Friends of Holcomb Farm
Industrial engineer finds her way to Holcomb Farm
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The fourth in the series introducing the five new members of the Friends of Holcomb Farm Board of Directors. This month: Paula Saaf.
Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/category/grow/)
The fourth in the series introducing the five new members of the Friends of Holcomb Farm Board of Directors. This month: Paula Saaf.
It’s that time of year again. In what has become a Granby tradition, the Granby Land Trust will take part in the Great Global Cleanup® over Earth Day Weekend, April 23–26. This worldwide campaign removes billions of pieces of trash from neighborhoods, beaches, rivers, lakes, trails and parks—reducing waste and plastic pollution, improving habitats and preventing harm to wildlife and people.
Members of the Holcomb Farm Tree Trail team cast an invitation to anyone interested in becoming a volunteer or in expanding their already existing volunteer role on the trail to meet at the Farm’s workshop on March 14. Several folks arrived that morning to learn about the tree trail and what part they might play in maintaining it.
On Wednesday, April 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., the Granby Land Trust will host a Spring Ephemeral Wildflower Walk on the GLT’s Katan-Ensor Preserve. The forest floor awakens at this time of year with vibrant colors and delicate blooms.
Holcomb Farm’s Joe O’Grady opened his talk at the Granby Public Library on Feb. 24 with this remark, “Sustainability is all about the soil.” He proceeded to back up his comment with facts garnered during his 20 years of studying this basic component of the farming process.
This year, McLean Game Refuge is embarking on a habitat restoration project. Part of this project will involve clearing trees to encourage wildlife diversity in its meadows, an important part of the New England ecosystem. Wildlife diversity fosters ecosystem resilience by supporting pollinators, birds and small mammals, all while bolstering the soil health.
It’s getting to that time of year when the northern mockingbirds return to Granby, though some hardy individuals stay here year-round. Of course, you may not recognize them by their song since they have more than 200 of those, not to mention the 30 other bird songs they can mimic. This is the talent that gives them their common name. In addition to other birds, these clever avians can imitate crickets, barking dogs, squeaky hinges and many other things.
Bears are awakening from their long winter naps and sightings confirm that spring has arrived! Spring becomes a couple of chaotic months for bears and humans and the usual questions arise. How do we keep these large omnivores out of our yards, away from our youngsters and pets, out of garbage bins and our chicken coops? Understanding what’s going on can help put it all in perspective.
After a night of freezing rain, the Granby Land Trust’s Dewey-Granby Oak shimmered in the morning sun.
Shirley Murtha shared, “These three doves must be miserable, but they make for a lovely photo. Taken Feb. 23 out my kitchen window.”