Upcoming Events

2010 CIPWG Invasive Plant Symposium: On Thursday, October 14, 2010, the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) will present a symposium entitled Challenges and Successes: Working Cooperatively to Manage Invasive Plants.  The symposium, open to the public, will take place from 8 am – 4 pm at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn.  Keynote speaker, Dr. Bernd Blossey, will present "The Power of Choice: New Frontiers in Invasive Plant Management and Conservation.”  Concurrent afternoon sessions will cover the industry perspective – what’s working, early detection & rapid response, invasives management research, invaded forests, Cooperative Weed Management Areas, and local success stories.  Research posters and other educational exhibits will be featured throughout the day.  The registration fee, including parking, information packet, lunch, and other refreshments, is $40 (postmarked by September 18) and $55 if postmarked after September 18 or for walk-in registrations.  Student fee, with ID, is $25. CT DEP Pesticide Recertification and other Continuing Education Credits are available.  The program agenda and registration information are available at www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg.  For additional information, or to be mailed a paper copy of the registration brochure, contact Donna Ellis at (860) 486-6448. The Eastern CT RC&D is a co-sponsor.

2010 New England RC&D Conference: "Feeding Ourselves, Fueling Ourselves" on October 28-30, 2010 More information to come shortly. Go to www.berkshirepioneerrcd.org for up to date information.

Event Calendar

Past Events

2010 Eastern CT RC&D Annual Meeting: 2010 Eastern Connecticut RC&D Annual Meeting was held on Monday June 21st, 2010 from 10:30am-3:00pm at Goodwin College-The River Campus in East Hartford, CT.  The agenda included: an RC&D business meeting, 2010 RC&D partnership awards, a presentation on Brownfields and the work that has been done at Goodwin College by Robert Carr of Zuvic Associates, An introduction to Goodwin's Environmental Program and a tour of the new campus by Bruce Morton, lunch, and the afternoon concluded with a cruise along the Connecticut River aboard the Hartford Belle with special guest Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni. Award winners this year included Joanne Demars - USDA/Rural Development, Berkshire Pioneer RC&D Council - Massachusetts, Kathy Johnson - USDA/NRCS and Congressman Joe Courtney.

A Design Workshop with Randall Arendt: Reinventing the Commercial Strip & Creating New Mixed-Use Centers. On May 17th, 2010, a workshop at the Chaplin Firehouse was held. Great examples from around the country of how other communities are addressing commercial growth issues and creating new villages. This program was co-sponsored by the Green Valley Institute and the CT Environmental Review Team. More information can be found at www.greenerprospects.com

Agvocate Workshop
On March 31 a FREE workshop, sponsored by the AGvocate program, to learn about communicating the value of agriculture in your Town was held. The workshop will covered: -Effectively communicating the economic and environmental benefits of farming and the value of farms as local businesses. -Direct experiences of farmers and municipal officials on navigating Town Hall to make their farms viable businesses. Questions about the AGvocate Program please ontact Jennifer Kaufman, AGvocate Program Coordinator, 860-450-6007 or AGvocate@yahoo.com.

Soil and Water Conservation Society Southern New England Chapter Winter Meeting Energizing the Rural Landscape—Renewable Power and Energy Efficiency Opportunities for Our Farms, Homes, and Communities - February 18, 2010 from 9:00am-3:30pm was held at Periwinkles Restaurant & Banquet Hall in Auburn MA. Please visit their website for more information on the organization www.swcssnec.org Below are pictures from the Event.

Connecticut Farm Energy Program: Farm Assistance Seminar
Join us January 26th, 2010 for the Connecticut Farm Assistance Seminar from 10:30am-2:30pm in Lebanon, CT.
Be sure to call and RSVP by January 20th by contacting Amanda Fargo-Johnson @ 860-345-3977 or email ctfarmenergy@aol.com.
CT Farm Assistance Flyer (pdf)

2009 Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area Annual Meeting & 40th Anniversary Celebration of Eastern CT RC&D and CT Environmental Review Team
Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated our 40th Anniversary of the Eastern CT RC&D and CT ERT at the Annual Meeting that was held this year at Heritage Trail Vineyard located in Lisbon, CT. We would like to thank Chef Harry for providing us with a great location at Heritage Trail Vineyard and a wonderful local gourmet grilled lunch as well as a nutritional food demonstration sponsored by the Watermelon Promotion Board. Also a big thanks to Linda Pitrowitcz from the CT Department of Agriculture who came and gave a great presentation on the Farm to Chef Program. Below are photos from the event. Also you can read about the Anniversary Event in the Norwich Bulletin Article.

2009 Eastern CT RC&D Area Partnership Meeting
Thanks to all those who attended the Partnership Meeting on May 4th, 2009. The attendance was over 20 attendees. There was some great ideas and brainstorming at the meeting that the Eastern CT RC&D Council will consider for this year's Annual Plan of Work and the future Area Plan of Work.

Daffodil Labyrinth Project Tolland , CT
Spring has sprung as the daffodils in the Ecological Landscaping Network (ELN) and Tolland County Master Gardeners Labyrinth Project have come up. The Eastern CT RC&D Council partnered with the ELN to plant 790+ daffodil bulbs in a 5-circuit labyrinth at the Tolland County Agricultural Center. The goal is to have a springtime labyrinth that creates a contemplative space that would complement other demonstration plantings at the site. You can visit the ELN on the web at: www.ct.nrcs.usda.gov/eln.html also read about it in the National NRCS Newsletter at: http://www.thebulbproject.org/blog/?p=123 or stop by and take a walk through during the springtime.

LULA Spring 2009 - Quinnipiac River Watershed Area
This training session of the Land Use Leadership Alliance Training Program is sponsored by Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Area (RC&D), Connecticut Environmental Review Team Program (ERT), The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the Quinnipiac River Fund, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Long Island Sound Futures Fund. The participants are respected and objective leaders in their communities with the ability to build and manage coalitions of interested people. The program is designed to teach participants how to use the land use system, consensus building skills, and comprehensive planning techniques to accomplish smart growth and watershed protection.
The four-day program is being held on the Fridays of March 13, 20, April 3, and April 17 from 8:30am – 4:30pm. Day 1 and 2 are at the Quinnipiac University Lender School of Business Mancheski Executive Seminar Room. Days 3 and 4 (April 3 and 17) are at the Woodbridge Library’s Community Room. For more information go to the LULA Page.

The Connecticut Conference on Natural Resources 2009
The Connecticut Conference on Natural Resources (CCNR) will be held on Monday March 9th in the Student Union on the University of Connecticut, Storrs Campus. The 3rd Conference that will bring together individuals working with natural resource and environment management in Connecticut to share research, information and ideas. The theme for this years conference is Many Resources One Environment. If you would like more information on this event or to register go to their website at: www.ccnr.uconn.edu

5th Annual Paddle Smart Safety Event
A unique family affair of safe paddling demonstrations and information sessions including in-pool demonstrations, self rescue, choosing the right craft and activities for kids.  March 7, 2009 from 10:00am-4:00pm at the Wilbur Cross High School, 181 Mitchell Drive, New Haven, CT. For more information contact Jacky Gorman at 860-434-8638. Or go to the DEP Website.

Connecticut Farm Energy Program
Attention Agricultural Producers and Small Business Owners, tired of paying those high utility bills? Join us on January 14, 2009 @ Eastern CT State University as USDA, Rural Development, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund present information on programs that save energy and programs for renewable energy with funding opportunities. Workshop Flyer (pdf)

Connecticut Farm Energy Program Informational Workshop
Join us for a followup to the January 14th Meeting at ECSU. Come ready and prepared to start the REAP Grant process. Grant writers will be on hand for an introductory meeting to the process and you will begin your grant that evening. We will also be making followup appointments to complete the grant application. Be sure to call and save a seat for yourself. CT Farm Energy Workshop Flyer (pdf)

Development Strategies: that protect what we value workshops
Eastern CT RC&D is once again partnering with the Green Valley Institute to host two workshops that deal with Development Strategies that protect what we value. Across The Last Green Valley, communities that range from rural to urban are trying to grow smarter by focusing new growth in centers and protecting important natural resources and agricultural lands. Come
hear from innovative leaders who are successfully addressing the issues. Ask the questions that you want
answered during the round-table discussions. The cost for each workshop is $15.00 and includes a light dinner.

November 20, 2008 Brownfields Redevelopment Workshop

December 2, 2008 Transfer of Development Rights: Making it Happen Workshop

Workshop Registration Form (pdf)

4th Annual Connecticut Forest Forum "Public Benefits from Forests: What are they worth?"
This year's theme is "Public Benefits from Forests: What are They Worth?"
Speakers will explore the many "ecosystem services" that forests provide, from cleaning our air and water to sequestering carbon and fighting climate change. We'll discuss the tangible benefits of these services, why they are seldom valued in today's land markets, and what we can do in both the economic and policy worlds to make them better understood and recognized. The afternoon will offer six outstanding concurrent sessions on priority forest resource issues identified in Connecticut's State Forest Resources Plan.

Forest Forum Registration Form (pdf)

2008 New England RC&D Association Regional Fall Conference Mystic, CT

2008 New England RC&D Association Regional Fall Conference Webpage

South Branch Park River Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Hartford , CT

2008 Eastern CT RC&D Tour des Farms Simsbury, CT

This years ride had 125 riders at the event and the Eastern CT RC&D will be presenting Working Lands Alliance with a check of $3500.00 from the proceeds of the ride. To find out more about the Tour des Farms in Connecticut go the website at: www.tourdesfarms.org

2008 Eastern CT RC&D Annual Meeting at the Connecticut River Museum Essex, CT

Planning for Brownfield Reuse and Redevelopment

Planning For Brownfield Reuse and Redevelopment Opportunities Brochure (pdf)

South Branch Park River Groundbreaking Ceremony May 9, 2008

Greenway Journey Begins (Hartford Courant Article on the South Branch of the Park River Project)

Group breaks ground on the South Branch of the Park River Trail

2008 National RC&D DC Leadership Forum, Washington, D.C.
Members and Staff of the Eastern CT RC&D Council recently attended the February 2008 National RC&D DC Leadership Forum in Washington, DC. They also made visits to Capitol Hill to Connecticut Congressman and Senate Leaders letting them know about the importance of the RC&D program. If you would like more information on this and other National RC&D Events checkout the National RC&D Website.

Advanced Approaches to Land Protection:
These workshops were sponsored by The Green Valley Institute and Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development.

Workshop 3: November 28, 2007 6-8:30 pm Transfer of Development Rights. Speakers from the event included:

Susan Westa, AICP, Co-Director, Green Valley Institute
Susan presented an introduction to TDR or “TDR 101”. Transfer Development Rights Presentation (pdf)

Courtenay Mercer, PP/AICP, Director of Planning, N.J. Department of Community Affairs, Office of Smart Growth
Ms. Mercer shared the lessons N.J. communities have learned with TDR. She explained N.J.’s unique enabling legislation, the history of TDR in N.J. and the incentives the state offers. New Jersery Transfer Development Rights Presentation (pdf)

Workshop 2: October 30, 2007 6-8pm Development Techniques that Protect. More information on this workshop can be found at www.greenvalleyinstitute.org/landuse.htm#intro

Workshop 1: September 19, 2007 6-8:30pm Understanding the Money Facts. Speakers from the event included:

Reena L. Shaw, Ph.D., State Agricultural Economist with the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, shared the results of the Fiscal Impact Analysis she
conducted for Woodstock CT. Fiscal Impact of Future Development in Woodstock, CT Presentation (pdf)

Paula Stahl, Land Use and Finance Educator, Green Valley Institute, presented the
fiscal impact of buildout in 20 years of Lebanon, CT, this project was funded by
a grant from the Department of Agriculture. Fiscal Impact of Future Development in Lebanon, CT Presentation (pdf)

Dr. Robert J. Johnston, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics,
University of Connecticut talked about the results of his study for Woodstock,
Thompson, Brooklyn and Pomfret and the implications for municipal land protection
bonding. This study was funded by a CT Dept of Ag, Agriculture Viability Grant. What is the Willingness to Pay fo Open Space Protection Presentation (pdf)

2007 New England Regional RC&D Meeting:
The Annual New England Regional RC&D Meeting was held October 18-20, 2007 in Narragansett, RI. Below are some photos from the weekend. Next year the meeting will be hosted by Eastern CT RC&D, Area in Mystic, CT. Check back for more details. The 2008 New England RC&D Regional Meeting Flyer.

(Above from left to right: Amanda Fargo-Johnson and Elaine Sych stand alongside the Connecticut Environmental Review Team Display board which won and award for Outstanding Display, Turkey's on the Watson Farm in Jameston RI, Cows on the Dutra Farm in Jamestown RI with the Newport Bridge in the background, Sharon Ruggi National RC&D President with John Guszkowski Eastern CT RC&D President, Gilbert Stuart birthplace, Amanda Fargo-Johnson, Elizabeth Rogers(Eastern CT RC&D), Norma O'Leary(Eastern CT RC&D), Rebecca Augur(Eastern CT RC&D), Elaine Sych, Mark Cummings(King's Mark CT RC&D), and James Sipperly(King's Mark CT RC&D) take time for a pose during the conference friday night dinner, Gilbert Stuart birthplace Gristmill, Sharon Ruggi with a pirate of the Narragansett, Elizabeth Rogers alongside the Eastern CT RC&D Display Board, A window in the Narragansett Towers, The Point Judith Lighthouse, and the Narragansett Towers, Sharon Ruggi with Elaine Sych.

For more information on the New England RC&D Area Association visit them on the web at www.nearcd.org

Tour de Farms: www.tourdesfarms.org

The King's Mark Ride was held October 13, 2007 in Guilford. CT.

The Eastern CT Ride was held on Saturday September 29th, 2007 and the ride took place in Glastonbury, CT.
Below are some pictures from the event.

Celebrating Agriculture: was held on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
A day filled with agricultural displays, events, food and entertainment!
Free and Open to the Public, held at the Woodstock Fairgrounds in Woodstock, CT.
www.celebratingagriculture.org
For more information, contact the
USDA Service Center in Brooklyn
(860)774-8397, Ext. 109 Celebrating Agriculture Brochure

Eastern CT RC&D 2007 Annual Meeting: The Eastern CT RC&D held it's Annual Meeting on June 25, 2007. There were over 30 people who attended the meeting at the Lebanon Historical Society Museum in Lebanon, CT. The business meeting was followed by presentation of awards, boxed lunch on the patio, self guided tour of the museum and then a tour of Graywall Farms(Farmer's Cow Dairy Farm) also located in Lebanon,CT. It was also nice to see DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy in attendance. See you next year!

Grace from the Lebanon Historical Society welcomes everyone to the Museum	John Guszkowki(Eastern CT RC&D council president) looking on as DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy addresses the attendees
John Guszkowski Presents Gerry Maine with a Distinguished Service Award	John Guszkowski Presents Robin Chesmer with a Distinguished Service Award
John Guszkowski Presents the Green Valley Institute a Distinguished Service Award, Paula Stahl and Sue Westa accept on behalf of GVI	John Guszkowski Presents Margo Wallace a Distinguished Service Award
Everyone enjoying lunch out on the Lebanon Museum Patio	Everyone who attended the Eastern CT RC&D Meeting stops a moment to strike a pose
Robin Chesmer giving everyone a little background on his farm Graywall Farms in Lebanon,CT	Lincoln Chesmer telling folks about how things work on the farm
"The Cows that make the Milk" at Graywall Farm taking a little break	Robin Chesmer giving everyone on the tour an inside look at the feeding and comfortable habitat for the cows on his farm