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June 25, 2015

“All Hands on Deck!”

This year, ESLC won $1,500 from the Chesapeake Bay Trust “All Hands on Deck” grant contest. Two Chesapeake Conservation Corps Volunteers are awarded this grant each year and awardees are asked to plan and implement a complete workday, comprised of activities that help to restore the Chesapeake Bay. This year, ESLC’s Corps Volunteer, Becca Weisberg, was awarded the All Hands Day to build bird boxes, a canoe rack, clean trails, and weed the BMP garden at the Sassafras Environmental Education Center in Kennedyville, MD along the Sassafras River and Turner’s Creek. The day was a great success, and the Conservancy and Education Center are thankful for the funding and materials that were provided by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Additionally, this day would not have been possible without the 30 Chesapeake Conservation Corps Volunteers! Wayne Gilchrest, former U.S. Congressman and current ESLC Program Director for the Sassafras Environmental Education Center, kicked off the day with an inspiring talk. “Think about the change you can make” he told the Chesapeake Conservation Corps volunteers, each of who engage in environmental education and restoration work during their one-year terms. Volunteers worked throughout the day in groups to clear trails, clean beaches, build a canoe rack, and install bird boxes. Lunch was provided by Evergrain Café in Chestertown, MD. At the end of the day, volunteers were invited to enjoy the beautiful outdoor space and stay overnight for camping. The Sassafras Environmental Education Center shares over 1,000 acres of land with Maryland DNR, containing over 10 miles of trails, beautiful waterfront, and an abundance of outdoor recreational activities. ESLC invites the public to visit the Sassafras Environmental Education Center to view the work that was done during this “All Hands on Deck” day. Limited parking is available at the end of Turner’s Creek Rd. Visit ESLC.org to learn

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June 24, 2015

A moral responsibility

Pope Francis' call to action should spur us all to look at the effect of our consumer lifestyles. Last week the Vatican released Pope Francis' encyclical, the Church’s highest level of teaching, on the environment. Reaching far beyond one religion, Francis called on “every person living on this planet” to recognize the effects that two hundred years of industrialization have had on our environment. He accentuated the moral obligation we have to conserve our natural resources for future generations. The message of moral responsibility to our grandchildren and their grandchildren is one that has been downplayed by the environmental movement for the last twenty years. It was replaced by economic arguments demonstrating that protecting the environment and cutting greenhouse gases will have greater benefits to society than the sum of their dollar costs. These economic arguments arose out of a need to convince policymakers and CEO’s that going green can strengthen their bottom line. The roots of conservation and stewardship dating back to John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt, and Aldo Leopold, have a strong theme of using only what we need and protecting the rest for future generations. Before that, many of the Native American nations hewed to the Seven Generations principle that important decisions must honor those seven generations in the past and consider the well-being of those seven generations in the future. Today, thousands of backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts follow "Leave No Trace" practices when they are in nature. The Pope is calling for this sense of moral and personal responsibility to become common habits of our daily lifestyles. Francis is correct that today’s consumerism is devouring natural resources and creating waste at a rate that will leave our grandchildren with a planet our grandparents would scarcely recognize. He urges “Humanity [to] recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption”. What

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April 29, 2015

2015 Legislate Session Overview

The 2015 legislative session ended last week, but started with a new administration and more than 60 new legislators all working to decrease the $650 million structural deficit. ESLC was curious to see what Governor Hogan’s budget would hold for farmland and rural protection programs. “It could have been worse”- is the general feeling as the 2015 legislative session ended. While cuts were not as extreme as they could have been Program Open Space, Maryland Agriculture Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) and the Rural Legacy program all suffered, with the biggest hits occurring to MALPF and Rural Legacy. Governor Hogan’s budget cut $115 million in funds available this year for farmers, parks, and more. According to the Partners for Open Space, since the inception of this program more than $1 billion has been diverted for other uses. The final numbers for rural funds allocated for rural conservation programs are: $21.6 million for POS Stateside, $30.1 million for POS Local, $9.37 million for Rural Legacy, $17.04 million for MALPF and $22.45 million for cover crops. Next year we hope to see much more investment into rural prosperity. ESLC will be looking to support legislation on renewable energy that fits into our rural environments, as well as supporting legislation that works to help smart growth and prosperity in rural regions. We will again be advocating for full funding for Program Open Space, smart growth programs and the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment fund because without these programs we wouldn’t have the rural working landscapes we work to protect. For more information on the 2015 legislative session click here

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April 2, 2015

Mills Branch Wind Project

Apex Clean Energy, an industrial wind turbine energy developer headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., is proposing to locate 25 to 35 500-foot industrial wind turbines near Kennedyville, Md., between state Route 213 and the Chester River. What is ESLC’s Position? ESLC believes local energy generation, especially renewables, is a critical component to the Eastern Shore’s future economic resilience and prosperity. However, the proposed Mills Branch Wind Project is of a scale never before considered on the Eastern Shore and lacks the local public review process necessary to balance our need for renewable energy generation with the impacts of a project this scale. For these reasons and the potential impact on conserved lands, ESLC opposes the Mills Branch Wind Energy Project. The Eastern Shore has the potential to be the undisputed leader in Maryland renewables, but it can’t be done without thoughtfully balancing the expense to resources like tillable acreage, wildlife habitat, rural vistas and more. ESLC would like to use the attention surrounding the Mills Branch project as a call to action. This region needs to develop a strategy to say “yes” to renewables, but on its own terms. What will Mills Branch Look like? According to Apex Clean Energy, their goal is to produce up to 130 MW of wind energy expected to power more than 30,000 homes each year. They are projecting 35-45 wind turbines with turbine height roughly 550 feet. The Mills Branch Project would be located on approximately 5,000 acres of open farmland in Kent County, with the intention of active farming underneath. How does the project get approval? The Mills Branch Project needs to get a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Public Service Commission. The Public Service Commission regulates gas, electric, telephone, water and sewage disposal companies and the construction of generating stations. Apex will apply for a CPCN and a hearing will be held

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Jared Parks with juvenile great horned owl.

February 20, 2015

Feeding birds in frigid temps

Jared Parks with juvenile great horned owl. Recent snow and frigid temperatures are difficult for humans, but even harder on birds. Birds have always been able to survive the cold and snow, said Jared Parks, land protection specialist for Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and local birder, although a fair amount of natural mortality from the cold is expected. Parks has been birding all his life and before his tenure at ESLC was field crew leader on many bird study projects across the United States. In harsh weather, birds have difficulty finding open ground on which to feed, he said. “Feeding birds is not necessary, but it is not a bad thing– and they will be very happy if you provide them a consistent food source – consistency being key,” Parks said. If you feed birds, keep feeding them. Feeders do not need constant refilling, but those who feed birds should provide food every day, preferably on a consistent schedule. Fresh water is important now too. Birds need to drink and bathe, and cold temperatures limit the availability of open fresh water. Water is tough for people to provide in extreme cold because it is hard to keep from freezing. “Frozen water can crack your bird bath,” Parks said. Small heaters and pumps both have limitations as pumps can freeze in extreme conditions, and water must not be too hot. Many wild bird feeding stores will have heaters and pumps that are appropriate for bird baths and should offer temperature limitations. To provide open ground for birds, shovel driveways and walks a bit wider than the pavement to uncover a few feet on either side. If most of the snow is removed, the sun will warm the darker ground, opening up spots where birds can get bits of food and gravel (which birds need to help crush their food). It creates the

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December 1, 2014

Winter 2014/15 Newsletter

Please review our Winter 2014/2015 Newsletter. To stay current with ESLC news, subscribe to our email newsletters here. ESLC winter 2015 WEB

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November 24, 2014

Future of Agriculture Presentations

Thank you sponsors, speakers, and guests of the 15th Eastern Shore Planning Conference, The Future of Eastern Shore Agriculture. Please take a moment to peruse our speakers' presentations, sorted by panel, and let them inspire you to consider the future for Eastern Shore agriculture. Morning Speakers Andrew McElwaine Dale Hawks Building a Stronger Rural Community Through Agriculture. Anchor Institutions - Louise Mitchell Food Security Gleaning Strengthening Existing Agriculture Chester River Association MD Dept of Ag Perdue Supporting Emerging Agriculture Opportunities Chesapeake College Crow Farm The State of Eastern Shore Agriculture MARBIDCO

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November 6, 2014

Party to Preserve a success!

Thank you to our sponsors and to those who attended our 2014 Party to Preserve at the Daffin House Farm in Caroline County. The barn came alive with twinkling lights, a warm fire, music from the Lions of Bluegrass, and delicious barbecue. We honored Gov. Harry Hughes for his lifetime commitment to conservation on our beautiful Eastern Shore. As you can see, it was truly a party!

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October 23, 2014

American Farmland Trust’s director to headline conference

Andrew McElwaine, president of American Farmland Trust, will give the welcoming address at the 15th Eastern Shore Planning Conference, to be held Friday, Nov. 20, at the Tidewater Inn in Easton. To join the conversation, register now. McElwaine has more than 30 years of senior nonprofit management experience in conservation, public policy and land protection. Before joining AFT, he served for seven years as president of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. McElwaine has an impressive track record in conservation, land protection, agriculture and public policy. As president of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples, Fla., he helped to acquire easements on farm and ranch land through donations and purchases. He supported a successful campaign for a state constitutional amendment to reduce property taxes on lands with agricultural easements, and sought solutions to Florida’s long-term water and growth-management problems. He also successfully led coalitions at the local, state and federal level to restore the Everglades, improve water storage and management, and balance growth with land conservation. He acquired easements on farm and ranch land and oversaw more than 25,000 acres of easements held by the organization. Previously, he was president of The Pennsylvania Environmental Council, where he worked to conserve land and water resources in the state, including farmland. He co-chaired two successful statewide bond initiatives that generated more than $1 billion in conservation financing, including substantial support for local and regional farmland protection. As a result, Pennsylvania became one of the nation’s leaders in farmland easement purchases. He also served as the lead contractor for the Susquehanna River nutrient trading program, which rewards farmers for implementing best management practices. Previous positions include Director of Environmental Programs at the Pittsburgh-based Heinz Endowments, staff member on President George H. W. Bush’s Commission on Environmental Quality and Senior Legislative Assistant to the late U.S. Senator John Heinz (R-PA). McElwaine earned

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October 23, 2014

Ag secretaries discuss future of farming

EASTON -- All three Delmarva secretaries of agriculture will participate in a panel discussion at Eastern Shore Land Conservancy's 15th Eastern Shore Planning Conference: The Future of Eastern Shore Agriculture. Moderated by radio host Marc Steiner, the conversation will focus on learning from the past and looking to the future. Register now to reserve your seat for this important talk. EARL F. (BUDDY) HANCE Governor Martin O'Malley appointed fourth generation Southern Maryland farmer, Earl F. Hance as secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture in May 2009. He served as deputy secretary of agriculture from February 2007 until May 2009. Prior to these appointments, Buddy Hance served as president of the Maryland Farm Bureau, chairman of the Maryland State Tobacco Authority, and as chairman of the Southern Maryland Agricultural Commission among other farm and community activities. Hance also was active in numerous local, state, and national farm and civic organizations. At the national level, he represented the Northeastern states on the American Farm Bureau Federation and was a member of the Nationwide Insurance Company Board Council. In Maryland, he served as a member of the Rural Maryland Council, the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department, the Patuxent River Commission, the Southern Maryland Tourism Council, the Maryland State Tobacco Authority, the Calvert Farmland Trust, the Board of the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum and the Board of the Calvert County Farm Bureau. A former tobacco farmer, Secretary Hance and his family farm 400 acres of corn and soybeans and operate several commercial greenhouses. Buddy and his wife Robin live in Port Republic, Calvert County and have three children and one grandchild. Ed Kee Ed Kee is a native Delawarean who was born in New Castle and now lives in Sussex County. He has spent his entire career in Delaware Agriculture. Kee began his professional agricultural career as the farm manager

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BLOG

“All Hands on Deck!”

A moral responsibility

2015 Legislate Session Overview

Mills Branch Wind Project

Feeding birds in frigid temps

Winter 2014/15 Newsletter

Future of Agriculture Presentations

Party to Preserve a success!

American Farmland Trust’s director to headline conference

Ag secretaries discuss future of farming

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