Wishing you a happy 2019 from the Mass Central Rail Trail
Jan 1st, 2019 by admin
Holiday Bird Count caught 23 species
Dec 31st, 2018 by admin
EQLT held our first Holiday Bird Count this past Saturday, December 29th. We had a beautiful sunny day ahead of us, with nearly 40 eager birders of all ages and experience levels turning out. The day started with an introductory bird identification training session, Bird ID Bingo, and a memory game.
We began the bird count at the EQLT office, where we saw 5 different species at our feeders, including Tufted Titmice, Downy Woodpeckers, and American Goldfinches. 
We then split into groups and headed over to Mandell Hill, the Rail Trail, Deer Park, and Frohloff Farm. We were joined by Jeff Smith and Ann Hicks, our two resident birding experts, who led the groups out in the field during the count. A group at Frohloff Farm counted 40 Cedar Waxwings, while the Rail Trail group excitedly reported a Bald Eagle sighting. One group headed to Hardwick Pond, where they counted 45 European Starlings on the way over.
All groups ended the day at Sue and Boz Lincoln’s, who were generous enough to welcome us into their home and onto their property. Their land was rich with diverse birds, including Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Cardinals, and large flocks of White-throated Sparrows. We were treated to aptly-themed homemade cookies after ending our count, courtesy of Sue Lincoln. Jess and Haley totaled up all the bird sightings at the end of the day and submitted the results to the Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count Census. After such a successful turnout for this event, Jess and Haley are thrilled to collaborate with Jeff Smith and Ann Hicks in the springtime to plan another birding event. Thanks to all who came out, and a special thanks to Jeff, Ann, Sue, and Boz for all their help!
95 European starlings
62 Cedar waxwings
49 White throated sparrows
45 Canada geese
35 American crows
21 American robins
19 Black capped chickadees
17 American tree sparrows
16 Dark eyed juncos
11 White breasted nuthatches
10 Mourning doves
9 Mallard ducks
6 Red tailed hawks
5 Blue jays
5 Northern cardinals
5 Tufted titmice
3 Downy woodpeckers
3 Eastern bluebirds
3 American goldfinches
1 Red bellied woodpecker
1 Song sparrow
1 House sparrow…
And a Bald eagle at a Ware River!
Happy Holidays to All!
Dec 8th, 2018 by admin
Toasts Made for Garage Construction
Dec 8th, 2018 by admin
Harrison and Lou during our toast to all their efforts in building our new garage.
Last night we lifted our glasses in thanks and appreciation for those who helped construct our new garage. In particular we thanked the Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School and their lead teacher Louis Zglobicki. They worked through the cold and wind, the hot and humid, to build a strong and resilient garage to house our stewardship team.
We also recognized Harrison Achilles for all his hard work. Essentially Harrison served as the General Contractor, keeping track of progress, double checking plans, making modifications and working with the various contractors to complete the garage. Thank you Harrison.
Woods Walk Showcases Long-term Strategies
Nov 28th, 2018 by admin
Harry Webb sharing the secrets of his success with managing his woods over the past 25 years.
The cold wind was blowing, but once we started the walk it didn’t feel so bad. Harry took us on a large loop through his woods off Petersham Road in Hardwick to see the results of 25 years of forest management looks like. Over that time, the Webb’s have completed seven timber sales, removing over 500MBF (or thousand board feet). That sounds like a lot, and it is a lot of trees. But what’s even more impressive, is that they have more than that in tree volume standing out in the woods.
Walking along the woods roads, you can see the impact of human activity. The roads are well-maintained. There is a small man-made farm pond. Several cleared areas are thick with young trees making the race towards the sun.
Harry filled us in on his joys and challenges over the years. Caring for his woodland has been an inspiration, and lots of hard, physical work.
Leaf Pressing Art Work
Oct 27th, 2018 by admin
Haley admiring the creative work from one participant.
Haley Hewitt, our Youth Education Coordinator through the Americorps Terracorps program, held a leaf pressing art project today at the Ware Young Men’s Library. Many young people came for this fun activity, a great way to spend a rainy morning!
Haley introduced the youth to different books that use leaves in their art work. Leaves make fish and grass, frogs and dogs, among other wonderful scenes.
The young people left with their own original piece of artwork and the inspiration to make more. All you need to do is go collect leaves of all shapes and sizes, press them in a book for a few days, then glue them onto paper in whatever creative ways inspire you. Enjoy fall!! 
Successful 2018 Station Loop Ramble
Oct 14th, 2018 by admin
Today’s Station Loop Ramble was a great success! Thank you to everyone involved. Check out this short video with just a few images from the day.
Tom Steele and Karla Steele, the overall male and female winners of the 5 Mile Classic with times of 30:02 and 36:43, respectfully.
Jamie Hasenfus and Matthew Peabody, overall female and male winners of the 5k Run/Walk with times of 27:14 and 23:33, respectfully.
| 5 Mile Classic | |||
| First Name | Last Name | Time | Town |
| Tom | Steele | 30:02:00 | Rutland |
| Karla | Steele | 36:43:00 | Rutland |
| Lukas | Anderson | 37:48:00 | New Braintree |
| Brian | Farmer | 39:29:00 | Ware |
| Brian | Keleher | 40:42:00 | New Braintree |
| Audrey | Snay | 42:24:00 | West Brookfield |
| Evan | White | 42:42:00 | Hardwick |
| Kathleen | O’Connor | 42:48:00 | Holden |
| Pamela | Clark | 43:25:00 | West Brookfield |
| Eugene | Rich | 43:49:00 | Gilbertville |
| Jennifer | Laramee | 45:57:00 | Oakham |
| Nicole | Keleher | 46:34:00 | New Braintree |
| Crystal | Russell | 47:02:00 | Ware |
| Chris | Lawson | 47:28:00 | Barre |
| Jenni | DiMauro | 47:30:00 | Barre |
| Melissa | Cucchi | 47:33:00 | Newton |
| Robin | Langer | 48:25:00 | Hubbardston |
| Christine | Palmer | 50:49:00 | Gilbertville |
| Ann | Van Dyke | 51:00:00 | Montague |
| Christopher | Eldredge | 51:24:00 | Hardwick |
| Lynn | Wangerin | 52:44:00 | Barre |
| Paula | Ouimette | 63:08:00 | Gilbertville |
| Beth | Cafarella | 97:00:00 | Hardwick |
| Sue | Twarog | 97:00:00 | Barre |
| 5k Run/Walk | |||
| First Name | Last Name | Time | |
| Matthew | Peabody | 23:33 | Phillipston |
| David | Maher | 23:40 | North Brookfield |
| Jamie | Hasenfus | 27:14:00 | |
| Mark | Kablack | 27:45:00 | New Braintree |
| Ben | Sher | 28:02:00 | North Brookfield |
| Mary | Fleming | 28:38:00 | Petersham |
| Tina | Leslie | 30:55:00 | Petersham |
| Amanda | Blake | 31:16:00 | Gilbertville |
| Brian | Laramee | 34:55:00 | Oakham |
| Seamus | McMaster | 36:39:00 | Hubbardston |
| Seth | Fleming | 36:44:00 | Petersham |
| Amy | White | 38:03:00 | Hardwick |
| Connor | Roohan | 40:32:00 | Petersham |
| Jennifer | Storke | 40:33:00 | Petersham |
| Sarah | McMaster | 41:59:00 | Hubbardston |
| David | Broschart | 44:23:00 | West Brookfield |
| Claudia | Broschart | 44:24:00 | West Brookfield |
| John | Toal | 50:14:00 | Greenwich CT |
| Bethany | Cogoli | 53:04:00 | Oakham |
| Becky | Ikehara | 55:42:00 | North Brookfield |
| Sandra | McGuill | 55:43:00 | Sturbridge |
| Renee | Buzzell | 59:36:00 | West Brookfield |
| Ernest | Brear | 61:48:00 | East Longmeadow |
| Doris | Farmer | 61:50:00 | Ware |
| Kid’s One Mile | |||
| First Name | Last Name | Time | |
| Connor | Snay | 6:28 | West Brookfield |
| Eric | Snay | 6:51 | West Brookfield |
| Carlee | Rich | 6:52 | Gilbertville |
| Catelyn | Rich | 7:12 | Gilbertville |
| Audrey | Laursen | 8:59 | Barre |
| Heidi | Lewis | 9:01 | Hubbarston |
| Timothy | Rodier | 9:03 | Oxford |
| Cora | Wangerin | 10:35 | Barre |
| Calia | Rich | 10:38 | Gilbertville |
| Gareth | White | 10:39 | Hardwick |
| Quinn | Ouimette | 10:53 | Gilbertville |
| Lillian | Roonan | 11:00 | Petersham |
| Ellarz | White | 11:59 | Hardwick |
| Cameron | H | 12:05 | |
| Sadie | Ouimette | 12:10 | Gilbertville |
| Clara | Cogoli | 12:12 | Oakham |
| Sadie | Cogoli | 12:16 | Oakham |
| Rosalynn | Cogoli | 13:07 | Oakham |
| Ellen | Barkoskie | 14:02 | North Brookfield |
| Nick | Barkoskie | 14:02 | North Brookfield |
| Elise | Rodier | 14:33 | Oxford |
| Lucas | Powers | 15:37 | Ware |
| Penny | Ouimette | 15:39 | Gilbertville |
| Alice | H | 15:57 | |
| Nora | Powers | 17:20 | Ware |
Ramble video unveiled
Sep 12th, 2018 by admin
Jess and Haley started their Americorps service term last week, and are getting out to learn more about the land and people who make up the East Quabbin region.
Check out their promotional video about the Station Loop Ramble, coming up on Sunday, October 14th. Don’t miss the fun!
Nearly Ready!
Sep 9th, 2018 by admin
The garage construction is nearly complete! The Stewardship team members are cheering loudly as we are close to moving our tools and equipment into their new home. Next steps include electrical, garage doors and an asphalt apron at the doors.
Today we started the process of creating a barway, access point from Ridge Road, at the garage spot. Once finished, this will provide a better way to get into our parking spaces, and when trailers are needed at the garage.
Many thanks to Don, Tom, Becky, Harrison, Jess and Cynthia for lifting and moving rocks! And much appreciation to the faculty and students at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School for their hardwork over the past 10 months getting the garage structure built!
Tasty Food at Petersham Old Home Day
Aug 29th, 2018 by admin
David and Deb ‘manning’ the food tasting booth.
This past Saturday the Petersham Common was buzzing with activity as part of Old Home Day. The East Quabbin Land Trust, with many volunteers and participating farms, sponsored a free, local food tasting. Bringing some of the great local foods out of the Country Store building and into our hands.
Handmade potato chips!
A huge THANK YOU goes out to Deb Bachrach and Mariann DiBarbieri for all their help organizing, menu selection, and cooking. Another round of Thank You’s goes to all the farms that donated food, including: Landworks Farm, Pease Orchard, Rice’s Roots Farm, Robinson’s Farm, Rockingstone Farm, Rose 32 Bread, Ruby Ranch Beef, SideHill Farm, Walker Farm at Whortleberry Hill, and Whitesfield Farm.
Fresh peach and blueberry cobbler!
A happy taster, checking out all eight different options!
Thank You for your support on #GivingTuesday
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We all value and benefit from open fields, rolling wooded hillsides, and fresh clear streams. Whether it’s clean air to breath, pure water to drink, or new places to walk and explore, conservation and stewardship of these critical resources enhance our lives.
Corporate Sponsors of the 7th Annual Station Loop Ramble
Judith and Julia at dinner
