POND TO HILLTOP

Earth Day Hike 2010-Pond to Hilltop

The Wintonbury Land Trust’s re-scheduled Earth day Hike met at the Stone House in the La Salette Open Space at 120 Mountain Ave on May 2 at 2:00. The enthusiastic group of prepared explorers set off through the Historic upper farm fields of La Salette on the farm road leading south-south west to the opening in the tree line at the field’s edge. Our group admired the framed panoramic view of Hartford as the grassed path descended the hill to a pond and wetlands crossing. The trail was a little wet but all participates were surprised to see a serenely set pond to the north of the path.
Woodpecker tapping was heard as the hikers ascended the old roadbed in surprising good condition. Large expansive trees ever present line the road edges and a fence line to the right marks Bloomfield town property from private. The road lead up the hill to a high point near an old ski slope. At this point paths lead a couple directions.
In order to reach our destination, the cul-de-sac at the end of Rye Hollow Drive and the Wintonbury Land Trust Sinnot Farm Knoll, our hikers continued on the left hand path which was reopened recently by the Wintonbury Land Trust. As the group followed the trail it became apparent that the land to the right was older growth forest and to the right a field grown up. Many invasives were established on the right; to the left the forest was clean.
At reaching the cedar forest falls we turned east to find the old oak and fencing which marked the property line of the east facing foot of the La Salette Open Space. This is where we descended along a path which leads to the cul-de-sac. The Sinnot Farms Knoll lays to the right of the road and encircles a small enclave of homes.
Turning back to retrace our steps we discover the path descending the hill is a red blazed trail.
Highlights on the hike are the gorgeous Ramps and Red Trillium.

WINTONBURY LAND TRUST April 25, 2010, 1:30-2:00 pm, 52 Duncaster Road
Present: Dale Bertoldi, Vikki Reski, Chip Caton, Jay Stoccatore, Himali Shah, Tamara Hochmann

1. Call to Order/ approval of minutes.
2. CEEC and Wintonbury Land Trust DEP Grants Update
-Objectives of Land Acquisition- sent to members for review
-Letter of Support from WLT will be sent with the Town of Bloomfield Lisa Lane/Pitz Farm Application.
-WLT will offer Stewardship of the Development Rights of Lisa Lane/Pitz Farm to the Town of Bloomfield.
3. Hamilton Sundstrand $2000 Sustainability Grant.
-Himali applied for the grant for the Wintonbury Land Trust. She used the language from a past grant which WLT applied for. We agreed that the development of trails and removal of invasive species at the Thrall Farm would be the focus. Vikki will write an outline for the grant and send this and some maps to Himali. Chip offered to meet with the officials administrating the grant and receive the check; possible PR with the Windsor paper.
-Trails Day is June 6. Jay suggested a work party could be the kick off for this grant. Vikki will speak with Mark Hall of Stefan Farms to inform and coordinate with him concerns about this grant and the project.
4. Dale Bertoldi, Chip Caton, Paul Repasy and Vikki Reski meet with the Grange on April 6th to answer any questions about the proposal to have the WLT take possession. No decision was forthcoming.
5. Three new members were added to the Land Trust Membership; Hannah Roditi, Nathaniel Strick and Jennifer Carvalho and Cary Henderson and Robin Sherwood. Welcome.
6. The Public Meeting on the Plan of Conservation and Development at the Town of Bloomfield was well attended. Preservation of Open Space was one of the greatest concerns of the citizens in attendance. Two more public hearing are to be scheduled in June and July. June meeting I June 29 at 7:00 at the Senior Citizen Center, 330 Park Avenue. The Plan of Conservation and Development is a ten year plan and sets the direction of conservation and development in Bloomfield. All members are encouraged to attend to show their opinions on issues in this plan.
-Values of Open Space: Quality of life, increase of land values, water quality, storm water runoff control, farmland preservation/local foods, environmental education, wildlife habitat and corridors, ecotourism and property tax values.
-Development issues concerning quality of environment: Low Impact Development for storm water and coverage, encourage Smart Growth for redevelopment of sites in existing core areas, implement farm friendly zoning changes, ordinances and business supports, preservation of historical buildings and sites, walkable town center, recreation and wildlife corridors mapped and preserved through proposed developments and Conservation Subdivision designs with higher levels of land set asides, diversity and %.
7. Hike has been rescheduled to May 2 at 2:00; meet in LaSalette by Stone House. Hikers should have good shoes and water. Web site was updated to rain cancellation this morning.
8. Hannah Roditi has requested to work with the Land Trust on a project for her Master Gardener Certification. Chip Caton has requested that Vikki speak with her about a possible project.
9. The National Land Trust Rally will be held in Hartford this year, October2 thru 5th. There are scholarships available for land trust officers. Chip and Vikki expressed interest. Applications are due mid July.
10. Chip has been speaking to John Stout about the Stout’s field and access to Penwood Park from Stone Hill Road. This access will be closed for one day and reopen the next. Jeff Roy will be haying the field this year.
11. Adjourn

Earth Day Speer Preserve Trail Maintenance

Friends and members of the Wintonbury Land Trust spent the morning of Saturday April 24th performing trail maintenance at the Speer Preserve along the westbound trail off of Juniper road.


In all, three dead trees which were looming over the main walking path were taken down.


This maintenance provide hikers seeking access to Talcott Mountain with safer passage.


Special thanks goes out to Benson who was paramount in pulling down the tree which was rotted out and leaning over the parking area.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Notes: Wintonbury Land Trust
Present: Chip Caton, Anne Farnum, Tamara & Oliver Hochman, Jay Stoccatore, Himali Shah, Paula Jones, Kevin Gough, Vikki Reski, and Dale Bertoldi

1. Call to Order
2. Review of Properties
-Received and closed on an additional 3.9 acres from Mrs. Speer to add to the Speer preserve. We have received and deposited a check for expenses. A letter of thanks will be written.
-Thrall Preserve Internship has revealed some interesting facts about the barns. The Potato Barn was built around 1934 and used for potato storage. During the ‘war years’ the Thralls grew a food crop on this property to make them eligible for fertilizer. It is one of Windsor’s only potato barns left. The Tobacco shed was built in the 1920’s and is of smaller size than most sheds because it was used to dry broadleaf tobacco. A charcoal shed is still attached. Most sheds of this type burned down. The power point presentation is available for officers to view and comment on through the basecamp. Dale will write a letter of appreciation for the work that was done. Vikki will check historic barn options for roof repair on the potato barn.
- Kevin will approach Sam Hammer at Holcomb Farms with the offer to use this land for organic farming. It has 6.5 acres of productive land, an irrigation pond, and a storage barn.
-New Stewards for Tunxis Heights are Paula Jones and Kevin Gough. They bring forward experience in the Farmington Valley Watershed. Great to have them join our team.
-Closed on the Privilege Rd. parcel of 22 acres of property given to the Land Trust. A check for taxes is expected in the mail.
3. Reviewed Bloomfield Grange photos and maps. Roof has at least 5 additional years on it. Ideas to help preserve the building were as follows: local non-profit joint use, town dialogue with maintenance in mind, neighborhood outreach (community gardens), farming community, summer camp and near neighbors such as the Swim and Tennis Club. The Board voted to meet w/ the Grange to propose a strategy to preserve this Historic property sharing costs.
4. Treasurers report:
In 2009 we spent nearly $ 4,000 and had an income of $1490. We therefore operated in the negative ($ 2510).
5. Next meeting is scheduled for March 14. Discussions will be centered on marketing and membership.
6. The Farm Viability Grants have been announced. The grant submitted by the Town of Bloomfield with the CEEC and the Wintonbury Land Trust was not one of the selected projects. Elizabeth Moore from the American Farmland Trust expressed surprise but has encouraged us in pursuing our goals outlined in the grant with the volunteer hours. Anne Farnum has done a good deal of initial research on Natural Resources. An open space meeting has been scheduled for February 5 to kick off work between Open Space and Wintonbury Land Trust. Open Space Grants have been announced from DEP which include moneys for open space and community gardens. Vikki Reski will be sitting on the Bloomfield Plan of Conservation and Development Committee. The first meeting will be February 22 or 23.
7. John Hochman will present a workshop on the basecamp and editing the web site on February 5 at 7:00 at 171 Still Road. John has been a key player in the web site development. The Land Trust appreciates his continued support. Himali Shah has volunteered to work on membership and the web. Vikki will e-mail Himali the membership files.
8. New Business
- Chip Caton been in contact with the Colchester Land Trust. The Colchester LT has offered that our Board members attend their next meeting to discuss the success and failures in local fund raising. Colchester has been quite successful in increasing their membership of recent. Chip, Anne and Dale expressed interest in attending.
- The large salt pile stored at Loretti Farm is too close to the wetland and is stored improperly. Loretti has been informed of the salt pile. He will ask that the pile be removed by the party who placed it there without his permission. The Wetland Commission has been informed through David Mann.
-Tamara filed the Quadrennial Report Forms in Bloomfield, Simsbury, West Hartford and Windsor. The 990 was also filed.
10. Adjourn

The Thrall Property

Donated December 2007 by Win-Stanley Properties, this 12 acre parcel represents the only land owned by Wintonbury Land Trust that is in Windsor.
Located just off Day Hill Road, exit 38 off 91.
This property was once part of the Thrall Tobacco Farm holdings in Windsor. Its history is preserved in the 1961 film entitled ‘Parrish” about tobacco farming. In fact the two barns and pond that still remain on the WLT parcel were used as background in the film.
Most of the meadowland near pond has succession overgrowth in transition. There is a staggering of fruit trees near the two barns on the property. Once past the roadway growth, one can easily walk this property unencumbered on established paths while envisioning the prosperous ‘Tobacco Valley’ farm industry. The Potato Barn, 40’x62’, built during WWII in order to grow a food crop and thus have access to fertilizers, is one of the last remaining Potato barns in the Windsor area. The barn has a drive level access and on the lower level, truck bed loading. The Tobacco shed, 30’x180’, built between 1918 and 1929s, is an example of an early charcoal fired shed. The pond on site is most likely a factor in its survival.

Fall at Van Otterloo

Fall at Van Otterloo reveals water features such as the pond, bridge and stream bed. Stewardship is in progress. MDC Right of Way sits to the North of the Property.

Notes: Wintonbury Land Trust, Sunday, November 8, 2009, 4:00-5:30 pm, 52 Duncaster Rd
Present: Chip Caton, Gail & Vic Herson, Anne Farnum, Tamara & Oliver Hochmann, Jay Stoccatore, Himali Shah, Chuck Anano, Vikki Reski, Dale Bertoldi
1. The application for Farm Viability Grant will partner the Town of Bloomfield, WLT and the CEEC open space subcommittee. The proposed grant will identify, photograph and map farmland, develop a checklist to evaluate and prioritize them for preservation and assemble a resource guide. This work will be incorporated into the Plan of Conservation and Development. The WLT has volunteered 120 hours to assist the Town in performing the Grant. Key WLT player are Vikki Reski, Chip Caton and Anne Farnum.
2. Review of Properties
a) Speer property- E. Speer has decided to donate to WLT the remaining 3 acre parcel to the north of the preserve; transfer is scheduled for Dec. 15
b) Van Otterloo walk- revealed the parcel is best accessed from the Balbrae parking area adjacent to the pool or the MDC right of way off Mountain. A house exists west of our parcel between the parcel & MDC. More cutting of undergrowth will need to occur to maintain a clear walking path.
c) Roof repair work is a priority before the wet season- we have one contractor pricing work. WLT will cut the trees closest to the work area.
d) New Stewards update: Jay Staccatore is our Steward for the Speer Preserve, and Ann Farnum is our Steward for the Van Otterloo parcel
e) Privilege Rd. parcel- inadequate deed info at this time. Tony D. will request a proper deed, and add that all accrued taxes in 2009 must be paid by the donor.
3. Treasurers report
a) We spent nearly $2,981 this past year for property transfers, taxes, dues etc., and we received $540 of income mostly from interest. Although we currently have $ 23,800 in our account, there is growing concern that we must increase our membership to remain financially healthy.
b) Fundraising strategies were discussed. Many feel seeking Corporate sponsors is a good strategy based on the public awareness expected by Corporations to support Local Green Initiatives.
c) Also it was suggested to visit the Duncaster and Seabury retirement communities to brief these residents on the current activities taking place in the WLT.
4. www.wintonburylandtrust.org and Blog www.wintonburylandtrust.blogspot.com are now linked on the main page of our Web Site. Tammi is working on the membership portion. Membership will soon be accepted on line.
a. Jay offered to help update the web site w/ Tamara
5. The Land Trust Alliance Challenge Grants has a deadline of January 14th. The Land Trust Alliance was impressed with our last grant that was not accepted. The Alliance has encouraged us to reapply in January. Vikki, Tami and Chip will look at this grant.
6. Tree for Faith Mac Mahon planted end of May and dedicated in the Town of Bloomfield Memorial Day Ceremony. Ceec would like a plaque. Bloomfield Journal had an article about the dedication in which the Land Trust was mentioned.
7. The Land Trust Alliance has developmental education for Land Trusts online as part of our membership.
8. The Easement Initiative will run out at the end of December. The Initiative allows 50% maximum on gross income for fifteen years instead of 30% for five years. Contact your US representative to encourage him to extend this initiative.
9. New Business:
a. The Stouts and Chip have been in contact over the destiny of their field that lies between Stone Hill and Gun Mill. The Board decided to approach John Stout to discuss the options that the WLT can offer. Chip will contact John to set this up.
b. GIS mapping of the Schafer parcel will help in locating property corners. Jay has experience with this technology.