Congratulations to Tecumseh Land Trust!

On securing a new $1.63 million conservation agreement that will permanently protect Glen Helen natural area. 
Click here to read more. 

Save the Date

Midwest Native Plant Conference
Visit www.midwestnativeplants.org
Date: July 26, 27,  28, 2013
Click to view more details and Exhibitor and Vendor Registration Form

Sugar Shack Tour
Date: March 2, 2013 
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Flying Mouse Farms 
100 E. Fairfield Pk., Yellow Springs , OH

Meet us at Flying Mouse Farms for an exciting afternoon exploring year round local farming and maple sugaring.

Have you ever wondered just how maple syrup gets from the tree to your pancakes? Or, are you a maple syrup connoisseur? Are you curious about how local farmers grow veggies year round? If you are, grab your boots, wrangle the family and head out to Flying Mouse Farms on Sunday March 3 at 2:00 p.m.

The Tecumseh Land Trust (TLT) members and friends will be joining local farmers Michele Burns and John DeWine as they open Flying Mouse Farms for their 4th annual sugar shack tour. Learn about the entire process of how sap becomes syrup and check out a year round vegetable operation, and new this year – primitive fire starting. Local storyteller and naturalist, Brother Wolf will demonstrate how to start fires and weave in the importance of fire to our way of life. Come with questions and maybe even take home some of their homemade maple syrup for yourselves. This promises to be a fun and educational afternoon for the whole family to enjoy.

By exploring local foods, TLT and other local partners hope to learn about alternative food and farming operations that can make agriculture an even bigger part of the local economy in Southwest Ohio. The Tecumseh Land Trust is a local nonprofit organization that has preserved nearly 22,000 acres of agricultural land in Clark and Greene counties over the last two decades with many more acres to come in the future. The land trust also works to educate the public about land preservation options and the ways in which they can directly purchase food from local farmers to stimulate the local economy. The Tecumseh Land Trust works to preserve local agriculture and natural lands for the benefit of future generations.

The Sugar Shack Tour is located at Flying Mouse Farms, 100 E. Fairfield Pk., Yellow Springs , OH . For more information visit www.tecumsehlandtrust.org or find us on Facebook by searching for “Tecumseh Land Trust”

Land Trust Alliance Webinars

Governance

How to be a Great Board Member, Part II:  Governance Essentials

A – For All-Volunteer Land Trusts: March 5, 2013

B – For Staffed Land Trusts: March 6, 2013

Time: 1:00-2:30 pm ET
Instructor: Connie Manes
Cost: $55 one day prior to registration, then cost will increase to $65

How to Be a Great Board Member, III: Negotiating Differences and Disagreements to Advance Your Mission
Date: March 27, 2013
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm ET
Instructor: Jane Zirlis
Cost: $55 before 3/26, then cost will increase to $65

Durable Collaborations
Date: April 10, 2013
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm ET
Instructor: Dale Bonar
Cost: $55 before 4/9, then cost will increase to $65

Stewardship

Managing Biodiversity on Land Trust Lands
Date: March 13, 2013 
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm ET
Instructor: Paul Doscher, Chris Wilson
Cost: $55 before 3/12, then cost will increase to $65

Land Protection

Improve Your Chances for Success with FRPP Funding
Date: February 28, 2013
Time:  2:00-3:30 pm ET
Instructors: Jane Ellen Hamilton 
Cost: FREE

Urban Conservation
Date: April 30, 2013
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm ET
Instructor: Judy Anderson
Cost: $55 before 4/29, then cost will increase to $65

Fundraising

Planned Giving: An Essential Tool for Sustainable Fundraising
Date: May 2, 2013
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm ET 
Instructor: Marc Smiley
Cost: $55 before 5/1, then cost will increase to $65

How to Raise Gifts Online
Date: May 14, 2013
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm ET 
Instructor: Judy Anderson
Cost: $55 before 5/13, then cost will increase to $65

Raising Funds for Stewardship
Date: May 16, 2013
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm ET 
Instructor: Paul Doscher
Cost: $55 before 5/15, then cost will increase to $65

Planning an Effective Fundraising House Party
Date: June 5, 2013
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm ET 
Instructor: Andy Robinson
Cost: $55 before 6/4, then cost will increase to $65

Setting Up a Giving Circle
Date: June 12, 2013
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm ET 
Instructor: David Allen
Cost: $55 before 6/11, then cost will increase to $65

Financial Management

Restricted Gifts: Solving Accounting and Reporting Challenges
Date: April 24, 2013
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm ET
Instructor: Kay Sohl

Cost: $55 before 4/23, then cost will increase to $65

Volunteer Opportunity

Marsh Monitoring Volunteer Orientation & Training Workshop 
Date: March 2, 2013
Time: 1 - 5 p.m.
Location: Mentor Marsh Nature Center 5185 Corduroy Rd.
Mentor, Ohio 44060

Click here to read: Workshop Flyer

Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP)

Dear Local Sponsors, 

The Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Office of Farmland Preservation are pleased to announce that the application period for the new pilot Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP) will kick off February 1, 2013. The deadline for receipt of applications is March 15th. The program is designed to give more responsibility and funding to local farmland preservation programs and to grow their expertise. $2.7 million will be available for distribution during this funding round. Local governments, soil and water conservation districts and land trusts are eligible to apply to this highly competitive program.  

Please see the following materials for more information: (Right Click with mouse, click open link in new tab)

Click to Learn More: LAEPP Funding- Begins February 1, 2013
Click to View: Application for Local Sponsor Certification
Click to View: Fequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about LAEPP
Click to Learn More: LAEPP and how it works

Click to Visit: Ohio Department of Agriculture to learn more about the implementation of the LAEPP and other programs.

LAEPP Local Sponsor Application Materials 
Under the Clean Ohio Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP), counties, townships, soil and water conservation districts, and land trusts/non profits may apply to become Certified Local Sponsors and receive funding in 2013. Beginning February 1, 2013, interested local sponsors should complete the Application for Local Sponsor Certification and return it to the Office of Farmland Preservation by 5:00pm on Friday, March 15, 2013.