Posts

Leelanau Conservancy: preserving more than land

,

As farmers, the Leelanau Conservancy is a pretty important organization in our lives. Our family raises alpaca and antique apples on the Leelanau Conservancy-owned DeYoung Farm at the base of the peninsula. It was during the the process of applying for land-use and working on this historic property, we discovered the many facets of an organization we’ve come to love and appreciate, not just for its land preservation efforts, but also for the resulting, positive influence the Conservancy’s efforts have on all aspects of life on the Leelanau.

Read more
/by

Walking the Lake Michigan beach — a public right, or trespassing?

It’s common knowledge that the public can walk along the Lake Michigan shoreline. You can walk it anywhere on public property. That means public road ends, or the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The question is: how far from the water’s edge can a person legally walk along private property? This is an important issue, since about 70 percent of Michigan’s “third coast” is privately owned. The answer is unclear, because neither courts in Michigan nor in other Great Lakes states have offered a clear and consistent answer.

Read more
/by

Forest change underway in Leelanau County

,

On her way to work one morning this past summer, Kama Ross noticed some sick-looking oak trees near a recently cleared right-of-way in Bingham County. Luckily, Ross knew what she was looking at: the first confirmed case of oak wilt disease in Leelanau County.

Read more
/by

Leelanau Conservancy holds “Strengthening Community” event

The Leelanau Conservancy is committed to playing a vital role in a strong and vibrant community. The Conservancy knows that preserving our natural landscapes, working farms and healthy watersheds is key to both our economic vitality as well as the incredible quality of life we enjoy here. While the Conservancy is a solid block in the foundation, what are the other elements, in your mind, that make for a strong community?

Read more
/by

Dennos Museum to feature Ken Scott photography

The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College will present an exhibition by photographer Ken Scott, Sept. 21-Oct. 26. The exhibition is being presented in collaboration with the Leelanau Conservancy.

Read more
/by

Leelanau Conservancy holds picnic and silent auction

The Leelanau Conservancy will hold its annual Friends Picnic and Auction on Thursday, August 7 at the gorgeous “Top of the World” property owned by the Gregory Family. The picnic begins at 5 p.m. and features a silent auction, as well as pre-picnic field trips, a Kids Tent and a special program. A local foods-focused meal will be served, along with local wines. Tickets are $30 for adults until August 4, when the price goes up to $35. Tickets for Kids Tent children under 12 are just $5.

Read more
/by

Leelanau Conservancy features “The Future of our Forested Landscape”

The Leelanau Conservancy hosts a free speaker series event at the Suttons Bay School Auditorium on Saturday, May 3 from 3-5 p.m. titled “The Future of Our Forested Landscape” — part three of the Conservancy’s Leelanau: Looking Ahead Speaker Series.

Read more
/by

Leelanau Conservancy screens “Green Fire” about conservationist Aldo Leopold

Visit the Old Art Building in Leland on Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. for the Leelanau Conservancy’s screening of Green Fire, the first full-length, high-definition documentary film ever made about legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold and his environmental legacy. Green Fire shares highlights from his extraordinary career, explaining how he shaped conservation and the modern environmental movement. It also illustrates how Leopold’s vision of community continues to inform and inspire people across the country and around the world, highlighting modern projects that put Leopold’s land ethic in action.

Read more
/by

Help Leelanau Conservancy claim $5,000

The Leelanau Conservancy has been presented with an exciting opportunity to gain recognition and raise money on a national level. The Michigan-based company Moosejaw Mountaineering has partnered with Patagonia and CrowdRise to help 20 organizations round up donations and earn a chance to be awarded additional funding. Plus, donors get a chance to win $500 worth of gear from Patagonia. The 10,000 Challenge Thing ends March 13.

Read more
/by

Leelanau Conservancy partners with four families to protect farmland

Over the last three years, the Leelanau Conservancy has partnered with nine farm families to access available funding to conserve their farms. This year, four additional farm families will be working with the Leelanau Conservancy to conserve their farms, with the help of $1.8 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP). Once completed, these four farms, which total 688 acres, will be permanently conserved for agricultural use.

Read more
/by