel to review our legal options and consider strategies for challenging Regis’s development proposal, if deemed appropriate.
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WHAT'S IN STORE: Upcoming Events
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- Volunteer Days: 3rd Saturday of every month! Schedule project... Perennial & Annual Flower Garden - August 20, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Come help weed and maintain our perennial and annual beds at the farm.
- If Saturday is not convenient for you, call the office to arrange a time and place to come help on any day between now and the end of July.
- We also need volunteer educators to help run our tours and demonstration.
- Land's Sake History Display and Photo Gallery - at Weston Public Library starting September 7th.
The newsletter is here for you - to bring you up to date on all the wonderful things we have scheduled and that are in store for our members, visitors and supporters.
Send us your feedback!
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Nature Notes:
Manduca quinquemaculata, or Tomato Hornworm,
is a large caterpillar that feeds on eggplant, pepper, and tomato. There are two generations each year. Hornworms consume entire leaves and stems . They will also eat tomato fruits. Management: handpick, if present in large numbers. Beneficial wasp (Braconid) parasitizes a large percentage of hornworms each year. Leave these parasitized hornworms alone so that the beneficial wasps may complete their lifecycle. For more information, visit this site.
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Strategic Plan Right on Schedule - draft being reviewed
The Board and Land's Sake Members have been instrumental in the strategic planning process. Thanks to the wonderful participation of staff, board and members at our planning workshop, and to the diligent work of Alyson Muzila (Executive Board) and Consultant Art Shirk Consulting (http://www.artshirk.com), we now have a complete draft of a strategic plan that the board is reviewing. Comments and final changes will be made out a August 15th meeting. We plan to have copies available of our approved plan at our 25th Anniversary Celebration on September 9, 2005.
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THANKS TO the Green Power Kids and Mary Spaulding!
CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank announced that Land's Sake has been awarded their "Donor of the Year" recognition and will be honored at their annual luncheon in October.
Green Power kids help plant, weed, tend and harvest the produce on the farm for donations to the needy.
Participation is limited to 25 students per week. Registration is still open for the last 3 weeks of Green Power.
Call the office for more information!
Read a recent article printed on May 19, 2005 about Green Power, plans for this summer and more.
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What are Land's Sake Expeditions?
We're not just down on the farm anymore: we're taking sustainability to the highway! With the Land Saker Mobile, our 15-passenger bio-diesel van, Land's Sake is going to take hearty and adventurous souls into the hinterland on educational and fun-filled excursions. Each trip will be led by a talkative naturalist and volunteers from the Land's Sake community. Grey Lee, Naturalist, Environmentalist, Educator, long-time supporter, participant and volunteer with Land's Sake, will be organizing these excursions.
Excursions are open to all - families are especially encouraged to sign up. Accommodations are car-camping style; participants will get more details as they sign up.
We'll be driving using bio-diesel fuel, so your trip will be towards sustainability, not just towards the country. Join us in 2005 for any of the following trips:
- September 17-18 - Camping in Maine! Camden Hills State Park
- October 8-9 - Apples and Leaves in the Berkshires of Massachusetts - Mt. Greylock
You pay $40 for transportation, food, and entrance fees where applicable! The money helps defray the cost of the van which we use for other educational purposes throughout the year. Bring the whole family! For more information contact expeditions@landssake.org .
Sign up now for the next LS Expedition: August 20-21 - The Green Mountains of Vermont: Gifford Woods State Park.
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LAND'S SAKE CLASSIFIEDS (a member to member area)
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News To and From Land's Sake Members....
Wanted:
- Long dining table or conference table for Melone House (Land's Sake farmers residence and Land's Sake Office). Please call 781-893-1162 if you have any of the above items to donate.
- Kubota Tractor attachments for older model.
For Trade: Have something you want to trade? Let us know.
For Free:
- 1941 Old Town wood and canvas canoe needs some TLC ; a rewarding parent-child project! Free. In Acton, MA. Call 978 264-4220 email: neil@neiltischler.com
For sale: Have something to sell? Let us know.
- 2003 Yamaha V-Star. LOW mileage. Perfect! Bags, Custom chrome and more. Email for more information and picture.
- Lots of maternity and toddler clothes! Email if interested in sizes and types available.
Opportunities: See the Land's Sake joblistings page at http://www.landssake.org/joblistings/
If you have something you want to get rid of but wish it could be re-used, or something you want to trade or just want to share information with other Land's Sake e-newsletter subscribers, then send your notice to newsletter@landssake.org
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ALSO LOOK FOR ...
Check The Land's Sake Calendar for the latest events, tours, and what's in season. Thank you!
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
This content is brought to you by Land's Sake, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. Tax ID# 04-2702759. Financial records and Independent Audit reports are available upon request. Our address is 27 Crescent Street, Weston, MA 02493 781-893-1162. Please consider becoming a member or making a tax deductible donation
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25th Anniversary Celebration Under The Stars!
