Strengthening Land Trusts. Advancing Land Conservation.

With the reduction in federal funding and the resulting increase in competition for private grant funding and donor support, having diverse revenue streams has never been more important. Entrepreneurial approaches to revenue may also deepen land trusts’ relationships with their communities and bring the conservation message to new audiences. Ole Amundsen, an experienced professional in fundraising, finance and strategic planning, will examine case studies from land trusts of varying capacity and staffing from across the country that use an entrepreneurial approach to generate revenue.

Join Jane Calvin (Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust), Renata Pomponi (Mass Audubon), and Ali Jacobs (Mill City Grows) on a tour of the Farm to learn how this partnership is literally growing food and community. These 20 protected acres within a 10-minute walk of 3000+ people is now home to community gardens and farm fields, trails (including an all-persons trail), with an outdoor pavilion/classroom, barn and food forest coming soon. Limited to 50 people.

Learn more here. Applications are due today, Friday, June 5 for this 10-week course (8-weeks online and 2 in-person gatherings) aimed at anyone at any career level (including upper-level college students) with a strong interest in learning the nuts and bolts of land conservation transactions for professional application in the Massachusetts land conservation space. Sponsored by Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, UMass Amherst MassWoods, Mass Audubon, and Wildlands Trust. 

Join the Early Conservation Career Network for an early summer foraging event with Russ Cohen, author of the book Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten. Participants will learn to identify more than 18 species of edible wild plants and gain practical knowledge about their edible parts, seasonal availability, and preparation methods. The tour will also cover key guidelines for safe, ethical, and environmentally responsible foraging.