Y'all come back!

Eco-tourism is simply: hospitality that pays off.

The little town of Loudonville Ohio knows how it earns a living, or at least the local McDonald's management knows.  It is all about tourism.  

The Loudonville McDonald's displays a beautiful  mural of Mohican State Park.

  These folks are pretty savvy about marketing, and they know from whence their dollars come. Mohican State Park and Malabar Farm are huge economic draws to this area.  That tourism would sharply decline if industry is allowed to operate in our parks.  Who wants to camp or fish next to a logging operation or fracking well?  Ohio State Park land was set aside for the people of Ohio; it should not be "for sale".

The past month has been Maple Sugaring time at Malabar.  The crowds are pouring in, as the demand for homegrown food and natural products are more relevant than ever.  

     The wagon rides make it a memorable day!                                

We love Malabar and want continued protection of the land and farm management by the conservation principles Louis Bromfield promoted.  It is good for the locals and our welcomed guests alike. We are acutely aware that farm run-off is impacting our waterways and lakes.  Conservation "best practices" and conservation education should be Ohio Department of Natural Resources highest goal for this treasured farm.

Flora-Quest was started as an eco-tourism event to enlarge the constituency of the Shawnee Park and Forest. It is no secret people naturally want to protect and conserve the birds, butterflies, plants, and trees, once they understand the basic ecology.  We are now in our 7th year, and have already filled 2013's event.

Eco-tourism works!

The Biggest Week in American Birding is another excellent example of the good that can come from tourism.  People were already coming to Magee Marsh to see the spring Warblers, so why not organize the mayhem?  Now out-of -towners can get up to date information, and a myriad of trip offerings help spread the birders far and wide across Ottawa County. Ottawa County Convention and Visitors Bureau knows BWIAB is a key player in the local economy and local politicians know, too.  

Economic statistics may be the only thing preventing the full scale "bird-beater" landscape on the Erie Shores horizon.  Kim  and Kenn Kaufman have worked tirelessly to get the message  across: Wind power is great- when it is property placed. Wind power should not be placed in a migratory highway.  The science provided by Black Swamp Bird Observatory is conclusive. We know birds are migrating through the western basin of Lake Erie, both spring and fall.  First the ducks and swans,followed by millions of blackbirds, shorebirds and then neo-tropical warblers.  Migration is much more than a two week occurrence in May!  

Reason is one thing, but dollars talk.  Eco-tourism will help save the natural areas we treasure.  Help us keep our rivers clean, our forests pristine and our birds whole.  Make your voice heard about things that matter.   Ohio State Parks were set aside for the people, not for industry. Call your state representatives today.

Eye to the Future

Once numerous in mid-Ohio farm land, the Northern Bobwhite no longer sings in Richland or Ashland Counties.  What could be a better avatar for the restoration of farmland conservation ethics?

Northern Bobwhite, photo courtesy of Michael Godfrey

 With an eye to the future, Ohio Department of Natural Resources has committed a huge investment into Malabar Farm State Park.  Farming is about to undergo radical changes in the Midwest, forced by climate change and  farm run-off impacting our lakes and waterways.  

It is time to ask ourselves, "What would Louie do?"  

Louis Bromfield spent the last years of his life working for farm reforms to make agriculture better and more conservation minded.  We have come to realize it is not the environment or the economy.  Now we have learned:

What is good for the environment is ultimately good for the economy, too.

 Cattle?  Sure I love them, med-rare.   I'll have mine grass fed, please.  It is a whole new world out there, and Ohio has some of the leading experts on sustainable farming. Look into the writings of Gene Logsdon.

We love this land, and want the farm addressed with respect to farming and the future.  Bring back the buffer zones that protect our water and create habitat.  We'll have a side order of quail too, please.

These trees are witness to the changing land.  They survived the arrival of white settlers, the Great Depression and now we need to protect them for our children.

Sugar Maples will not do well as the climate continues to warm.  Our vegetation is changing, and the butterflies and birds around us are already adjusting to this change.  We need to listen and learn more form nature if we really have our "eye to the future."

Until we can get them back into Pleasant Valley, enjoy this little video clip provided by my friend Michael Godfrey.  I have not seen or heard a Bobwhite in Ohio since the 1970's.  They would certain be a welcome addition again.

Christmas in Pleasant Valley

 A very famous house in Pleasant Valley is dressed and ready for Christmas.

The windows are trimmed with garland and bows.

The trees are aglow, one for each room.

The family pets enjoy the party too.

The Postman, painting by Grandma Moses

Even the artwork reflects the season.  This painting  "The Postman" is by a famous American folk artist.  Ironically, Grandma Moses  said she first started painting (in her late 70's)  to produce a gift for the mailman's Christmas.

 

 So have you guessed who hosted the party I visited today?  The lawn has seen many gatherings and press conferences over the years.

This is Malabar Farm, home of the author Louis Bromfield.  One of Richland County, Ohio's brightest gifts not only to the literary world but, perhaps even more importantly, to conservation as well.  He wrote and talked about preventing erosion and improving soil conditions, long before it was the vogue.

ODNR's  Director James Zehringer, Park Manager Korre Boyer and  Assistant Director Andy Ware 

Today the party was given for Malabar by Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  The gift, totaling $500,000. has been promised for the restoration of  "The Big House," as we locals call it.  This home, the epicenter of conservation during the Great Depression, has seen better days.  But today marks a movement for change.

It was a moment of great pride and happiness for all of us gathered on that lawn.  We are looking forward to embracing the farm conservation ethic Louie promoted while living in Pleasant Valley.   Welcome Korre! We can't wait to get to work on the farm.

Daughmer Prairie Dedication

Ohio's nature buffs have been waiting 20 years for this day:  Daughmer Bur Oak Prairie Savannah State Nature Preserve was dedicated yesterday.

Daughmer is significant, not only for Ohio; it also has a reputation for being the best Oak Prairie Savannah nationally. And Bur Oak Savannahs are a globally rare habitat- globally rare.  It has been the culmination of many years work to protect and preserve this little 40 acre plot of what was once 200,000 acres of prairie.

This sign was placed years ago,  marking the importance of this tract of land- even when it was still being used as a sheep pasture.  Oak savannahs are created by islands of higher-drier soils being surrounded by heavy wet clay soils. In Ohio over 99 percent of the prairie have been plowed and used for agriculture.  This is a very rare plot that has never been tilled.

 State Parks Chief Glen Cobb, Crawford Park Director Bill Fisher and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director James Zehringer cut the ribbon to open the preserve.

 Note the beautiful native stand of Indian grass, Sorghastrum nutans  directly behind them.

John Mack, of Cleveland Metro-parks has studied this significant site for many years.  He lent his expertise to the field trips, and spoke to us about the unique hydrology.

The prairie tours pass beneath the towering oaks.

 Rick Gardner, Ohio's Heritage botanist also guided tours.  Over 90 people came out for the dedication, in spite of the rain showers.

 Guy Denny teaches the crowd about Prairie Dock, Silphium terebinthinaceum a species that is reappearing since sheep no longer graze here.

Winged loosestrife, Lythrum alatum

 Loosestrife- the good one.  Yes, this is not the invasive species we try to eradicate from wetlands.  This is a much rarer native species which we want to keep.  And that is why Natural Areas need to be protected and maintained by the experts who know the subtle differences in these plants.   We WANT this loosestrife.

 Winged Loosestrife grows along the edges of the parking lot at Daughmer.  The beautiful pink flowers are a natural part of this ecosystem, which needs be restored.  The balance of this prairie is in need of management: fire to beat back the invasive species, volunteers to help dig out teasel, and botanists to help us document rare species as they return from the seed bank.

Josh Dyer and Bill Fisher are the locals who are heading up much of the work at Daughmer Prairie.  

Join the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association and help them protect this prairie, or one of  the many other significant natural areas in Ohio.  We need your help as we volunteer in the preserves. Click on that link and join today!