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A Note from the Director
Seasonal Highlights: Summer is finally here!
What's In Store: Upcoming Events
Ongoing Events: and other news
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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:
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Radishes
- Head Lettuce
- Mesculin mix (spicy and regular)
- Honey
- Maple Syrup (while supplies last)
- Cut Flowers and bouquets
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries
- Garlic Scapes
All grown responsibly using organic practices
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A Note from the Director
Summer is finally here!
Thank goodness the warm weather has finally arrived, and may actually be here to stay. With warmer weather and longer days comes more produce, robust weeds and darker farmer tans. Hopefully the 40 degree nights and cool, wet days are gone until fall. For now, things are looking great. The perennial and flower gardens are thriving, the farm stand is stocked with the early bounties of the season, and we're anticipating great crowds at today's Strawberry Festival.
This has been an unusual spring to summer transition because of drastic daily temperature changes. Yet regardless of the weather, operations must go on as scheduled - drip irrigation is laid at the farm, strawberry boxes arrive before the height of the berry picking season, native and non-invasive plants are ordered for new gardens, gloves and tools are purchased for our incredibly dedicated and hard working staff that grows to 25 in the summer. Your support at this resource-intensive time is very much appreciated. Your membership, donations, and regular visits to the farm stand help in so many ways.
Mother Nature loves to remind us who is in control. For instance, Farm Manager Mike Raymond has found that much of the lettuce has been maturing at the same time despite his attempts to stagger their production. This is likely due to the low temperatures and significant rains that we had this spring--perfect for growing greens. In addition, the Potato Beetle mating season was in full force in the fields. Talk about dedication! Mike and the farm staff were out there collecting the adults by hand and squashing them ... manually!
Our farm stand customers and picking pass holders are enjoying the bounty of our head lettuce. Our food pantry customers are also benefiting from this early crop.
We'll see you today at the festival. Come by for shortcake and some good old, summertime fun!
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Colorado Potato beetle - Leptinotarsa decemlineata
Hosts: Potato, tomato, eggplant, pepper, tobacco and other solanceous plants.
Description: Colorado Potato beetle overwinters as an adult in the soil, in fencerows, or under litter in garden or fields. Adults become active in May and will start to lay eggs as soon as suitable host plants are found. Clumps of 20 to 40 yellow-orange eggs are laid on the undersides of the leaves. Larvae hatch from the eggs in 4 to 15 days. The hump-backed larva has six legs and is about 1/8 to 1/2 inch long. It has reddish-tan to brick-red coloration with two rows of black spots on each side.
Larvae and adults feed on the foliage of the host plants and can cause extensive damage if populations are high. Feeding occurring within two weeks of peak flowering on potato will have a pronounced effect on yield.
Organic Control: Hand-picking is possible on small plantings but becomes impractical for larger gardens. Two strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t. var. san diego and B.t. var. tenebrionis) are effective on this insect. These products are safe for mammals, birds, fish, and beneficial insects. However, it is important to apply B.t. when the larvae are small (less than 1/4 inch) to get good control. Normally, this requires applications every 5 to 7 days until all the eggs have hatched. Also, thorough coverage of the host plant is vital as the larvae must ingest some of the bacterium before it will have any effect.
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Faces at Land's Sake
We have a lot of new faces this year at Land's Sake. In this and following issues we introduce you to some off the Staff and Board you might see at Land's Sake - Farm Crew, Land Management Crew, and Education Crew, Administrative and Board. Throughout this issue, look for both new and familiar faces of Land's Sake Staff and Board Members.
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SOME of the Faces on the Farm
 JoAnne Johnson, Farm Stand Manager |
 Eric Baum, Farm Crew |
 JoHanna Flies, Farm Crew |
 Anna Haddingham, Farm and Land Management Crews |
 Sarah McKeon, Farm Crew |
 Seth McDonough, Assistant Farm Manager |
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PICKING PASSES
Picking Passes are always available for members to purchase. They are a successful and popular way to support the organization and enjoy the fruits of our land.
Flower, Produce and Run-of-the-Farm picking passes are similar to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares offered at other farms in that they educate people about the value and responsible stewardship of growing produce organically and responsibly while providing nutritional and safe food.
Our picking passes differ in that they connect people to the land by getting holders out into the plots harvesting their own food. It is a great way to experience the farm and is a fantastic family event, or a way to find some solitude while picking with bird song and warm soil.
You can order these directly online by visiting http://www.landssake.org/membership/. You can also purchase using a credit card by visiting http://www.landssake.org/membership/membership.html
GREEN DOLLARS - The deadline of June 2nd has passed for purchasing Green Dollars, coupons that save you $2 for every $10 worth of produce! They help support the annual start up of the farm and make great gifts. Thank you to all our members who purchased these valuable and convenient coupons.
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AMERICORP - THANK YOU!
They helped start the Chestnut Tree Project
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 AmeriCorp Crew to help with Chestnut Tree Project & Invasive Plant Removal
An AmeriCorp Crew of about 6 young women helped plant the first round of American Chestnut transplants for later crossing and selecting for disease resistance.
They also helped remove invasive species like Buckthorn from the Land's Sake Case Estates, and moved stones to the muddy farm roads which will eventually help cut down on dust and mud.
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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! 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.
 Land's Sake would like to welcome Stanley Arno as its Horticulture & Landscape Manager in the Land Management Division.
Stanley was born and raised in Milborne Port, Somerset, England on a 400 acres Dairy Farm which included 40 acres of working forest. The farm diversified in 1968 to include arable cropping as well as pasture and was operated and managed by his family until 1990. Stanley inherited his late mother's passion for gardening and learned his father's abilities as a farmer, forester and conservationist. On coming to the USA in 1990, Stanley moved into the general landscape field and worked in the golf course industry. A change of heart prompted him to leave the resource-intensive greens industry in favor of more sustainable landscaping methods. Most recently, Stanley ran his own landscape installation and design company “Greenscapes” and was contract horticulturist at Framingham Country Club for 2003/2004.
Hello friends of Land's Sake,
I am very excited to be working with Land's Sake in 2005 and hope that we will be able to help you with all of your gardening needs. I am available to respond to current client inquiries as well as potential client inquiries and requests for work regarding your land and gardens. I am happy to schedule and conduct site visits for estimates and to discuss your land management needs.
My email with Land's Sake is Stanley@landssake.org or you can call me at 978-979-2297.
Yours Sincerely,
Stanley Arno
The rest of the Land Management Crew:
 Gordon Fontaine, Mr. idea man! |
 Grey Lee, Field Preservation, on call (thank goodness) & Chainsaw Wizard |
 Ivy Schlegel, she's in there somewhere pruning away |
Others not yet photographed and invaluable: , Eilen Jewell & Jason Beek, trail sweepers and maintainers (our forest fairies) and Jacob Sagrans, last year's high school intern (welcome back Jacob) |
 Chi-Ma Thompson, our speed racer and "no problem" guy! |
 Suzanne Hecker, Gardener, Farmer's Market & optimist (foreground)
Lindsey Cook, our enthusiastic intern and planter (background) |
Stan recommends the following site for watering tips:
(http://www.pikenursery.com/stories_php_loc_02_04_00.html).
The heat is setting in, so water wisely by learning these simple tips.
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| Wayland Whole Foods - 5% Day on June 7, 2005
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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Land's Sake Elects New Board Members, Plans for Next 5 Years
Land's Sake held its annual meeting on Saturday, May 11. New board members Cindie Mattox, Jo Thompson, and Grey Lee joined the organization in a day-long retreat that followed the meeting. More than 10 Land's Sake members also participated in creative thinking at the meeting and envisioned the organization in 5 years. Currently, the Land's Sake Board is devising a strategic plan for the next five to ten years with the help of consultant Art Shirk of Art Shirk Consulting (www.artshirk.com). After a two month period of data gathering with key stakeholders via an organic interview process, followed by a day of brainstorming and moderated discussion, the board has begun the design stage of the plan itself. Ultimately, the board and staff will produce a document that can be used to inform and guide everyday decision-making and annual program planning. For more information on the strategic plan, please email Alyson Muzila, board member and Chair of the SP Committee, at alyson@muzila.net.
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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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WHAT'S IN STORE: Upcoming Events
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Dates to remember: - Visit the Land's Sake Calendar for more details
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- Volunteer Days: 3rd Saturday of every month! Schedule project... Splitting Wood - July 16
Come help split and stack wood at the Melone House Land's Sake Office (27 Crescent Street, Weston (click here for directions). We have a lot of wood this year to fill our firewood orders this fall. There is still a lot of wood that needs to be split and stacked. We are bringing out the last few loads from the Highland Street Forest harvest now.
- 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.
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Nature Notes:
Despite its obscure-sounding name, this is a common bird of brushy woods, often mistaken for a robin. Its red, however, is just on the sides, not the whole breast. Neck, head and back are black in males, brown in females. It sings DRINK-your-TEA repeatedly, trilling the tea. The towhee (pronounced TOE-he) scratches through leaves on the ground looking for insects and seeds and hops from bush to bush in the undergrowth, making lots of noise.
(From PA Game Commission).
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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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You Dig? Green Power Summer Program: Get Down - Get Dirty - Get Paid!
Land's Sake produce donations is an integral part of the Green Power Summer Program and a unique teaching opportunity. Much of our produce is donated to local food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters. While connecting the middle school kids to the land and teaching them about agriculture, we also teach them about community service and outreach.
Green Power is an agriculturally- and environmentally-based summer program for middle schoolers. Now in its 25th year, the Green Power program connects kids to the land and the food they eat in a uniquely hands-on way. The program focuses on:
- Our environment
- Where our food comes from
- Natural resources
- Community service
- Natural sciences
- Fostering relationships with nature and their community
- Providing opportunities for each child’s natural curiosity and thirst for learning to be expressed
- Getting kids out into the fascinating natural world
On the farm, Green Power kids help raise over 20,000 pounds of fresh produce for Boston area food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens. Program participants receive a modest stipend of $20/week. The Green Power experience also includes field trips, games and natural history.
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Farm Manager, Mike Raymond and Greenpower Coordinator, Mary Spaulding having a meeting in the fields to coordinate Green Power youth tending and harvesting the produce for food pantry donations.
Green Power kids help plant, weed, tend and harvest the produce on the farm
Participation is limited to 25 students per week. Registration is still open for certain weeks. Call the office to inquire!
Child to Teacher ratio = approximately 10:1
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:
- August 20-21 - The Green Mountains of Vermont: Gifford Woods State Park
- 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....
 Laya Steinberg, Author
Laya Steinberg is a long-time supporter of Land's Sake, picking pass holder and frequent visitor to the farm and our events. She has also designed our t-shirts! Congratulations go out to her on her new children's book, Thesaurus Rex
by Laya Steinberg, Debbie Harter (Illustrator). Thesaurus Rex starts his day: reaching, stretching, extending, bending..." (more)
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.
- 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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Today, June 25th we hold our annual Strawberry Festival to welcome summer and our first major crop of the year. Children from all over the greater Boston area come to enjoy the fresh strawberries, hayrides, folk music, face painting, barbecue, old fashioned strawberry shortcake, demonstrations, bicycle powered juicer, flower wreath making and much more. From 10 am to 2 pm
