August Enews

August 2nd, 2019

E-News
News

JP Rendezvous Fire July 31 2019 — The scene up the Rendezvous on Wednesday, July 31st. Thanks to a quick response, the fire was quickly under control. Photo by Jason Paulsen.

Thanks to Firefighters and Good Neighbors

We’d like to publicly thank all of the Okanogan Fire District #6 personnel, Department of Natural Resources pilots and other firefighters who played a role in the rapid response this past week to a fire off Rendezvous Road. Thanks also to Okanogan County Emergency Management for our local alert system. If you aren’t receiving notifications during emergency events in our community, you can sign up now here.

Thanks also to all who stepped up to help friends or neighbors whose homes were at risk on Wednesday afternoon. If you would like to play an active role in preparing your neighborhood for fires and other disaster events, check out the resources and trainings available through MethowReady. It's officially August now. Be safe and thoughtful out there!

2017 May Conservancy Farm Tour BCS Livestock 0792 — Photo by Rachelle Weymuller

First Tuesday on the Farm

BCS Livestock Farm Tour
August 6, 6:30pm - 8pm
Free, No registration required.

The sheep of BCS Livestock are ready to meet you! Join us at this fascinating family farm just outside of Winthrop (19100 Hwy 20, Winthrop) to tour Betsy, Skip, and Casey’s grass-fed lamb business. The Smith's utilize regenerative grazing systems and think a lot about soil health. You can learn more about BCS Livestock and all of our Valley's agriculturalists at our Methow Grown website.

Snapseed by Ryan T Bell small — Do the Methow's historic barns fascinate you? Learn to photograph them with professional photographer Ryan T. Bell in a special 4-session photography class this September. Photo by Ryan T Bell

Learn with Us!

From dark nights to barn sites, we've got a great line up of opportunities to learn more about this Valley and beyond:

August 5th: A Star of the Stars Presentation with former NASA scientist Tuck Stebbins and Shane Larson of Northwestern University.
August 6th: First Tuesday on the Farm with a tour of BCS Livestock in Winthrop.
August 7th: A Star Gazing Party with Tuck and Shane.
September 3rd: A Free First Tuesday Presentation - Interwoven Lives: Indigenous Mothers of Salish Coast Communities with author Candace Wellman.
September 14th: Beaver Celebration!
September 16th - 26th on Monday and Thursday evenings: Photography Workshop - Barns of the Methow Valley with Ryan T. Bell.
October 11th: Land of the Larch Alpine Hike with Amy Fitkin.
October 26th and 27th: Wildlife Track and Sign Certification Class with David Moskowitz.

To get all the details on these events and for information on registering, c heck out our Events page here.

County Comprehensive Plan Comment Opportunity

On July 17^th, Okanogan County released a new Draft Environmental Impact Statement analyzing the impact of several alternatives associated with the County Comprehensive Plan update currently underway. The 45-day comment period will run through September 3^rd, but on Monday, August 19th, the Okanogan Planning Commission will hold a public hearing in Okanogan to receive verbal testimony. This is a great opportunity to share your thoughts or to learn more about the alternatives being considered as part of this update. You can view the Draft EIS here.

Cider Squeeze MK — Cider Squeeze fun circa 2007. Come join us for our 2022 Squeeze on September 25th. Photo by Mary Kiesau

Save the Date for the Big Squeeze

Methow Conservancy Annual Cider Squeeze & Social
Saturday, September 28th from 2:00 – 4:00pm
The Sabold Residence, 17 Bean Rd, Winthrop

Mark your calendars for September 28th for our annual Cider Squeeze at Dave and Marilyn Sabold’s. This sweet event is always a special, fun-filled time to celebrate community, conservation and the harvest season. It's free and all are welcome.

The highlight of the event is, of course, the apple pressing. You’ll want to take a turn working the unique and historic apple press. Our goal: no one leaves without juice!

No RSVPs are necessary. Join us and bring a friend! It’s fun. It’s casual. It’s sweet.

And, While Your Calendar is Out: Save the Date for the Homestream Park Opening Celebration

Sunday, October 13th

We're excited to partner with Cathy and Phil Davis as they bring their vision for Homestream Park in Winthrop to life. We hope you'll plan to join us on Sunday, October 13th for an opening celebration for Winthrop's newest park. There will be small group tours and general good cheer!

Education wondering daniel senner — Tell us what's on your mind! Photo by Daniel Senner.

Tell Us What You Want!

We're wondering.....what do you want to learn?

In order to offer a better range of educational opportunities in the Valley we need your thoughts and feedback. Just fill out this short survey and help us continue our long tradition of outstanding learning outings and events!

Thank you!

2nd cutting hay Mazama Meadows JD — Conservation-minded buyers helped to protect this iconic stretch of farmland in Mazama. You can be a conservation buyer, too! (Photo by Johnnie Duguay)

Wanted: Conservation Buyers and Investors

If you are thinking about buying property in the Methow Valley and you’d like to play a role in protecting critical wildlife habitat, fertile agricultural soils, or scenic views, you just might be a conservation buyer. Conservation buyers can purchase properties already protected with a conservation easement and help us ensure they are well-cared for into the future. Or, after purchasing land, they can choose to place a conservation easement on a property in order to protect high quality habitat, significant river frontage, connection to existing protected areas, or productive agricultural soils that are at risk of subdivision and degradation. It’s a great opportunity to join a wonderful community of conservation heroes!!

If you would like to learn more about conservation buyer opportunities or if you would like to add your name to our list of interested conservation buyers, please contact us at 509-996-2870 or email us.

Got Your Farm Guide?

We’ve just sent the second edition of the Methow Grown Farm & Ranch Guide to press! Thanks to a generous grant from the Methow Valley Fund of the Community Foundation of North Central Washington, we are able to print 1,000 copies of the newly updated booklet -- and connect consumers to nearly two-dozen farms in the Methow Valley that sell delicious and diverse products direct-to-consumer.

In the next few weeks, keep your eyes out around the Valley for this eye-catching guide. The farm profiles are an extension of our Methow Grown project, where you can see our short films on various farms, ranches, and orchards around the Valley.

Dave and marilyn and puncturevine small — Marilyn and Dave Sabold holding a puncturevine they pulled. Photo by Sarah Brooks

Puncturevine: An Extinction to Celebrate

Like medieval caltrops, the spiky seeds of the puncturevine or "goatshead" weed stick to soles of shoes, bare feet, animal paws and bicycle tires, causing painful wounds and punctured inner tubes. It grows in parking lots and along trails and roadways at more than a dozen sites in the Methow Valley.

Fortunately, puncturevine hasn’t gained as much of a foothold in the Methow Valley as in the rest of Okanogan County. We can win this fight. Read more....

Serviceberry by Ted Alway — Serviceberry fruit by Ted Alway

Did You Know? All About the Serviceberry

by Julie Grialou, Conservation Biologist

I was mountain biking with a friend this morning, and he was noting the serviceberry branches that had been pulled down by bears. Serviceberry is a desired food item by a variety of wildlife, as well as by humans. There are several species of serviceberry, and almost every state in the US has at least one native serviceberry species. Birds and bears in particular consume a lot of these berries. How many? Read more...

Our Printed Newsletter is Here!

Twice a year we dig a little deeper on the news from the Methow Conservancy and print a full-color 8-page written newsletter. If you subscribe, you should have received your copy in your mailbox this week. Here's a link to a digital version if you prefer to go paperless.

We sure appreciate the amazing support of this conservation-minded community and we love to share good stories from the field with you. We hope you'll find a cool spot by the river and read your Methow Conservancy News and feel proud to be a part of a place like this! And, if you have suggestions for future stories or projects for us, just let us know!

Jp wildflowers bursting — We're bursting with joy as we welcome new supporters! Photo by Jason Paulsen.

Welcome New Members!

We're always excited to welcome new donors to Team Methow Conservancy. This last month, we want to thank new members: Kimberly and Kristofer Gray, and the offices of Ryan and Kuehler PLLC. Thank you for supporting conservation!

Jeanne reading 0819 — Jeanne White reading! Photo by Sarah Brooks.

Read Along with Us this August

From beer to apples, from air quality forecasting to grizzly bears and back to the complexities of generating power, we've got a full and interesting reading list for you. Come read along with us in August! Read more...

News from Other Organizations:

We're excited to share news of interest from other organizations in the Methow Valley or in the world of conservation.

Classroom in Bloom: Join Classroom in Bloom for an adults only party under the stars and sunflowers to support youth leadership in sustainable agriculture in the Methow Valley! Check out the new greenhouse, enjoy delicious local food and drinks and awesome homegrown music from the Bitterroot Beets, and pick up some treasures in the silent auction. Click here for more information and to buy tickets.
Washington Association of Land Trusts (WALT): WALT is currently looking to hire a Program Coordinator. This position will support all the programmatic and administrative aspects of the WALT, a small, dynamic non-profit based in downtown Seattle working to strengthen the land trust movement in Washington State. This position provides the opportunity to connect and collaborate with a wide range of conservation partners throughout the region, gain experience with the legislative process in the state, and develop valuable exposure to non-profit management and administration. Here's a link to learn more and apply.

If you would like to share news from another organization, please email us by the 25th of the month.

Inspiring people to care for the land of the Methow Valley since 1996.

Join Team Methow Conservancy and support conservation work in the Methow Valley!