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Five Rivers Conservation TrustHelping to protect open space in central New Hampshire Fall 2014 NewsletterMessage from the Food and FarmsBoard Chair By Beth McGuinnBy Margaret Watkins It’s no coin- The harvest is in, and it was bountiful in the Five Rivers region. Our cidence that farmers worked hard to provide quality local fruits, vegetables, and other Five Rivers foods. If you are a Market Basket shopper, perhaps your family benefited Conservation even more from our fields and farms this summer. Trust made positive Five Rivers knows the benefit of local foods, and we have helped con- headlines serve some of our region’s iconic farms – Dimond Hill on the Hopkin- and had sup- ton-Concord town line where the sweetness drips from each corn cob, and you canportive editorials in this summer’s purchase ev-Concord Monitor. Nor is it dumb erything fromluck that we now have a full-time beets to zucchini;executive director, are pursuing Carter Hill Or-national accreditation, received an chard in Concordexceptional 2-year capacity-build- where apples anding grant from the NH Charita- peaches hangble Foundation, and continue to heavy on theattract high-value conservation trees, and appleprojects. cider is pressedNo. These are signs of a vibrant from a blendorganization rooted in people of tasty apples;– in YOU, our members and sup- Bohanan Farmporters. Contributions from our where the Rob-Conservation Leaders, who’ve ertsons producemade $1,500/year commitments Contoocookfor three years, together with the Creamery milk,Charitable Foundation grant, made bottled in glassthe decision to hire a full-time and distributed to Apple picking at Carter Hill Orchards.director relatively easy, and finan-cially responsible. local stores; and Photo credit: Julia Freeman-WolpertFive Rivers’ vibrancy also reflectson its Trustees, who over the years two Stickney Hill Farms where rolling fields produce hay for cattle, cows,have brought a truly remarkable and horses.array of skills and expertise to theorganization and laid a solid foun- More farm projects are in progress, including a third farm easement indation on which we continue to Concord’s Stickney Hill agricultural district. This project is funded through LCHIP, an Agricultural Land Easement Grant, the Russell Foundation and Message, cont. page 2 the City of Concord. Although typically expensive and complicated, farm projects are an organizational priority. Good farmland in New Hampshire is rare. Flat, Food, cont. page 4

Message continued from page 1 The Faces of Five Riversbuild. The multi-year accreditation process would be By Jim Martin, Hopkinton, NHfar more daunting without that foundation. I have to admit, when Our new Executive asked to write this ar- Director, Beth McGuinn, ticle, I didn’t feel quite is no stranger to our worthy. After all, I only region or our work. She recently became a new has worked in the land member and volunteer. conservation field for But I have been aware nearly 20 years, for the of Five Rivers’ positive Society for the Protec- impact on the region tion of New Hampshire Jim Martin with his wife Amy for some time. Forests where she and children Paige and Patrick One of my first experi- served in land steward- at Gould Hill Farm. ences with a Five Rivers easement property was last ship, volunteer manage- year, when my children and I had the opportunity to ment and education ca- pacities, and for Ausbon hike the Marjory Swope trail in Concord. On our hike Sargent Land Preserva- we discovered dozens of different types of mush-Photo credit: Paul Lepesqueur rooms and fungi in what seemed like every color.tion Trust, where she brought more than 5,000 acres When I downloaded my photos from the hike, I’dinto conservation. Beth also brings leadership skillsfrom her volunteer work, and I speak for the entire surprisingly snapped over 100 pictures of just mush- rooms. And in fact, one of them won third prize inboard in saying we are thrilled to have her with us. Five Rivers’ 25th anniversary photo contest.Margaret Watkins is Five Rivers Board Chairman. She Growing up in the Northbrings leadership skills from many years in the conser- Country in the town of Lan-vation field, including past roles as Board Chairperson caster gave me an appreci-and Executive Director of the Piscataquog Land Con- ation for our state’s naturalservancy, our neighboring Land Trust. n beauty. My grandparents and uncle operated dairy farms. I still recall selling corn from my grandparents’ porch by the baker’s dozen. To me Five Rivers is a nonprofit land trust with a mission to preserve there’s just something about Indian Pipe and protect important open space lands for present and future a farm. The fact that Five Riv- Photo credit: Jim Martingenerations. We work in sixteen towns1 at the confluence of five ers is successfully conserving family farms for future New Hampshire rivers2. generations to enjoy is something that I will make1Five Rivers’ towns are Belmont, Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, time for and support financially. nConcord, Dunbarton, Gilmanton, Henniker, Hillsboro, Hopkinton, Loudon, Pembroke, Salisbury, Warner and Webster. 2The Five Rivers are the Blackwater, Contoocook, Merrimack, Soucook and Warner Rivers.Margaret Watkins, Dunbarton, Chair Tim Britain, Hopkinton, Vice Chair Rob Knight, Hopkinton, Treasurer Mike Walls, Concord, Secretary Robyn Cotton, Concord Michael Lehman, Concord Michael Lenehan, Concord Kit Morgan, ConcordRobert A. Pearce, Hopkinton Susan C. Roman, Webster Molly Sperduto, Canterbury Mike Shearin, Dunbarton Ken Stern, Canterbury StaffBeth McGuinn, Executive Director Julie Pifer, Office Administrator Five Rivers Conservation Trust31 Warren Street, Concord, NH | (603) 225-7225 | www.5rct.org2 | Fall 2014 Newsletter | Five Rivers Conservation Trust

Join Us... West End Farm Trail Hike 3rd Annual West End Farm Trail hike on Sunday, November 2nd at noon. Visit farms, hike trails and learn about raptors. Event hosted by Five Rivers Conservation Trust, NH Audubon, and the Concord Conservation Commission. Please RSVP so we can plan shuttles, refreshments and provide more details. Contact Julie Pifer at [email protected] or (603) 225-7225. Photo credit: Talia SperdutoKeep up-to-date with events on our Facebook page. facebook.com/FiveRiversNHVolunteering is Valuable! Photo credit: Talia SperdutoVolunteers report that their lives are enriched by the people they meet and the new skills they learn as avolunteer. Volunteering has even helped some folks advance their careers. Experts recommend the benefits ofvolunteering for our well being!Thank you to Bob Cotton, Ted Diers and Ruth Smith, who volunteered at our recent paddle trip greeting partici-pants, hauling boats, floating down the river, preparing food and having fun.You’re invited to become a Five Rivers volunteer, too. If you have an hour or more, we can help you gain someof the benefits of volunteering.Please contact Beth or Julie at (603) 225-7225, [email protected] or [email protected] to let us know you’d liketo help. Here are some current opportunities:• Event & field trip organizing • Local food preparation • Handy work• Internet research • Poster distribution • Fundraising• Office work • Writing/proof reading • Info booth staffing• Photography Five Rivers Conservation Trust | Fall 2014 Newsletter | 3

Welcome, New Board Members Food continued from page 1We welcome our new board members: Mike Shearin open, and less rocky, farmland is often the easiestof Dunbarton and Kit Morgan and Mike Lenehan of land to develop, but farm conservation makes landConcord. They bring legal, financial and conservation more affordable for a young farmer. And of course,experience and passion for hiking, farming and out- local farms grow local produce – those fragile, sundoor activities. For more background on these new ripened raspberries and fresh picked apples.volunteers, see our web site www.5rct.org. n If you’re a Five Rivers supporter, you can take credit for helping Five Rivers protect farmland. Thank You! Beth is Five Rivers’ new Executive Director. She has a passion for good food, local ingredients, and productive farmland. nWish List “Easements, if unmonitored, tend to be ignored or infringed upon by abutters. That won’tHelp make our wishes come true! Donate one of the happen with land overseen by Five Rivers.”items below or donate the funds to purchase an item!Contact Beth at (603) 225-7225 or Concord Monitor Editorial 7/9/[email protected]. “… when we get caught up in yard work, house- • A sharp, functioning paper cutter ($75) work, life, etc., it’s Five Rivers that draws us back • A mapping GPS unit (i.e., Garmin 60 series) ($400) to the land, to Marjorie Swope Park,….” • New volunteers (see article on page 3) Amy Manzelli in “My Turn” 7/17/14Join Us! NON-PROFITYour membership in Five Rivers Conservation US POSTAGETrust will help us increase our land conservationefforts, protecting more local farms which make PAIDour region such a great place to live! CONCORD, NHMemberships of $150 or more include incen- PERMIT 1694tives from one of our local partners:Red River Theatre, Dimond Hill or the Concord Five Rivers Conservation TrustFood Coop. 31 Warren Street $50 Supporter $500 Benefactor Concord, NH 03301 $150 Friend $1000 Steward $250 Protector $2500 Conservator OR CURRENT RESIDENTName:Address:Phone:Email:Please clip this form and mail it with your checkto: Five Rivers, 31 Warren St., Concord, NH03301 or join online at 5rct.org.