And now, discovering our preserves is easier than ever with our new Preserve Guide. Featuring both the Averill Preserve and Riverview Natural Area, the Preserve Guide has directions and important information about our preserves.

As part of my celebration of Easter this year I decided to visit Riverview Natural Area.  Though it was the mildest winter in memory, I was anxious to see some signs of spring.

The themes of renewal and rebirth abound in the woods this time of year and I knew I’d see many examples of these themes at Riverview.

I was alone but for my travel mug of coffee and my camera; that suited me just fine.  Sometimes it’s extra special to be able to walk the trails there without any particular plan or need for conversation.  The only sounds I detected were that of the gentle breezes, birds of various types and the occasional falling twig and amorous chases between squirrels.

That morning before sunrise it had been raining. My hope that those predawn showers would give way to a clear morning seemed to be rewarded for as dawn emerged the clouds rapidly dispersed and I realized to my delight that I needn’t worry about any more rain.

Remembering to put on my hiking boots I wondered if there might be a few early mushrooms popping up. The cool air smelled especially fresh after the rain that always seems to accent the already inviting scents of the forest.

There’s plenty of green to be seen at Riverview all year thanks to the many types of conifers, but now there are also buds popping all around and the ground is peppered here and there with all sorts of sprouting leaves and seedlings.  I’m better at identifying plants by their flowers so I wasn’t sure what most of the early growth represented except for the blooming Spring Beauty and occasional Wild Geranium.

Despite the recently warm temps I didn’t see very many mushrooms, and definitely none that I knew well enough to taste.  I don’t think there’s been enough rain apart from the night before.  There were a few ants and beetles and a rare flying insect in that cool morning air.  I turned over a log now and again hoping to find a salamander.  I found a centipede or two and a few worms, but no salamanders that day….

There were a few lower lying areas which formed spring ponds, just big and deep enough to serve as singles bars for frogs.  Pick-up lines were being announced loudly and to no one  in particular in and around those spots.  When I’d approach to get a better look, things would grow temporarily silent, only to get louder again as I backed away.  I had fun
with that for a while, realizing I had essentially become a volume button for the mini-pond as I repeatedly went back and forth from the center…..probably annoying the heck out of those amorous amphibians.

A few fiddleheads could be seen and I resisted the temptation to gather a handful or two to eat later.

Over and upon the river I saw (and heard) various types of ducks and geese as they were migrating back north.  The crowning sighting though, was an immature bald eagle making its way along the river just above the tree line.  All this just ten minutes out of town!

The themes of rebirth and renewal were seen in the air, the water and the land of Riverview.  In less than two hours I felt rejuvenated and more connected with my  surroundings than I had in months.  Though I love to visit Riverview with friends, once in a while it’s nice to go alone. When you don’t have to speak or to listen to anyone it’s a very different experience and the totality of the sensory stimuli coming into your consciousness has a far more powerful and enriching feel.n less than a week, and certainly in two, there’ll be even more colors as a dozen or more wildflowers come into bloom.  I’ll be back with
my camera, some field guides and probably a few special friends.  As nice as it is to visit alone, this place is far too special not to share with others!

To vote, like the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SaginawBayWIN. Then click the orange “WIN it!” button and vote for us!

Voting is open now, and lasts through 12:00am April 22, 2012.  The winner will be
announced on Monday, April 23rd.

The Conservancy’s major fundraising event for the year, the Green Tie Gala is an entertaining way for our community to celebrate both Earth Day and local land conservation projects that directly benefit our region.

“The Green Tie Gala is a fun night out to support our local environment,” said Doug Koop, executive director of the Conservancy. “We wanted to celebrate Earth Day along with the fantastic properties our community has helped conserve locally in the 15 years since we were founded.”

A highlight of the evening is a performance by Empty Canvas. The local duo of Scott and Mike McMath will perform while lead singer and artist Mike McMath creates a painting inspired by the Conservancy’s work live on stage.

McMath’s painting will be auctioned that evening as part of a live auction. The Green Tie Gala’s unique live and silent auctions will include items that emphasize the outdoors, such as expert-guided fishing trips and nature-inspired artwork by local artists.

“One of the best things about the Green Tie Gala is that we offer outdoor experiences in our auction,” added Koop. “By holding the Gala closer to Earth Day in the spring, people who bid on excursions will be able to enjoy them this year.”

The evening will feature hearty hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and great music. Proceeds will benefit The Little Forks Conservancy’s operating fund.

Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased by calling (989) 835-4886 or by mailing the registration form to 105 Post Street, Midland, Michigan 48640. More information can be found at www.littleforks.org/green-tie-gala.

Green ties (or dresses) are encouraged.

Today, The Little Forks Conservancy is celebrating 15 years of local land conservation success.

“Thanks to the support of our members, area foundations and corporations, the Conservancy has now conserved over 2,600 acres and 17 miles of river frontage,” said Doug Koop, Conservancy executive director. “But most importantly, we have helped 25 families achieve their goals of permanently protecting their land.”

In honor of the Conservancy’s fifteenth anniversary, the J.A. Woollam Foundation has awarded the Conservancy a $15,000 challenge grant.

The Foundation will match every dollar donated to the General Operating Fund in 2012 that meets one of the following requirements: contributions from first-time donors; donations from individuals who did not give in the past year; donations by individuals who increase their giving (the increased portion will count); and donations above $500.

“We are very honored to receive this challenge from the J.A. Woollam Foundation,” said Eric Brubaker, Conservancy board president. “This challenge not only recognizes what we’ve already accomplished, but gives us resources to accomplish so much more.”

Gifts to the General Operating Fund provide program support to the Conservancy. This program support allows the Conservancy to work directly with landowners to preserve their land and offer hikes and other programs at the Conservancy’s Averill Preserve and  Riverview Natural Area.

To help the Conservancy with its 15th Anniversary Challenge, you can donate online at www.littleforks.org or mail gifts to our office at 105 Post Street, Midland.

Last month I explored Riverview Natural Area alone and was nurtured by the silence and took the opportunity to linger for periods of time not possible when visiting with others.

This time two friends and a total of 6 children came along. So the visit was anything but silent, and the pace and destinations were very different!

In the woods, kids are allowed to run and play and to explore. It’s not so important to “use your inside voices”  and maybe even to get a little dirty. Kids seem to respond to these conditions almost as if they are responding to certain commands which adults no longer hear or have forgotten about.  One of the best parts of this particular visit to Riverview was being able to witness kids under these less structured conditions.

It was nice to be reminded those days as a kid when we heard and responded to those situations.

From the moment we parked, the kids scrambled out of the car and to the trail’s origin.  A few stopped to check out the welcoming sign and looked for familiar names among the donor list, then on they went picking up leaves, sticks and anything else that caught their attention.

The leaves had all nearly fallen from the deciduous trees so it was especially easy to keep track of everyone as they strayed now and again off the trail in pursuit of a particularly interesting mushroom or other item. It’s so fun to see the things might be of interest to kids.  Seeing me with a camera, I was presented with various sticks and rocks which they thought I might like to photograph.  “This one looks like a heart!” “Take a picture of this, it looks like a face!”

The fallen trees – which to adults look like fallen trees – we look at them and might wonder how long they’d been there or perhaps might speculate upon whether they’d been felled by lightning or a less dramatic demise.  Kids, on the other hand, apparently hear a signal loud and clear – to climb!

When we came to a particularly broad trunked fallen maple, the group swarmed it like a flock of little birds, each perching on his or her little spot as they searched rapidly with their eyes to see if the other might be in a preferred place, or better still, could they find an even better one.  From their positions each called out for us to look at them as they enjoyed the rare chance to view the world from a higher vantage point.

Upon arriving near the edge which slopes down toward the river’s edge another signal (again, inaudible to adults) must have sounded which caused the kids to immediately look down from wherever they were and to find objects which they intended to throw in order to see if they could see them splash into the water.

Rocks, sticks, pine cones and so forth hailed for quite a while in the general direction of the water, most falling short or striking tree branches.  One by one, as their arms tired and as accessible items began to run out, the assault on the river dwindled and attention drifted to the collection of turkey feathers.

I don’t recall which child found the first one, but soon after the discovery was shared via a top of the lungs announcement “I found a huge feather!” It was like an Easter Egg hunt, but for turkey feathers!  Each kid tried to outdo the others as they scrambled around looking for the most and/or biggest feathers they could find.  We found a couple spots which were obviously places where a couple of turkeys must have had a very bad day (and probably their last!).

Even the adults got into the act, not being able to resist the temptation to find our own feathers. Another difference between kids and adults I noted is that you don’t see adults sticking recently collected feathers into their clothing, hair….or mouths without first brushing them off, or better yet, somehow sterilizing them.
Kids have no hesitation to do all this and more!

A couple of the moms alertly brought a stash of energy bars and water to share in case any of the eager explorers declared that they needed a little something. Incredibly, we were nearly two hours into this trip and way the heck out there before I heard the first “My legs are tired”.  As it was less than an hour before sundown we decided that it was about time to turn back, but not before getting the chance to try out their climbing abilities into and out of a big, somewhat steep (but safe) ravine.  This task was just what was needed to sap enough energy out of everyone so they we didn’t face a mutiny about the decision to leave.

On the way back I carried each of the kids at one point or another high upon my shoulders.  That was fun for me since my kids have all long since grown too big for me to carry them. It was a nice bit of nostalgia to remember how kids get such a kick out of being up so high!

The final silent command all kids receive and obey, and that adults are oblivious to, is the command which says: “We are now in view of our destination (in this case, the distant sight of the parking lot)….Everyone must race to see who can get there first!” As if to cement their victory, the first kids to get back climbed into their car seats.  When the rest of us arrived, they casually glanced up with that, Oh you’re finally here, what was keeping you?” look.

The ride home was peppered with chatter about what we’d seen and collected. Pockets were full of precious rocks, a leaf or two and a couple dozen turkey feathers.  I’m told one of the kids even sold a few of those to other family members.  Not bad!

In this day of electronic, hyper-connected, gadget driven life, a few hours of good clean fun in the woods with kids is literally a breath of fresh air! The  next time I’m out there, I may not climb any trees, but I bet I’ll think about it!

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The trade show consists of agricultural commodity groups, agricultural equipment and service businesses, and governmental agencies. Local, State and National businesses will be represented. In addition to commercial agricultural products, small scale farming and homeowner gardening services will be on site. Food and drink for purchase will also be available.

In addition to the trade show will be educational seminars. In keeping with the theme, Farm to Market: Know your Farmer, Know your Food, seminars will include information about the local farmers’ market, selling meat and eggs retail, and small scale vegetable production.

The Farm Show is free and open the public. The Gladwin Community Area is located at 402 James Robertson Drive (just off M-61, behind Pamida) in Gladwin. For more information, visit www.mid-michiganfarmshow.com.

Through the program, the Conservancy creates a voluntary, “handshake” partnership with landowners who are conserving lands that are primarily forest, fields or wetlands and are managed to protect those natural resources.

As part of the Sustainable Lands Partner program, the Conservancy honors these landowners who are taking steps to conserve the natural resources on their property. The program was created for landowners in the Cedar River watershed.

“It is very exciting to offer this new program that recognizes landowners who are doing good things on their land,” commented Elan Lipschitz, the Conservancy’s land protection specialist.

Landowners who qualify for the program will receive a certificate of participation, a sign for their home or property, invitations to stewardship workshops exclusive to Sustainable Lands partners, and a natural resources report for their land prepared by Conservancy staff.

The agreement is non-binding and landowners can leave the program at any time.

Funding for this pilot program is generously provided by the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (WIN). WIN is a partnership of local foundations focused on the economic, social and environmental well-being of the Saginaw Bay region.

The Little Forks Conservancy is an accredited non-profit conservation organization that works to permanently protect land with natural and cultural resources that add to the quality of life in our community. Since 1998, the Conservancy has permanently protected more than 2,600 acres. More information about the Sustainable Lands Partner program and The Little Forks Conservancy can be found on their website, www.littleforks.org, or by calling (989) 835-4886.