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The average American contributes 80lbs of clothing and textiles to the waste stream each year, and often does so without giving it much thought. One community member is set to change that; while inspiring, empowering, and educating our rural community and beyond! Mary Ewell of Spofford, NH grew up from humble beginnings in the DC Metro Area. Throughout her childhood and into her adult life, she always had an interest in fashion. She deeply cared about this passion, and from an early age, saw fashion as an avenue to create one’s look and identity. Following high school, she worked at several retail stores, including a department store, furthering her connection and interest in the fashion world. As she worked hard and excelled in her role, her manager at the time encouraged her to consider going back to college. Ewell notes that unbeknownst to her manager, this encouragement transformed her life. In college, Ewell began to drift away from her sense of fashion, pursuing a degree in physics. Later becoming a professor at George Mason University, she remembers the moment her passion was re-discovered. During a period when the physics department was seeking additional outreach into the community for STEM, she began to seek out dressing more fashionably and professionally. After 22 years as a professor, Ewell and her husband relocated to the Monadnock Region in 2017. Ewell transitioned to lead programs for the Monadnock Sustainability Hub. In her role with the Monadnock Sustainability Hub, she connected and engaged local climate activists and nonprofits in the region through outreach and events. One event was the Radically Rural Summit. Radically Rural is an annual summit held in Keene, NH and virtually, which aims to build sustainability and success for rural life and places by building a network that connects people to each other and to new ideas. Ewell worked on the Clean Energy track, and upon stepping down from her role with the Monadnock Sustainability Hub in 2020, she was asked to help with the first remote Radically Rural in the midst of the pandemic. During the summit, Ewell sat in on the Land & Community Track, led by the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD) for the past six years. In 2020, CCCD organized a session focused on local fibersheds, and hosted speaker Rebecca Burgess, Executive Director of Fibershed and the bestselling author of several books, including Fibershed: Growing a Movement of Farmers, Fashion Activists, and Makers for a New Textile. “Fibershed” a term coined by Burgess, is a play on words from the term “watershed”, the geographic region where streams, rivers, and estuaries drain into a larger body of water. “Fibershed” is a geographic region where the network of fiber meets and connects farmers, fiber, producers, processors, local businesses, and the consumer. Ewell sees this conference session as another life changing moment. As she sat in the session, it was as if a switch turned on and illuminated a new path. Ewell notes, “I think that there are times in your life where something just happens, and a switch just turned on in my life, and I said how can I marry this passion for moving towards climate change and good practices of the soil, and my love for fashion?”. Ewell describes herself as someone who jumps in on new opportunities and adventures, even if she is not fully immersed in the subject area. She cites her spur of the moment registration for an Ironman triathlon several years back, a 17-hour race of swimming, biking, and running. Ewell signed up and successfully completed the triathlon, not letting any fears or a lack of training for seasons stand in her way. As Ewell sat watching the virtual Fibershed session, it was truly an aha moment, she notes thinking, “Here I work to adopt clean energy, and yet a huge polluter and CO2 producer is in exactly this industry that I like, and how am I going to change that?”. This new path would merge Ewell’s passion for the environment, climate change action, and fashion. It was from this session that Locally Dressed was born. Locally Dressed began as a personal challenge for Ewell to buy less, produce less fabric waste, and to wear locally made fiber. Ewell purchases new clothing exclusively from local fiber and clothing producers in a 150-mile radius of the Monadnock Region. With little background knowledge on fashion sustainability or local fibersheds, she excitedly took this new challenge on, taking three months to familiarize herself with the local fiber world before launching her idea. Locally Dressed’s goal was to initially serve as a blog, to transparently share Ewell’s journey. Apart from its personal mission, Locally Dressed has expanded to serve as a resource for connecting the community to local fiber producers and resources. Ewell shares that when she explains her work, she compares it to the locavore movement for clothes. The locavore movement aims to encourage community members to support local food, and in turn, support our health, environment, and local economy. Ewell further explains Locally Dressed’s mission, “It’s also re-connecting with all of your roots. It’s a process of slowing down, but in that slowing down, also thinking about how this [your clothing] was made, and asking was this on an animal or was this grown in a field? I would like to bring back that thought process, that as we wear the garment that we are continually connecting ourselves to the land that we live on, and the other species or plants that live around us.” Ewell acknowledges that there are barriers to wearing fully locally produced clothing and fibers, she knows that this can be a daunting task. Ewell notes that the price point is higher because it is a different process than fast-fashion, which are the type of clothes one would typically purchase at a department or chain store. Fiber is grown through a plant or sheared from an animal, and then processed through a local mill, designed, and then sold. It is a very different process, but it is local and supports local producers, artisans, and businesses. Ewell shares, “This is one way to invest and keep everything rural, while realizing that the price point is higher, and maybe a person can only buy one garment a year, maybe one every few years, but they are changing the way they are looking at clothing, or maybe making a commitment to buying less.” Investing in locally produced clothing is an investment in your community but is also intrinsically special and unique. Ewell notes, “If you are purchasing something that someone made, you are purchasing a piece of art.” Ewell encourages community members to take initial steps on this journey by re-thinking new purchases and considering whether an item can be mended instead. Ewell also encourages people to shop at local secondhand clothing stores, and to start thinking about how they care for the current clothes that they own. When it is time to throw out an article of clothing, consider utilizing it for rags or patches to mend other salvageable clothing. Ewell notes that mending provides an opportunity to individualize your clothing and provides an opportunity to make your own art! Mending clothing can be a fulfilling accomplishment, while benefiting your wallet and the planet! Ewell explains that at its core, Locally Dressed is not a business, it is a mission to bring people together and make an impact collaboratively. Locally Dressed continues to expand its work engaging the Monadnock Region and beyond, in supporting our local fibersheds by hosting a series of upcoming workshops, events, and clothing swaps. Ewell notes that this is just the beginning, as Locally Dressed will continue to expand event opportunities, with the hopes of soon bringing on a staff member to assist in social media outreach. Ewell is partnering with other local organizations to hold an event on May 22nd to further the discussion of local fiber and community. Learn more here! If you are interested in getting involved, learning more, or are a local producer wanting to be listed on Locally Dressed contact Mary at the contact form on https://www.locallydressed.com/

As I write this in early February, it’s comforting & rewarding to see the sun climb above the tree tops on the horizon from its lowest angle in late December. As the rays get stronger on these cold, clear days, we’re getting back to meaningful power from the meager levels of the last two months. January 26th was the first day my two PV (photovoltaic) systems harvested over 20 kWh of free electricity this year. By March the newer system will be doing that by itself. I like banking the excess electrons I don’t need into my utility account, last year I only had to buy electricity during two months. On sunny winter days, the sun pours into the house a little earlier each week. Thanks to this passive solar gain, I can turn the furnace off after taking the chill off and as the days get longer the wood stove too, at least until late in the day. Temps on the solar water heater are creeping up, the really cold days hold the thermal collector output well below the ~140°F range seen in the summer. I’ve been sun harvesting for most of my life but not everyone can afford the upfront investment, fortunately community solar is an option. Locally, Community Supported Solar (CSS) brings together community members, investors and champions to use available financial models to harvest clean, renewable energy. CSS starts with the champions, as supportive parties that put the pieces of the solar project together. For the CSS Farmers project at Sun Moon Farm in Rindge, the Monadnock Sustainability Hub (MSH) and the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD) collaborated to bring affordable clean energy to local farmers. MSH, which is dedicated to strengthening the sustainability and resilience of our region by working collaboratively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach 100% clean energy, provided the technical expertise. The Conservation District, committed to strengthening the farm economy, became the manager of the Community Supported Solar for Farms LLC. Farmer members who have Eversource as an electric utility benefit by participating in this project. The next step was finding the host site and Sun Moon Farm LLC of Rindge NH, became the landowner where the 90 kW PV array was constructed. They purchased solar shares which means buying discounted solar energy from the Investor owners in the Investor phase. Other participating farmers buy the balance of available solar share(s) and become a member of the Community Supported Solar for Farms LLC. The financial investors, some of whom are local, were arranged by the solar contractor, Revision Energy, that was selected to build the project. The investors pay for and own the PV system for 6 years when the law enables the farmers to buyout and become the owners so they can harvest the sun’s free fuel. I really love harvesting free fuel, how about you? For more clean energy info, see www.GreenMonadnock.org. John Kondos is a founding member of Home-Efficiency Resources, the Monadnock Sustainability Hub and the Monadnock chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby. Interested in supporting solar for farms in the Monadnock Region? Cheshire County Conservation District has officially launched a month-long crowdfunding campaign through The Local Crowd Monadnock, to support the CSS program! All proceeds will go directly to making solar more accessible to local farmers! Your donation today, increases the viability of local farms, advances the sustainability of our region, and in turn, strengthens our local food system! Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated! Prefer to donate through the mail? Checks can be made payable to "Cheshire County Conservation District" and addressed to 11 Industrial Park Dr., Walpole, NH 03608. Thank you for helping us support those who grow the food on our plate!

As temperatures drop in the Monadnock Region, and winter sets in, Jenna and Tyler Rich of Partners’ Gardens LLC have just wrapped up a project that has transformed their entire business, and in turn, their lives. Six years ago, Jenna and Tyler’s lives were drastically different. Both living in Chicago, Tyler worked in the theatre world, while Jenna worked in the business world. Shortly after meeting, they decided to try something new. Both Jenna and Tyler moved to North Carolina for a year-long farm internship program at Full Sun Farm. They had every intention to move back to Chicago at the close of the program, but while immersing themselves in the farming world, they decided to continue their journey and move to Tyler’s hometown of Nelson, New Hampshire. In 2017, Partners’ Gardens was born on the land that Tyler’s parents had cared for, for almost 30 years. Partners’ Gardens operates as a market garden style farm with under a half-acre in production and is transitioning to fully no-till techniques with the goal of as minimal soil disturbance as possible. In three years, the couple has shifted from selling produce to friends, to selling at a local farmer’s market and restaurants throughout the Monadnock Region. In three years, Jenna and Tyler have learned how to make the most out of their space by interplanting crops and experimenting on the farm to face recent challenges of pests, deer, and handling rainfall on sloped land. To preserve soil health, they plant cover crops and use mostly hand tools, with the occasional use of a walk behind BCS tractor. Jenna and Tyler have gotten creative in addressing these challenges, by creating trap crops to protect their market crops, planting crops to deter deer such as alliums, utilizing insect netting, and even vacuuming squash bugs. Despite these challenges, Jenna and Tyler are committed to this work now more than ever. During the initial days of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Jenna and Tyler noted how the local food movement offered support and inspiration. During the pandemic, the community became more interested in who was growing their food, and where it came from. Tyler said, “I feel that there is not much more important for our local community than to be able to grow for our community something that is nutrient dense and delicious.” Jenna and Tyler deeply appreciate the community, as well as their partnerships with local restaurants. To bring food to restaurants, and then see it on the plates is an incredible thing. When Jenna and Tyler first got involved in the Monadnock Region food system and farming community, they met Amanda Littleton, Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD)’s District Manager. Through Amanda, Jenna and Tyler first heard of the Monadnock Food Co-Op (MFC) Farm Fund. The local grant opportunity is a a partnership between Cheshire County Conservation District and the Monadnock Food Co-Op. The fund's mission is to support local farmers in increasing sustainable food production and wholesale sales to contribute to a thriving local farm economy. Through the encouragement of Amanda, Jenna and Tyler decided to apply for the grant. Although they did not receive funding the first time they applied, they took a year to re-think the application and develop a detailed project plan. During this time, they attended the MFC informational sessions, and researched farms across the country. Jenna and Tyler received funding in the 2021 grant cycle for a passive solar propagation house project. ​ Partners' Gardens passive solar propagation house during construction. Jenna and Tyler first learned about passive solar propagation houses during their time in North Carolina. Jenna and Tyler set out to become less reliant on the use of propane in their greenhouse, as propane is a fossil fuel. Constructing a passive solar propagation house was a great fit to promote environmental sustainability on their farm. Prior to their passive solar propagation house, Jenna and Tyler had a greenhouse built from pvc pipe. For the past three years, Jenna and Tyler have started their crops in their house and would move them back and forth from their high tunnel and greenhouse when temperatures dropped at night. This was not an ideal system by any means. It took up time, but also was not ideal for plant health to go from inside at night and back to the greenhouse during the day, but it got them by in their first three years. Tyler explained that a typical greenhouse has no insulation, it requires fairly constant heat at night when temperatures drop, and that can require a lot of propane. The passive solar propagation house still requires minimal heating, but it is insulated on three sides. The south side glazing of the house has polycarbonate panels that are at a 50-degree angle. This angle captures the sun all day long, which warms up the propagation house. The propagation house itself sits on a concrete slab which also acts as a heat sink. Inside the house’s north back wall, large water barrels also heat up from the sun’s warmth. The propagation house ventilates through vents and exhaust fans as the temperature increases during the day. As night falls and the water begins to cool, it releases that stored heat the water barrels and concrete are holding into the air, all which is then captured within the insulated building. Due to the insulation, any additional heat source that is used is minimal, and the building retains the heat much longer. ​ Tyler stands in front of the completed passive solar propagation house. This cycle of heat capture and retention minimizes energy costs, energy usage, and allows Jenna and Tyler to confidently grow crops for their business. It's a win for their wallet, and a win for the environment, by utilizing less propane, electricity, and minimizing waste by having a durable and permanent structure. Tyler and Jenna noted that the Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund has changed their lives. If they had funded the solar propagation project on their own, it would have been a multi-year process of saving and slowly building, Tyler said, “To be able to do this all in one go because of the financial assistance we received from this grant, which is from the community…we all put our dollars into this if we shop at the Monadnock Food Co-op and round up, it has allowed us to change our business from the end of one year to the start of the next which is in a farming season overnight. It has allowed us to change our business overnight, essentially. We're extremely grateful for that community support because that's huge.” Jenna added, “What the CCCD does in connection with the Co-op in particular, it’s such a game changer for a small farm.” ​ Jenna and Tyler stand in front of the completed project holding the Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund banner which reads, "Supporting Our Local Farmers". Moving forward Jenna and Tyler plan to expand to two new fields and utilize two different no till techniques on those fields. One field is fully no till and currently covered in cover crop, while the other is covered with seedless hay, mulch, leaves, and compost and tarped for the winter. Jenna and Tyler are excited to plant into those fields in the spring. This winter, Jenna and Tyler will be in the first cohort of CCCD’s new business course for NH specialty crop producers, which is being hosted in partnership with NCAT and The Hannah Grime’s Center. Jenna and Tyler have also been taking a farming course through Neversink Farm, and are excited to learn more about their business, and expand to more direct sales in the future, rather than the CSA model. Jenna and Tyler encourage that the best way for community members to get involved is to start by going to any local farmers markets, and support locally owned businesses as well. By supporting local restaurants, you’re also supporting farmers that local restaurants buy from. Jenna and Tyler also encourage interested community members to volunteer. They noted that it's a great way to learn more about where your vegetables come from, and to lend a hand. Jenna and Tyler encourage interested community members to read their blog which explores their stories on the farm, sign up for their newsletter to stay in the loop about what is growing and available for purchase at the farm, and to follow them on social media as well. To learn more about Partners’ Gardens, read their blog, and sign up for their newsletter, visit: https://partnersgardens.com/. Partners’ Gardens can be found on Instagram: @partnersgardens The Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, now in its sixth year, is accepting applications from farmers of Cheshire County and abutting New Hampshire towns through February 1, 2022. Learn more and apply here: https://www.cheshireconservation.org/farm-fund CCCD is looking for interested community members for our monthly community member spotlight! Share about a current or past conservation related project or program that CCCD supported or introduced you to! As part of the community spotlight, CCCD will share your story in our newsletter, press release, and social media. It is a great way to gain exposure and share your work! Community Member Spotlight participants can choose to write a short blog post, or conduct a short interview over the phone or zoom! Interested? Email Benée Hershon at benee@cheshireconservation.org or leave a voicemail at 603-756-2988 x3011!

2021 has been a year of resilience in Cheshire County. CCCD has had the honor of continuing our work with this amazing community for a 76th year! We have seen the impacts of the ongoing pandemic on our farmers, foresters, and community, but in turn, we have also seen the incredible strength! In 2021 we have continued our ongoing conservation efforts and programming, along with introducing new programs and opportunities for our community. This year, we began an exciting new partnership with The Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship and NCAT Northeast, to offer a free 7-week business planning course for NH Specialty Crop Producers. This new initiative will support our farmers, bring NH specialty crop producers together to learn from each other, and support CCCD’s farm viability efforts. This year, we also introduced an exciting new partnership with SOAK Up the Rain NH to offer rain garden technical assistance for conservation opportunity fund applicants! CCCD and SOAK Up the Rain NH staff have already begun to conduct site visits to assist community members in determining whether a rain garden is a good fit for their property! Rain Gardens reduce pollution to our community’s waters, while also supporting native pollinators. 2021 Grant Highlights: We awarded 3 farms through the Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund in 2021. Now in its fifth year, The Farm Fund has awarded $87,000 to 16 area farms! In 2022, the Farm Fund will award up to $30,000 for area farms! We are currently accepting applications and offering informational sessions for interested applicants! Learn More and Apply by February 1, 2022, here! We awarded $100,000 to NH Land Trusts through the NH Farm Future Fund’s second year! In 2022 we have $100,000 available for NH Land Trusts Apply by February 15, 2022, here! 9 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce farms in the region worked with CCCD in 2021, to ensure farm fresh CSA vegetable shares were accessible to interested community members. 42 households participated in the third year of the Monadnock Farm Share program! We awarded $5,800 to five awardees for wildlife improvement projects through the Conservation Opportunity Fund! We are currently accepting applications and offering informational sessions for interested applicants! Learn More and Apply by February 1, 2022, here! In 2021, The Monadnock Localvores offered scholarships to 44 Cheshire County youth to attend summer farm camp through the Jeffrey P. Smith Farm Scholarship Program! 2021 Program Highlights: We continued to offer farm rental equipment to local farmers to encourage healthy soil practices in an economically accessible way! Along with our rental equipment program, we offered technical workshops utilizing our available equipment! We hosted our annual Source to Sea River Clean Up in September with 70 volunteers who pulled over 1,653 lbs. of trash in Keene, Swanzey, and Winchester! We continued to offer Granite State Market Match to SNAP recipients at local farm stores and farmers’ markets! Our Veteran Appreciation Month had the highest turnout on record! We distributed $14,200 in food vouchers to 258 veterans! Of those veterans, 100 were new to our program this year! We hosted a successful 76th Virtual Annual Meeting! We welcomed Dr. David Hollinger, Director of the USDA Northeast Climate Hub as our keynote presenter. We also honored our 2021 award recipients: 2021 Educator of the Year, Sam Jaffe of the Caterpillar Lab, 2021 Cooperator of the Year, Craig and Megan Jensen of Sun Moon Farm, and the 75th Anniversary Conservation Legacy Award to the Monadnock Conservancy. Read more about our awardees here! We hosted 3 successful workshops through the Land & Community Track at the 2021 Radically Rural Conference. This track included three hybrid (virtual and in-person) sessions that focused on Native Tribal Nations leading on environmental stewardship, recreation economies, and the impact of Covid-19 on rural populations and land use. In 2021, CCCD continued work on our Monadnock Region Community Supported Solar project! The Monadnock Region Community Supported Solar project, or CSS, brings together Farmers, Investors and Champions to use available financial models to help local farms realize the potential of the renewable energy economy.Farmers in New Hampshire face significant energy expenses to run their businesses. This project will help to stabilize and lower costs of electricity for participating farms through the Community Supported Solar framework and in turn, increase the viability of those farms. There are a limited number of shares remaining for farms in the EverSource territory interested in participating! Interested farmers should contact Amanda Littleton directly to reserve their shares; first come first served until sold out. Either send an email to amanda@cheshireconservation.org or call 607-756-2988 x4 and leave a voicemail. Read more about what we have accomplished in our 2021 Annual Report, here! We feel fortunate to work with such an incredible community and to be able to do this work in such a beautiful place. CCCD wishes you and your family a happy and healthy new year! We ask that you consider supporting our ongoing conservation efforts in this community that we call home! Contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated and all go directly to our conservation programs, support CCCD here!

Laura and Cary are two busy and active professional women who wanted to help restore a piece of the land they live on. The area had been a gravel, sand, pine forest and largely ignored since the 1990s when it was closed as an operating farm. Laura and Cary approached Peter Hansel, then President of Filtrine, the owner of the property about the company’s intentions for the parcel. He invited them to develop a proposal. Cary and Laura created a vision for the property that included regeneration of the land, sustainability principles, and climate responsibility. He agreed and a new project was born. ​ ​ Laura loved gardening with British cottage perennial plants and Cary was a home vegetable and fruit gardener but neither knew anything about pollinator gardens. Both came from regions with pretty good soil so when they came to Keene and this soil-poor landscape, they discovered that the plants would not grow easily until the soil was restored Several months before they applied for the grant, a friend and Antioch graduate introduced them to Hugelkultur- a German technique that involves placing logs, branches, leaves, grass clippings, straw, cardboard, petroleum-free newspaper, manure, compost, or whatever other biomass you have available and topping with soil. Since there was abundant wood slash around from prior logging at the property, they identified some areas and using wood, manure, & straw created a few sites. Cary spent some time listening to the land to try and learn what it was asking for and what it needed. Did it want to return to farming production or something else? Through quiet meditation and a timely landing of a monarch butterfly on her arm, she felt the land wanted hope. This inspired her and Laura on their journey towards pollinators. Additionally, Cary’s mom had been a volunteer with Monarch Watch and influenced her daughter. They then heard about the Cheshire County Conservation District's Conservation Opportunity Fund. They applied and were awarded a grant to start a pollinator garden. The team from CCCD and NRCS visited them to see the area and discuss options. The site they chose did not have great soil but they add manure, wood chips and hay (that they learned from Hugelkultur) and left it over the winter. December 2020: ​ The pre-meeting was critical to their success. They received a lot of material about plants, where to buy them and learned about the Smart Phone Ap “Seek” by iNaturalist to help identify plants. One goal of the project was to inventory existing pollinators and keep them wherever possible. They also learned how important good site preparation is to the long-term success. The site lay over the winter and come early summer, they were ready to plant. Using plugs (small plants) from Nasami Farm in Massachusetts and larger plants from Allen Brothers in Vermont, they began the work of installing. July 2021: ​ The plants thrived despite some invasion from the resident groundhog. ​ By August the plants were in full bloom, pollinators abound, and caterpillars were discovered. August 2021: ​ ​ Both Cary and Laura loved seeing monarch butterflies thriving on the plants. The milkweed, by the way, were volunteers, not planted. When I visited in late Oct, the gardens were fading but pollinators were thriving on the New England aster and Rudbeckia. There was little doubt that this small plot of sand and gravel was now a thriving habitat for a variety of bees and other pollinators. So what’s next? They are not stopping here. They have a site that was under plastic all winter (they are using only organic site prep techniques), prepared using Hugelkultur and they will be seeding it with a seed mix from Prairie Moon Nursery. This past summer they threw some seeds in an area they used to experiment with Hugelkultur and all the seeds thrived, so they are very optimistic for the new site. And they are in the process of clearing another site that will be prepped with plastic this winter. ​ Another lesson learned- when water runs off the roof, especially in the rain they had this summer, it can erode the site. Their response was to redirect water into another bed and inadvertently create a rain garden. Next year they will plant this area with wetland plants to help absorb the runoff and protect their pollinator garden. I asked them what they’ve learned and here are their responses: Have a site visit and listen; get resources Prep, prep, prep site; don’t rush to planting until ready Listen and observe, watch how the land changes and how the pollinator diversity grows Be prepared to get hooked on planting, it is an amazing process! Thank you, Cary and Laura. Amazing women and an amazing site now buzzing with pollinators and excitement!

Every spring and sometimes in the summer, the Cold River would take a bite out of two important agricultural fields near its confluence with the Connecticut River in Walpole. Overtime, this constant nibbling was really starting to add up. Nearly an acre of some of the most productive farm soils in the United States were lost to this process in the last 15 years. About three years ago, landowners on both sides of the river approached the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service to see what could be done to protect their fields from this ongoing damage, and set in motion a complex project that will be completed later this month. Before it was completed, the project, located just downstream of the Route 123 bridge over the Cold River, involved dozens of people from many organizations. Working together, the NH Association of Conservation Districts, the Cheshire County Conservation District, the Monadnock Conservancy, the Connecticut River Conservancy, two landowners, two farmers who work the fields, several state and local agencies, engineers, and private contractors from as far away as Maine, a plan was developed to use biomimicry to help keep the river in its banks, and to help keep the banks where they are now. The system consists of two major pieces: a series of log jam revetments that armor the banks and dissipate the energy of water and ice flowing down the river, and a buffer strip of native riparian trees and shrubs to hold the soil in place with their complex root systems. Trees and shrubs have been planted on the north side of the river, and are scheduled to be planted on the south side later this month. As a bonus, the log jam structures serve as shelter for fish and as perches for birds that hunt fish and insects in and above the water surface. The riparian buffer will also provide habitat for birds and mammals, and may help to keep the water in the Cold River just a little bit cooler when the trees grow and start to provide some shade. Just as important, the whole system will reduce the major erosion that has been happening on the site every year, sending sediment, soil nutrients, and irreplaceable topsoil down the Connecticut River to the Long Island Sound estuary. If you drove past the site earlier this summer and saw the huge piles of trees with the root wads still attached, and lots of big machines, that’s what it was all about. Written by Bill Fosher Owner, Edgefield Farm Conservation Planner, NHACD Image by Nancy Bryant Photography

I never considered a career in conservation until my first week of college, when a friend insisted that I had to check out that, “awesome tree class”. The “awesome tree class” was the introduction class for the Environmental Studies program: “Fundamentals of Environmental Challenges”, where I immersed myself in conservation topics from best forestry practices to learning about aquatic ecosystems. The highlight of the class was Friday tree walks around campus where we learned how to identify New England plants and trees. Each week I looked forward to joining my fellow environmental enthusiasts, as we stood in circles under beautiful trees carrying magnifying glasses and journals to write down every fact that we could. My favorite tree of the semester? The Shagbark Hickory or Carya ovata. I quickly became involved in all things environmental. I felt particularly drawn to sustainable agriculture, working landscapes conservation, citizen science, and engaging my peers and community in conservation. These interests lead me to becoming president and farm manager of Brandeis University’s rooftop farm, a Teaching Assistant for a Citizen Science course, a Natural Resources intern at Minute Man National Historical Park, an Avian Specimen intern, and eventually lead me to the foothills of Shenandoah National Park at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. This past year I had the incredible opportunity to plan and farm a 3-acre no-till community engagement farm for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts through the TerraCorps program. It was an amazing year working within the Pioneer Valley farm and food system, but I also missed working in my other interest areas within the conservation field. As my service year drew to a close, I found myself back in the same position I had been following graduation, scrolling through just about every job site in the environmental field. About a month before the end of my service term I found a job posting that made me do a double take! I have always had so many different interests in the field of conservation, that I never thought I could find a job that engages the community in all my interest areas. I wrote up my application immediately and sent it in the next morning. I am so thankful to have found the job posting for CCCD and am thrilled to be working in the role of Outreach Coordinator. I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with an incredible organization, board, and community, while also promoting the conservation of our natural resources in Cheshire County! ​​

These are challenging times for livestock producers. Dairy farms are struggling with record low milk prices, lots of farmers are having trouble finding enough customers for their hay, and livestock market prices are way down. In times like these, farmers are always looking for ways to tighten their belts, but they want to continue to be good stewards of the land. Adding a grazing operation, or intensifying one that already exists, can be a great way to reduce farm costs, harvest standing forage crops without running expensive machinery, and improve animal health. A properly run grazing operation can also improve soil health, reduce erosion, and improve water infiltration when compared with growing an annual crop on the same land. Granite State Graziers, a statewide organization that provides education and resources for pasture-based farmers, will hold its annual grazing conference on Feb.16 in Concord and will offer intensive workshops on how to manage grass-based dairy and livestock operations. If you’re interested in learning more about these practices and the benefits and challenges grazing operations face you might want to consider attending this conference! Featured speakers will be: Kathy Voth, publisher of the website On Pasture https://onpasture.com/ which publishes hundreds of articles a year on grazing, animal husbandry, and farm business management. Kathy is also known for her innovative approach to teaching cows to eat weeds. Kathy Soder, animal scientist with the USDA-ARS-Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, will present her latest research project, in which she is working with grass-fed dairies to develop management and supplementation strategies that complement grazing preferences of dairy cattle to optimize the utilization of mixed-species cool-season pastures of the Northeast U.S. The full conference agenda of eight separate one-hour workshops will be published shortly, so stay tuned to the Granite State Graziers website for more information - http://grazenh.com/2019grazingconference Written by: Bill Fosher NHACD Agronomist for the CT River Watershed Soil Health Initiative

Have you heard of the Cheshire County Conservation District? Maybe you’ve seen our logo, attended an event, or utilized one of our programs? Or even yet, maybe you’ve heard of us, but are unsure of who we are or what we do? Well, today is the day to put all of these uncertainties to rest. Today is the day we step further out into the community and engage the public in a new and exciting way. Today is the day we launch our new Conservation Blog Series, and you have a front row seat. Welcome! At the Cheshire County Conservation District, or CCCD, we work to promote the conservation and responsible use of our natural and agricultural resources for the people of Cheshire County by providing technical, financial, and educational assistance. We divide our work into four program areas: Soil, Water, Wildlife, and Farm Viability. ​ But what does that mean? If you’re a local farmer, that means you have access to affordable farm rental equipment including a no-till seeder, roller crimper, subsoiler, wood ash/lime spreader, aerator, and penetrometer through one of our coveted Soil programs. If you’re a land owner that means you may have borrowed one of our skidder bridges during your timber harvest to protect a stream crossing. Or as a community member you’ve helped clean up the Ashuelot River each year during the Source to Sea River Clean-Up. Maybe you’ve purchased plants through our Conservation Plant Sale or visited one of our Pollinator Habitat installations across the county. If so, you’ve witnessed our Wildlife programming at work. Perhaps you’ve even shopped at the Keene Farmers Market and doubled your SNAP dollars using the Granite State Market Match program or have dined in a local restaurant that has sourced its produce from local farms through the Monadnock Menus program. The CCCD helped make that happen. The CCCD has been operating in Cheshire County, right under your nose, for over 70 years! And with the support of community members, farmers, local landowners, and community partners we hope to continue our work for another 70 years, and then some! This is merely a taste of what the CCCD does in Cheshire County. To discover more about CCCD programing, please visit our new and improved website! www.cheshireconservation.org Written by: Lola Bobrowski - CCCD Outreach Coordinator

The 2021 National Pollinator Week, an annual international event created by the Pollinator Partnership, took place between Monday June 21st through Sunday June 27th. In celebration of National Pollinator Week, the Cheshire County Conservation District & the Sullivan County Conservation District partnered up to celebrate with an iNaturalist Pollinator Bioblitz! A bioblitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible (in this case, pollinators) in a specific area over a short period of time to get a snapshot of an area’s biodiversity. New Hampshire is home to a broad diversity of more than 100 species of wild bees across different habitats. These include 70+ species of sweat bees, 30 species of leafcutter and mason bees, 5 species of carpenter bees and 10 bumblebee species. Additional pollinators identified include beetles, flies, ants, wasps, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds! Thank you to those who participated! We hope you enjoyed using iNaturalist and that you will continue to use it. There are many projects on iNaturalist that your observations can be contributed to and it's a great way to keep a list of what you've seen in your backyard or even on vacation. If you’re unfamiliar with how iNaturalist works, we’ve got you covered! Check out this video for a full tutorial on how to use iNaturalist here Our bioblitz had a total of 155 observations, made by 26 different observers in Cheshire & Sullivan County and we identified 86 different pollinator species! You can check out the full results of our National Pollinator Week Bioblitz here Below are just few examples of what was observed last month! We want to do this project again next year for pollinator week, so keep your eye out next June for another fun bioblitz during National Pollinator Week!

Radically Rural is a conference focused on small communities, what rural means and how to keep the small-town feel. This year’s conference, to be held in Keene, NH, is open to everyone interested in this topic, and others, and is being held both in person and virtually September 22 & 23. For more information visit www.radicallyrural.org Radically Rural features tracks in community journalism, arts and culture, lands and community, main streets and downtowns, clean energy, health care and entrepreneurship. Cheshire County Conservation District Manager Amanda Littleton is the track leader for the land and community track and has lined up some excellent session speakers. She says, “ This year each session in the Land and Community Track focuses on opportunities to strengthen the fabric of our communities by prioritizing natural resources conservation and connections to the land through innovative cross-sector partnerships and including the voices of a diversity of stakeholders.” This year’s Radically Rural’s Land and Community Track will feature three sessions. The first will focus on “Rural as Refuge”; how has the Co-Vid pandemic promoted urban migration into rural areas and what does that mean to both. The second, “Exploring Nature, Renewing Communities” investigates how nature is interwoven with our lives, our health and our wellbeing. The final session, “Native Tribes Lead on Environmental Leadership” discusses how native communities across America are taking on the most challenging environmental issues of our time, especially climate change. Registrations starts at 8am September 22 at 8am followed by the keynote speaker, all the tracks and an evening event, “CONNECT” featuring networking, local food, drinks and music. September 23rd starts at 10am. Again, www.radicallyrural.org for more information about registering and other tracks. We hope you’ll consider participating. It is an excellent conference and a chance to highlight our vibrant and engaging community here in Keene. Written by: Amy Bodwell CCCD Board of Supervisors, Vice-Chair

Bank erosion, or the removal of soil, rocks, and vegetation by the force of moving water, is a natural part of river dynamics. Over the course of its life, rivers meander across the landscape, removing soil in some places and depositing it further downstream. The intensity and direction of this change is dictated not only by precipitation but by the surrounding landscape, geology, soils, and vegetation. A streambank covered by trees and shrubs has a slower erosion rate than a bank with little or no woody plants, as the roots protect and anchor the soil. This means that streambanks without trees and shrubs are at a greater risk of erosion. Excessive erosion may be result of human interference with the natural river course and/or the use of the land next to the river. Structures or rubble deposited in the stream or on the bank can cause eddy currents, sending the water in a circular pattern that can cause severe erosion if the bank is not protected. NRCS installed several streambank stabilization systems across New Hampshire in efforts to reduce bank erosion. The chosen log crib-style system is constructed with boulders, large logs, and tree root wads. The logs are anchored into the bank and the wood is laid in alternating patterns, creating a cabin or crib-like structure. This method uses natural materials to slow the flow along the bank, reduces erosion and provides habitat for fish and other wildlife in the stream. The cribs and plants trap sediment and allow new trees and shrubs to establish on the bank. Live shrubs and trees are planted near the top of the bank to further anchor soil.

This is a story about a family that bought some farmland in Chesterfield, then made the decision to conserve it so that it would always be available for farming. Lucius “Lucky” and Barb Evans moved to this 37-acre property along Route 63 in Chesterfield only nine years ago. While they are not farmers themselves, they lease the fields to a local farmer who harvests several thousand square hay bales in a good year, and the maple trees along the southern boundary are tapped each spring for syrup production. It’s this passion for agriculture that motivated the Evanses to conserve the property. “Chesterfield is a good place to live. I have seen too many farms grow houses,” Lucky shared. “New Hampshire agriculture is rare and important. I’d like to see this land stay a hay field or a farm. I think it’s a choice for the future.” The town’s master plan identified land along Route 63 as a top priority for conservation, since it anchors the scenic southern gateway into the village of Chesterfield. The property’s road frontage and open fields also gave it great development potential, and there once was an approved plan to subdivide and build there. Instead, thanks to Lucky and Barb’s choice to conserve, the agricultural land will stay intact. “I want to keep the fields in Chesterfield,” Lucky said. “I hope people enjoy [the property], not just driving by, but to walk, snowshoe, or cross-country ski, too.” The Evans farmland is protected by a conservation easement purchased by the Monadnock Conservancy, a land trust serving the Monadnock Region, in 2020. The purchase price of the easement was determined by an appraisal, which took into account the development potential of the land and the local real estate market at the time. To raise the funds needed to purchase easements, the Conservancy seeks a variety of federal, state, and private grant programs as well as town conservation funds and individual private donations. The Evans project was made possible by funding from the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Agricultural Land Easements program, New Hampshire’s Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), the Thomas W. Haas Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Town of Chesterfield, and anonymous donors. Farmers often choose to conserve their land to ensure availability for farming into the future. By limiting future development potential, conservation also reduces land value, thereby ensuring affordability for future potential farmer-owners. When they sell a conservation easement, farmers may use the proceeds to reduce debt, invest in infrastructure, facilitate intergenerational succession, or simply fund a well-deserved retirement. Some land owners are willing and able to donate a conservation easement without compensation or sell it at a bargain price, either of which may qualify him or her for federal income tax benefits. Farmland protection continues to be a top priority for the Monadnock Conservancy. To learn more about the Conservancy’s work, visit www.monadnockconservancy.org or call Pete Throop at (603) 357-0600 ext. 107. ​ Written by: Pete Throop Conservation Project Manager The Monadnock Conservancy

Have a need to reseed a field or pasture but don’t want to plow it? The Cheshire County Conservation District can help! The district has two no-till seeders (drills), a 7’-7” Haybuster and a 12’ Esch. Both drills have multiple seed boxes and can handle legume, grass and grain seeds. The Haybuster is better suited to smaller fields and pastures and requires a 40 horsepower or larger tractor with hydraulic remotes. The Esch drill is better suited to larger acreage and requires a 110 horsepower or larger tractor with two sets of hydraulic remotes. Uses for the drills includes: Spring seeding of grasses, clovers and alfalfa into rundown or winter killed fields and pastures. Spring seeding of small grains. Early summer seeding of summer annuals. Late summer seeding of grasses, clovers and alfalfa. Establishment of cover crops in the late summer or fall. To insure the highest probability of success several steps are recommended: Take a soil sample. UNH Cooperative Extension can provide the needed materials. Apply the recommended amendments before seeding. Familiarize yourself with proper setup and operation of the drill. Seed at proper depth Happy seeding!! For more information on the CCCD's full suite of farm rental equipment, including equipment available to small scale and large scale farmers alike, visit http://cheshireconservation.org/farm-equipment-rentals Written by: Tom Beaudry CCCD Associate Board Member

Are you a farm or forestland owner about to embark on a new contract with NRCS? Maybe you’re interested in signing up for NRCS programs for the first time? Either way, these tips are for you! Recently I was asked to share what wisdom I have gained over 27 years with USDA NRCS. In thinking about how to do that, I realized that most of what I have learned has been from my clients. During the process of planning, designing, and completing projects we usually run into one problem or another, and it’s only by working to understand each other and the problem that we manage to find a way forward. Every farm is different, but I have a few tips that can apply to most situations, and I will share them here. Some of you may recognize yourselves in these suggestions: Communicate your needs throughout the process and don’t assume that the NRCS person knows about your farm and your goals. They know about their programs and their standards, but you know your farm best, and you will be living with the project after it is finished. Go to field days and workshops to see and hear what other farms are doing. Get estimates from contractors and suppliers early on, before your contract is set in stone, so that you know what your out of pocket costs are likely to be. NRCS payments are “flat rate,” and not adjusted to your actual cost. Try out a practice or technology on a small area before committing to installing it on your entire farm. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Make sure you can comfortably commit the time, management, and money to complete your project successfully and on time. Some projects are best implemented in phases, especially for new farms, where your business plan is evolving. NRCS funded practices have “lifespans” of 1 to 20 years depending on the practice. You’re expected to maintain that practice in usable condition for its lifespan. Ask what the lifespan is, for practices that you are considering. Set yourself up with a good email service and a printer/scanner so that you can process paperwork quickly. Email also gives you a record of what was said in case there is confusion later on. Keep your paperwork organized so that you can manage your obligations under your contract, and keep track of cost and payment information. NRCS financial assistance is competitive and driven by resource concerns. The chances of having your project selected for funding are improved by working with your planner to identify and address resource concerns. Be easy to help. Communicate, pay attention to questions and deadlines, and express your appreciation when you can. If you’re interested in exploring more about NRCS programming or would like to request a site visit, don’t hesitate to reach out to NRCS at 603-756-2988 x3 or the CCCD at 603-756-2988 x4. Written by: Heidi Konesko NRCS Soil Conservationist

One in three bites of food that we consume are made possible by pollinators—a group that includes the well-known honeybee, but also an incredible array of wild bee species, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, beetles, as well as birds, bats, and other animals. Most flowering plants depend on pollinators to reproduce. The natural world, and with it, human civilization, depend fundamentally on these typically diminutive creatures. Yet, collectively as a society, we have often ignored or misunderstood the importance of pollinators and how our actions impact them. Consequentially, many pollinator species are declining in population with some becoming endangered or extinct. This is due to a number of reasons, including habitat loss, pesticide use, and invasive diseases. While there is much cause for concern, we have tools at our fingertips to protect and support the buzzing, humming, darting diversity of life that brings each year’s new blooms. One step that we can take is to preserve and create more pollinator habitat within our yards, gardens, farms, and communities. In Cheshire County, a variety of private landowners are stepping up and saying “yes” to pollinator habitat. One example is Hillside Village, a senior living community located in Keene. Last year, the village’s Resident Trails Committee submitted a proposal to CCCD’s Conservation Opportunity Fund to establish a pollinator garden in a field near the Village’s residential buildings. Marty Post, retired electronics engineer and member of the trails committee, shared that the idea for a pollinator garden germinated when the Keene Sentinel ran a story about the Conservation Opportunity Fund, which offers private landowners support on a variety of conservation projects, including establishment of pollinator habitat. He and other committee members approached management and residents about the idea, which was quick to gain support. Marty describes himself as “not particularly a plant person.” He might be selling himself short, though, since he and his wife have a long history of organic gardening that stretches back decades to when they lived in New Jersey and tended a sizeable organic garden and orchard trees. Organic methods were such a novelty back then, Marty noted, that state extension agents were referring farmers to the Post family for guidance. Marty gives most of the gardening credit to his wife. His role was primarily “turning things over in the fall.” So, while certainly familiar with role pollinators play in the garden, Marty wouldn’t claim to be an expert on pollinator habitat. Luckily, he and others at Hillside Village didn’t need to be experts in order to decide what seeds to buy, how to best prepare the soil, and to how to manage the pollinator garden once it was established. That’s because Conservation District staff were there to provide technical support throughout the project planning process—the Conservation Opportunity Fund brings not only financial assistance, but also professional consultation services. As the project was first conceived, pollinator garden establishment would take place through planting plugs, shrubs, and trees. After walking the site with Conservation District staff, however, it became clear that a direct seed approach would be more suitable. Directly sowing seeds would allow the garden’s area to reach a ¼ acre while still remaining within budget. It would also avoid the need to water transplants by pumping water from a nearby brook. The group is planning to prepare the site this year. They’ve settled on using a low tech and chemical-free approach that will rely on black plastic to smother the existing vegetation. The ground will be covered late winter 2020 through very early spring 2021 so that the site will be ready for sowing later this spring. The plastic will be reclaimed and stored for reuse in the event of a garden expansion. The seeding mix will include a range of species, including some annuals, which will provide a burst of color the same year the garden is planted. The considerable size of the garden and its location within walking distance of the residential buildings means that it will be visible from most of the homes at Hillside Village—a selling point to many community members. Pollinator habitat not only benefits the pollinators themselves, but also enriches human experience of the surrounding landscape. A win-win. The pollinator garden will be accessible via walking path, adding interest to the daily stroll of residents. Marty notes how the garden could also one day function as a teaching site for students, serving as a point of connection between the village and the wider community. With some initiative, teamwork, and assistance from the Conservation Opportunity Fund, the Trails Committee at Hillside Village is well on its way to creating a local pollinator haven and a beautiful accent to the surrounding fields and forest. Interested in welcoming pollinators onto your property? Check out the Conservation Opportunity Fund webpage or contact District Manager Amanda Littleton at amanda@cheshireconservation.org or 603-756-2988 x4. Proposals for the 2021 funding round are due by March 1st. Written by: Todd Horner CCCD Associate Board Member Planner at Southwest Region Planning Commission