“Mentoring Future Leaders:"D&R Greenway Welcomes “2021 AWE Fellow” Fabio Yales in Partnership with the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund

This June, through a special partnership supported by The William Penn Foundation, D&R Greenway Land Trust is welcoming Fabio Yales to a summer Fellowship that will focus on environmental work along the Delaware River. D&R Greenway is committed to mentoring future environmental leaders to succeed in their own preservation missions throughout life. A nationally-accredited nonprofit, it has preserved 316 properties, totaling 21,196 acres across New Jersey, since its 1989 founding. The Fellowship is part of the Alliance for Watershed Education (AWE) partnership with 23 nature centers participating throughout the Delaware River watershed. Among the goals of the AWE Fellowship is to introduce young people from diverse communities along the river to the field of environmental science in order to encourage future careers. Yales, whose parents immigrated to the US from Guatemala, lives nearby the river in New Jersey’s capital city of Trenton.

The new Fellow is a 2020 QuestBridge Finalist and College Prep Scholar. A Princeton Day School [PDS] Class of 2021 Honors Student, Yales was a participant in the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s high school mentorship FUTURO Program. In his sophomore year in 2019, Yales worked with the FUTURO program where, in addition to administrative duties [“a little bit of everything”], Yales’ language skills were utilized for Spanish translation. He will work with D&R Greenway into late August, when he departs for his freshman year at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, to which he has been awarded a four-year scholarship. The University’s motto, “Together as a community, serving the greater good” echoes Yales’ personal life mission, as well as D&R Greenway’s commitment to enrich the experience of environmental leaders of tomorrow.

Yales’ Princeton Day School years featured not only scholastic and leadership honors, but also significant photographic skills. He was Manager of Photography for “The Spokesman”, school newspaper, as well as Project Manager of their Photography Club. Since memorable nature images are crucial to expanding awareness of D&R Greenway’s preservation achievements, Yales has already begun chronicling trails and sites of interest along the river for his capstone exhibit with the land trust.

The first introduction that Yales had to the land trust’s work was through LALDEF’s FUTURO Program.  Yale participated in a series of webinars hosted by D&R Greenway during COVID that introduced the LALDEF students to the characteristics of the Delaware River, and invited the students to experience the river and create art. Yales provided his nature photography to inform the land trust’s Delaware River mural project  (above), working with mural artist Marlon Davila. Coincidentally, in his new role, Yales will assist management of D&R Greenway’s upcoming Kayak Education Program at Bordentown Beach, on the banks of the Delaware River. Artist Davila’s river mural decorates the storage structure which will house the land trust’s watercraft. Yales will be sharing his Fellowship time by working over the summer with D&R Greenway and Mercer County’s Tulpehaking Nature Center that focuses on the Abbott Marshlands located in Hamilton Township.

Fabio Yales, D&R Greenway’s new AWE Fellow, reveals his sense of the impact of the months ahead: “This summer presents me the opportunity not only to gain more knowledge about environmental science, but also to be actively engaged, making an impact in my community. I am excited to be working outdoors and learning from those who are really passionate about what they actually do. I am already enrolled in the “Pathfinder Fellows in Environmental Leadership” program, [for Washington University]. This summer is the perfect introduction to the field I will pursue.”

The land trust’s President and CEO Linda Mead is happy to welcome Yales to the organization’s work in community conservation and watershed stewardship, “This year’s Fellow, Fabio Yales, was the competitive winner of the AWE Summer Fellowship.  I couldn’t be more pleased to see our partnership with the LALDEF FUTURO Program grow to a new level, by offering a paid fellowship to one of their graduates.  D&R Greenway’s responsibility to ensure the future of conservation includes preservation and perpetual care of our lands, and inspiring a conservation ethic in young people who will take on future leadership positions in our region and in our country.”

D&R Greenway Releases New Video on Ecology/Preservation 

A new video released by D&R Greenway opens with a birds-eye view of Point Breeze, the former Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte estate preserved by the land trust, the City of Bordentown and the New Jersey Green Acres Program at the end of 2020. Using drone photography, viewers see a flyover of the 3,000 acre Abbott Marshlands, on the edge of the Bordentown property, as the title of the video emerges, Preserving Point Breeze, a New Jersey Treasure. The new seven-minute video can be viewed on D&R Greenway’s website at www.drgreenway.org.

The story of Point Breeze begins with recognition of the land’s 13,000 years of layered history, going back to Native Americans who lived here along the Delaware River and Crosswicks Creek. Chief Mann of the Ramapough Lenape was a guest speaker at D&R Greenway’s recent Gala that celebrated preservation of this land. He spoke about the importance of land to the Lenape, offering seeds and advice for gardens that will be planted at Point Breeze next spring, closing with a traditional blessing for the land and its inhabitants that include all of Earth’s creatures. (Above: Point Breeze 1818 by Thomas Birch)

The ecology of the land and the birds that were observed and perhaps sketched by visitor John James Audubon when he visited his friend Charles Lucien Bonaparte at Point Breeze can be seen in the video. Bonaparte’s gull was named for Charles, a renowned ornithologist of his day. The video tells the story of ornithology at Point Breeze, as it showcases the unique features of the property with stunning videography. (Right: Joseph Bonaparte)

Most compelling is the story of preservation, as told by Mayor James Lynch of Bordentown City. Recognized with D&R Greenway’s prestigious 2021 Donald B. Jones Conservation Award for championing preservation, Mayor Lynch tells how the land was literally rescued from developers who wanted to build warehouses on this historic property. 

Speaking of its importance to water quality in the Delaware River, Mayor Lynch says, “It would have been destruction. I lost a lot of sleep over this…it was my mission to preserve this property as best I could from the City side.” He tells how he learned from the former owner, Divine Word Missionaries, who owned the land for 80 years that the property would be sold. “I looked at the building, and I said, Father, that would be a great City hall.  And, he looked at me and said, ‘Well, we have some other news for you. Linda Mead of D&R Greenway and the State of New Jersey are already along the process of purchasing the entire property.’” 

As the video continues, Linda Mead, D&R Greenway CEO and President, shares more of the story, “This was the last piece of land that was open in Bordentown City….Can you imagine if this last piece of open space was built on? We would lose the history, we would lose the ecology…Preserving this property was paramount. It was one of the most important things that D&R Greenway has ever done.”

As the video draws to a close, the Mayor expresses his pleasure that this land has been saved for his community, and the world, “I don’t think I could smile any more. To look back on this…Incredible!”

When this new video was premiered to D&R Greenway supporters with live speakers who represented the varying aspects of history, ecology and preservation, the comments were overwhelmingly positive:

“Point Breeze and D&R Greenway’s St. Michaels Farm Preserve – 316 preserved properties altogether – permanently protected by D&R Greenway, are testaments to the power that exceptional land trusts can wield to literally define the landscape, history and future of our country.”

With the public release of the video, Point Breeze, a New Jersey Treasure, everyone can now learn of the importance and value of this property and hear firsthand the passion that drives preservation. Inspired viewers are invited to contact D&R Greenway if they would like to volunteer as docents or gardeners at Point Breeze. 

D&R Greenway Announces Delaware River Free Webinar with Kayak Option

D&R Greenway Land Trust Announces Virtual Series with Kayaking Opportunity

Discovering the Delaware: Getting to Know the River ‘In Your Back Yard’

Have you ever driven over a Delaware River bridge and wondered, “What lives in that water?” Now you can find out! D&R Greenway is offering a series of virtual presentations with discussion – free of charge – about Delaware River natural, historic, and cultural places that can be discovered locally. Lucky participants who attend all four sessions in the series will be rewarded with a guest certificate for a kayak experience in D&R Greenway’s new fleet of boats kept at Bordentown Beach.

This opportunity is first come, first served, with a limitation of 25 participants in each session to allow for questions and discussion. Everyone is welcome to register at www.drgreenway.org. Residents from communities bordering on the Delaware River are especially encouraged to attend. These communities include Bordentown, Trenton, Ewing, Titusville, Hopewell, West Amwell and Lambertville in New Jersey and cross-river communities in Pennsylvania. Those who sign up for all four sessions will receive priority registration.

Each of the four sessions takes place from 7:00-8:30 pm via Zoom, with the link sent to registered participants only. All sessions are on Mondays, except for the last session which takes place on the Thursday following Memorial Day.

 May 10: Geography and History

May 17: Ecology and Natural Resources

May 24: Arts and Culture

June 3: Activism and Kayaking

 

“The goal of this new, exciting opportunity is to create awareness about the amenities found in the Delaware River watershed, an American river that provides drinking water to 15 million people,” says Linda Mead, D&R Greenway President and CEO. A long-time river advocate and co-founder of the annual Delaware River Sojourn, Mead says that the series “seeks to encourage stewardship of this important river, the plants, wildlife and historic resources found in our own backyard.”

Most people who live in the region find themselves driving along or across the Delaware River several times each month, if not daily. In the early months of 2020, D&R Greenway Land Trust was planning to launch an on-the-water educational program to introduce people to the value and importance of the Delaware River with an on-the-water kayaking experience. As with many things, this program was significantly affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This past winter, D&R Greenway’s Community Conservation Fellow, Maria Stahl, organized a four session virtual series about unique aspects of the river environs. Piloted this spring with high school students in the Futuro program of the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, this series is now open for the first time to the public.

Topics include the history of the Delaware, from Native American presence to the founding of our country, to its designation in 2020 as River of the Year by American Rivers. 

Instructors include Hal Taylor, author of The Illustrated Delaware River: a History of a Great American River, joined by Dave Bell, 2019 Outstanding Volunteer from the Tookany-Tacony/Frankford Watershed Partnership, speaking on geography and history. David Wheeler, executive director of Conserve Wildlife Foundation and nature author, will host a session on the ecology of the river, its special natural places, and wildlife, including the birds that can be seen in the Delaware River Migratory Flyway. This partner of D&R Greenway conducts scientific inventories along the river and is known for its work in the Delaware Bayshore. Arts and culture will feature a discussion of the art of the Delaware River with Diana Moore, who holds a Masters in Contemporary Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art and curates environmentally-themed exhibits for D&R Greenway’s art gallery located at its headquarters, the Johnson Education Center, in Princeton, NJ. Tracy Carluccio of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network will speak about the history of river protection, including current efforts to steward the river and protect it from pollution. Cie Stroud, a kayak instructor certified by the American Canoe Association, will share kayaking techniques in preparation for a first-hand experience on the Crosswicks Creek at its confluence with the Delaware River. D&R Greenway thanks The William Penn Foundation for their support that enables this free public program.

"We are all looking forward to venturing out onto the river in kayaks together this summer,” enthuses Maria Stahl, who designed this series. “This webinar series will introduce participants to aspects of the river that they might not have thought about before and prepare them for an on-the-water excursion!"

D&R Greenway Land Trust, an accredited nonprofit, has saved over 21,000 acres of New Jersey land since its 1989 founding. Preserving land for life and creating public trails grants everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for neighbors—including those in need. D&R Greenway’s strategic land conservation and stewardship combat climate change, protect wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway's mission is connecting land with people from all walks of life. D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, home to its art galleries in Princeton, is closed to the public to ensure health and safety due to COVID. Outdoor trails and labyrinth are open. Visit D&R Greenway on Facebook and Instagram and at www.drgreenway.org

Our outdoor trails and labyrinth are open. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages and www.drgreenway.org to learn about the organization’s latest news and virtual programs. D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton NJ, 08540. The best way to reach D&R Greenway Staff during the COVID pandemic is by e-mail, or by calling D&R Greenway at 609-578-7470.

D&R Greenway Land Trust Invites Public to a Virtual Evening Program of Astrophotography: Stars and Constellations over Hopewell’s St. Michaels Farm Preserve 

Virtual Happy Hour: The Sky’s the Limit

WHEN: Wednesday March 31, from 5:00 until 6:00 PM
WHERE: Space for this popular program is limited to 100 participants.  To receive the free link to the program, register at rsvp@drgreenway.org. 
More information is available at www.drgreenway.org

D&R Greenway begins its new offerings of popular educational Virtual Happy Hours with a unique program that will leave participants in awe of the night skies. 

This virtual program provides opportunities to view vast arrays of stars and constellations literally found overhead of our own backyards. Experience the superb photography achieved with a telescope and special photographic equipment over our St. Michaels Farm Preserve, with physicist Taylor Blanchard. He chose our Hopewell preserve because "The skies over St. Michaels Farm Preserve are about as good as it gets in New Jersey!"

Our local skies have been rich in "star" phenomena lately. Key events commenced with the July 2020 arrival of Comet NEOWISE, brightest in decades, in the Northern Hemisphere. Scientists are still buzzing over the 'Christmas Star' conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, visible in night sky for the first time in 800 years.

D&R Greenway President and CEO, Linda Mead, said, “There has been a lot going on over our heads! Physicist Taylor Blanchard (below) views our Hopewell preserve as the perfect location for astrophotography, with its expanses of open fields and (that rare phenomenon!) ‘some of the darkest skies in New Jersey.’ He will share advice on techniques and equipment for taking memorable deep-sky photographs, including how to track stars and planets in their journeys.” (Above, right: Eastern Veil Nebula)

Mead promises a cosmic time with Blanchard: “You’ll never look at the night sky the same way again.”

For those who must miss this memorable event, a recording will be made available to all who register their email address with D&R Greenway Land Trust. (Top image: Andromeda galaxy photographed from St. Michael's Preserve)

Branford shares his personal view on the power of art and science: "Art is how we express the wonders of the universe. Science is how we understand the wonders of the Universe."

BACKGROUND  D&R Greenway Land Trust, an accredited nonprofit, has saved over 21,000 acres of New Jersey land since its 1989 founding. Preserving land for life and creating public trails grants everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for neighbors—including those in need. D&R Greenway’s strategic land conservation and stewardship combat climate change, protect wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway's mission is connecting land with people from all walks of life. D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, home to its art galleries in Princeton, is currently closed to ensure health and safety due to COVID. Our outdoor trails and labyrinth are open. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages and www.drgreenway.org to learn about the organization’s latest news and virtual programs. D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton NJ 08540. Best way to reach D&R Greenway Staff during the COVID pandemic is by e-mail, available on their web-site.

D&R G releases new video, Fields of Dreams, with Babe Ruth's Granddaughter

Fields of Dreams

Grandparents and parents seeking holiday gifts for their Little Leaguers will be inspired by watching D&R Greenway’s latest video, Fields of Dreams, featuring sports and the outdoors in the starring role. 

Linda Ruth Tosetti (left), granddaughter of legendary home-run hitter Babe Ruth, tells personal stories about the Babe’s early life and how he became motivated to become a baseball player.

“My grandfather looked up to Father Mathais, a mountain of a man, and Babe stood head and shoulders over the other kids,” says Linda Ruth Tosetti about her grandfather’s mentor at a Catholic school. Viewers are treated to historic photos of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor from Babe Ruth’s youth. Sports fans will be fascinated to hear the story of how he learned to throw.

The video begins with D&R Greenway trustee James Fiorentino (right), an artist who has painted many of baseball’s legendary players. Fiorentino was the youngest artist ever to have his art featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, when he was only 15 years of age. Having begun his sports art career with Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams, James became a college baseball player himself. He talks about the connection he feels to the land while outdoors in the field, and how important this is in forming a lifelong love of nature.

Since 1989, D&R Greenway has permanently protected over 21,000 acres of land in central New Jersey. Fiorentino became Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the land trust in 2019. He generously shares his talents, connections and love of the outdoors to ensure it is accessible to all.

Farm View Fields and Greenway Meadows parks in Princeton were both saved from housing developments and preserved in 2001 through the leadership of D&R Greenway. These parks provide baseball and soccer fields, as well as places to walk and experience the outdoors. In the video, D&R Greenway’s President and CEO Linda Mead shares that being outdoors in nature cultivates creativity and calm in children who are known to have ADHD.  The viewer learns that, in fact, Babe Ruth may have had “nature-deficit disorder,” a term coined by author Richard Louv in his book Last Child in the Woods published in 2005.  Linda Ruth Tosetti insists that, throughout his legendary life, her grandfather was sustained by nature. “He was a fisherman and huntsman. That’s where he got his solace.”

In his books about connecting children with nature, Louv says he is convinced that “The future will belong to the nature-smart...to those who balance the virtual with the real...achieving natural balance.” He encourages taking children to parks regularly, close to home. His words ring true during this COVID-era: “Near is the new far.”

During the past year, D&R Greenway partnered with the Trenton Thunder baseball team at Waterfront Park in Trenton where parts of the video were filmed. Mead says, “The way many, many people connect with nature and the outdoors is through the sports their children play when they are young.”

 

The benefit of spending time in the outdoors has been proven in many academic studies. The University of Michigan demonstrated that participant’s memory performance and attention spans improved by 20 percent after just an hour of interacting with nature. University of Illinois researchers discovered that children show a significant reduction in the symptoms of attention-deficit disorder when they engage with nature. Professionally led field trips with city children have proven that so-called at-risk students who have not had much experience in nature show a marked improvement of 27% in test scores related to mastery of science, when they learn in weeklong residential outdoor education programs.

Ending on a happy note, high school students from the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s FUTURO program share how they feel when they are out in nature. These students have worked in partnership with D&R Greenway over the past year, learning about nature’s benefits, clean water and open spaces. In contrast to being indoors during the pandemic, these students’ words about “a good lost” while outside on a wide, open field will stick with the viewer for a long time.

A visit to a local park, and a bat and ball, could be the perfect gifts for children who have felt cooped up this year. The lands preserved by D&R Greenway provide many opportunities. 

Information on where to go and the new 7-minute video Fields of Dreams can be found on D&R Greenway Land Trust’s website, www.drgreenway.org.

D&R Greenway Open Space Open for School—NOW!

Find an Outdoor Classroom Near You!

With schools adjusting teaching methods due to the pandemic, this is a great time to introduce children to nature on D&R Greenway's Nature Preserves in our region.

 The Charles Evans Children's Discovery Trail in Princeton is specifically designed for that purpose, complete with interpretive signs to educate children.

This wonderful corner of land holds a diversity of habitat types, including a pretty little wet meadow with Indian grass, switch grass, mountain mint and swamp milkweed; a wet woodland with musclewood and tuliptree; and a small bog with tussock sedge, winterberry holly and marsh fern. 

 The kiosk and entrance have been restored so it is easier to find and more inviting.  Be sure to dress for ticks and sun, and park on the gravel portion of Province Line Road around the corner from the entrance—there is room for one or two cars and the road is a dead-end.

WHERE: D&R Greenway Land Trust, at the Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ 
www.drgreenway.org

"Every child needs nature. Not just the ones with parents who appreciate nature. Not only those of a certain economic class or culture or set of abilities. Every child." 

"The children and nature movement is fueled by this fundamental idea: The child in nature is an endangered species, and the health of children and the health of the Earth are inseparable." 

"Time in nature is not leisure time; it's an essential investment in our children's health (and also, by the way, in our own)."— Richard Louv

Other ideas for outdoor activities for children can be found here.

IMPORTANT:

Remember social distancing—6 feet for low-risk groups, and 10 feet

for high-risk groups (age 60 and/or with underlying health condition).

If a preserve is busy, move on to another one or return on another day.

We all are in need of the outdoors for our health and well-being.

 

Hunting for deer population management is underway on D&R Greenway preserves. 

Wear bright colors, stay on trails, and—as always—keep pets on leash.

DRG Announces Virtual Happy Hour ZOOM re Impacts of COVID upon NJ Native Species 

D&R Greenway’s Virtual Happy Hour Series: Impacts of COVID upon NJ Native Species 

WHEN:  Thursday, September 17, from 5 until 6 p.m.
WHERE: Zoom
ADMISSION: Free
rsvp@drgreenway.org

D&R Greenway’s Virtual Happy Hour Series has become a new tradition, bringing together like-minded conservationists from near and far for topical talks. These popular Zoom events provide convivial, healthy engagement with experts and participants on nature topics of current high interest. Pour your favorite beverage and join others who care intensely about nature. (Above: Bobcat by James Fiorentino)

David Wheeler, Executive Director of Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF) and Allison Sonya Injaian, M.S., Ph.D., Lecturer at Odom School, University of Georgia, will share recent observations on positive and negative effects of the COVID’s pandemic’s changes upon wild creatures, with a focus on wildlife of New Jersey. D&R Greenway Land Trust President and CEO, Linda Mead, will moderate the scientific presentations. D&R Greenway’s newest Community Conservation Fellow for the 2020-‘21 year, Maria Stahl—recent Princeton University graduate in the fields of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, will create a special introduction, including her own recent experience conducting research upon plant-animal interactions in the African savannah.

Since becoming Executive Director in 2012, David Wheeler has directed CWF's expansion in wildlife conservation projects, habitat restoration, public engagement, and environmental education. This leadership role synchronizes powerfully with his interests and repute as a long-time Lecturer in Environmental Communication at Rutgers University. Wheeler is also renowned for a proliferation of publications on the incredible biodiversity and perils of New Jersey native species. Among his books is Wild New Jersey: Nature Adventures in the Garden State. His work with “our talented CWF Staff includes protecting rare wildlife through field science, habitat restoration, education, and public engagement.” During this Virtual Happy Hour, he will focus on COVID-generated changes in human interactions on roads and trails which may be impacting migration patterns and range. Of particular interest is his perspective on alterations in the lives and professions of wildlife conservationists, as generated by COVID’s presence among us.

Allison Sonya Injaian—friend and colleague of D&R Greenway’s Assistant Director of Land Stewardship, Cindy Taylor—is known for original research and findings upon impacts of introduced noise among bird populations. Virtual Happy Hour Participants will learn, among other realities, traffic’s impact upon tree swallows, and those of aircraft upon the wood thrush population. She has recently begun her new role as Lecturer at the Odom School at University of Georgia. Among Injaian’s scholarly publications is “Effects of experimental anthropogenic noise on avian settlement patterns and reproductive success.”

“Our virtual happy hours enhance community and provide the latest information on matters of land conservation in New Jersey and the Delaware Valley region,” says Linda Mead. “D&R Greenway is experiencing an increased sense of community, through these evening virtual gatherings. Our goal is to connect conservation-minded people, heightening awareness of ways by which they can effectively support conservation through their own private actions. We are told that our happy hours catalyze interesting dinner conversations!”

D&R Greenway Land Trust, an accredited nonprofit, is close to reaching a new milestone of 21,000 acres of land preserved since 1989. By preserving land for life and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for our neighbors—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway's mission is centered in connecting land with people from all walks of life. (Right: Wood Thrush by Sharyn Magee)

D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, home to its art galleries in Princeton, is currently closed to ensure health and safety due to COVID. Visit www.drgeenway.org to learn about the organization’s latest news and virtual programs. D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton NJ 08540

D&R Greenway Announces Bounty from St. Michaels Farm Preserve Charity Comm. Victory Gardens Distributed by Aunt Chubby's

In response to the pandemic, D&R Greenway established 32 socially distanced garden plots at St. Michaels Farm Preserve this past spring that are now producing a remarkable bounty. Six of the 32 reserved garden plots are for charity. Hopewell resident Corinne Egner is managing the schedule for gardeners who donated plants and seed, and have given generously of their time to weed, water and harvest. (Above: Marino and proprietor Lyn Farrugia of Aunt Chubby's receive the first delivery of food from the Charity Gardeners at St. Michaels Farm Preserve. Larger deliveries have followed weekly.)

"We are all hungry for a sense of belonging, being outdoors and living healthy right now. These times hearken back to the Great Depression, when Victory Gardens provided important sustenance for those who lost jobs or were on limited income, strapped for food. I especially liked the suggestion to include 'Charity Plots' where gardeners donate plants, time and harvest to support those in need." —Linda Mead, President & CEO, D&R Greenway Land Trust

D&R Greenway is adapting to world conditions, while celebrating history and agriculture. Stretching back to World War I,  American citizens were urged to utilize idle land that was not already engaged in agriculture-including school grounds, parks, backyards or any available vacant lot. 

A new version of 'War Garden' emerged during the Great Depression and WWII, when Eleanor Roosevelt planted a 'Victory Garden' on the White House lawn.  The site of D&R Greenway's new Community Victory Gardens once served as a farm to provide food for the children who lived at the St. Michaels Orphanage that stood here through both World Wars. 

The 415-acre St. Michaels Farm Preserve is unique in that it combines public access to open space with agriculture activities.

D&R Greenway, Garden St. Watercolor Society Announce Art Scavenger Hunt; Art Installation Outdoors Princeton

      

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES & IN THE WILD

The Garden State Watercolor Society’s (GSWS) 2^nd Annual Art Installation invites the public to participate in “a fun activity for all ages.” The Society has designed a unique, family-friendly scavenger hunt, with their “Beautiful Creatures” exhibit throughout the town of Princeton and Exhibit Scavenger Cards at Greenway Meadows park, surrounding D&R Greenway. Challenged by COVID limitations, these artists have conceived of this socially-distanced and engaging new way of viewing their 50^th Anniversary installation that is part of its “Out of the Wild” juried exhibit. In this family-friendly game, participants will enjoy the hunt for “Beautiful Creatures,” and Scavenger Cards outside, IN the ‘wild’.

Six special prize cards, depicting forests and meadows preserve locally by D&R Greenway Land Trust, can be found hidden at the land trust’s Johnson Education Center campus on Rosedale Road and in the surrounding Greenway Meadows park. D&R Greenway, a partner with GSWS for this celebration of art and nature, preserves and cares for land where real-life beautiful creatures make their homes in wild habitats.

Forty-three GSWS artists created 90 Beautiful Creatures paintings, limited to secondary colors of green, orange and purple. These 5x7-inch paintings were to have been displayed in the D&R Greenway galleries in the Johnson Education Center. Instead, the “Beautiful Creatures,”–as ninety numbered, laminated art cards--, have been placed throughout the town of Princeton and on the grounds surrounding D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, for the public to “seek and find.” Participants are invited to follow safety guidelines and put on a mask, gather family members or travel as a single on a “Beautiful Creatures” safari to find these whimsical creations that are sure to bring a smile. All are encouraged to post their “findings” on Instagram, with the hashtag #gswsbc.

The Scavenger Hunt is open and available from Saturday, August 29 through Sunday, September 13, 2020. D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center is located at One Preservation Place, off Rosedale Road, in Princeton 08540. Greenway Meadows park can be accessed from the land trust’s parking lot or directly on Rosedale Road.

“We couldn’t let our Beautiful Creatures go unseen. We have created a delightful show on GSWS’s YouTube channel. For the first time in GSWS’s 50-year history, we will take to the streets!” explains Tess Fields, GSWS President. “I suggest you see the virtual Beautiful Creatures online show before you go out on the hunt. Make sure you have your sound on, to hear our Beautiful Creature’s songs.” 

“What could be more fun than discovering artists’ renderings of beautiful wild creatures while outdoors in nature, learning about wild wonders right in our own backyard,” enthuses Linda Mead, D&R Greenway President and CEO. “Everyone who submits entries will have the added benefit of learning from the prize cards about nearby trails rich in birds, butterflies and maybe even a fox or rabbit.”

Purchase of prints or original paintings may be arranged through D&R Greenway by contacting info@drgreenway.org. Purchases help to support D&R Greenway Land Trust’s active land preservation and habitat restoration.

“Every day, D&R Greenway receives notes from people, telling us how much our preserved lands mean during this challenging time,” says Linda Mead. “We increasingly steward our preserves—with new trails and for the sake of all native species who belong there. This art exhibition and its accompanying installation heighten awareness in visitors of all ages, of the urgency of keeping open space open, for humans and the wild creatures.” She adds that, “Since the beginning of 2020, despite COVID, D&R Greenway has added four more parcels of preserved land, surpassing 310 parcels preserved since our founding thirty-one years ago.”

Information about the scavenger hunt including maps, how to win one of six special prizes and how to purchase prints and original artwork is available at www.gswcs.com and at www.drgreenway.org.

Six prize cards have been hidden among the greenery of Greenway Meadow, surrounding D&R Greenway’s iconic 1900 barn. Find all six prize cards, featuring nearby Preserves. E-mail your name, address, phone number, prize card names and numbers and the locations where each card was found to info@drgreenway.org. The first six correct entries will receive a gift certificate to D&R Greenway’s Fall Native Plant sale; an environmentally-themed book of your choice; or a print of your favorite among GSWS’ 90 Beautiful Creatures. Prizes will be awarded on September 15.

D&R Greenway’s 1900 barn, the Johnson Education Center, is home to its art galleries in Princeton. The Center is currently closed to ensure health and safety in this time of COVID challenges. Visit www.drgreenway.org to learn about the land trust’s latest news and continuing virtual programs on preservation and art. D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton NJ 08540

The Garden State Watercolor Society was founded in 1970 by Dagmar Tribble, a noted watercolorist. Over its existence, GSWS has been a beacon whose award-winning artists have inspired generations. The nonprofit organization’s goal is to encourage painting in water media and provide educational and exhibition opportunities for artists and residents of NJ, PA, NY or DE. Please visit www.gswcs.com for updates. View works of Steve Zazenski, exhibit juror, at https://stevezazenski.com/artwork.

D&R Greenway Land Trust, an accredited nonprofit, is close to reaching a new milestone of 21,000 acres of land preserved since 1989. By preserving land for life and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for our neighbors—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway's mission is centered in connecting land with people from all walks of life. 

D&R Greenway Land Trust and Garden State Watercolor Society Announce Virtual Art Exhibit and Scavenger Hunt

Garden State Watercolor Society (GSWS) partners with D&R Greenway Land Trust to mount a wildlife-focused 50th Anniversary Juried Exhibition online 

OUT OF THE WILD

WHEN: August 4 through September 30, 2020. 

A virtual Awards Ceremony will include a special new award on occasion of GSWS’ 50^th Anniversary, the D&R Greenway James Fiorentino Nature Art Award. Opportunities to experience the exhibit include a virtual gallery, a virtual talk with featured artists, and a fun family-friendly scavenger hunt. (Left: It Takes Two by Cynthia Smith)

Art has depicted our place in the world since prehistoric man imprinted hand-prints and animals on cave walls. Now, as then, art is an important tool for sharing our observations and feelings. Current virus restrictions add to our collective cabin-fever and need for connection. This exhibit celebrates the natural world with a sense of urgency to save it from loosened regulations and increasing environmental concerns. It recognizes the value found in the lands of D&R Greenway that have become a critical connection for people, for inspiration and restorative meditation.

Garden State Watercolor’s exhibit Out of the Wild portrays human relationships with the wild landscape, flora and fauna with creative imagination. Artists illustrate natural beauty, as well as the disconnect felt when civilization and nature are out of balance. Whether the trauma of suburban or industrial encroachment or the restorative bliss of land reclaimed to wildflower meadows, this deeply contemplative exhibit will showcase what Out of the Wild signifies to each of us. This exhibit was juried by Steve Zazenski, AWS, who is known for his colorful landscapes depicting coastal New England, Europe and the Caribbean. Art is available for sale online, with part of each purchase a donation to support D&R Greenway’s charitable mission of preserving and caring for land, and inspiring a conservation ethic.

“It has been difficult not to come together in person for this important 50^th Anniversary milestone exhibit,” shares Tess Fields, GSWS’s President. “But we have risen to the challenge and are proud to present our Juried Exhibit virtually for the first time. We are very excited to put out, quite literally, the 

‘Beautiful Creatures’ Scavenger Hunt later in August. These little creatures are sure to engage and delight.”  Speaking of the partnership with D&R Greenway that began at its Johnson Education Center art gallery, she continues, “I want to thank Linda Mead and her wonderful staff for working with us on these projects. I think we make a great team!" (Above: Batsto Lake by Richard Hoffman)

“Every day, D&R Greenway receives notes from people who tell us how much our preserved lands mean to them during this challenging time,” says Linda Mead, D&R Greenway President and CEO. 

“Getting outdoors and looking at art are both activities that calm our mind and provide respite in an uncertain world. Combining those with the unique opportunity to discover art in our community with a scavenger hunt is my favorite aspect of this exhibit.”

Featured in the outdoor scavenger hunt is the second annual mini-art exhibit “Beautiful Creatures” that includes ninety 5”x7” images of earth’s creatures created by 47 artists. Artists were challenged to paint using only secondary colors of orange, green and purple. This special exhibit follows the popular 2019 challenge that focused on primary colors of red, yellow and blue. The community is invited to wear a mask to seek and find this year’s “Beautiful Creatures” as laminated art placed throughout the town of Princeton and at D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center campus that includes Greenway Meadows on Rosedale Road. This unique and fun way to learn fascinating facts and enjoy depictions of wild creatures provides an educational activity for school-age children and a socially-distanced outdoor excursion for art and wildlife lovers of all ages.  (Right: Still Waiting by John Wolff)

Start and end dates for the scavenger hunt, along with special instructions and clues, can be found on the organizations’ websites at www.gswcs.com and www.drgreenway.org.