Nashoba
Conservation
Trust
Nashoba
Conservation
Trust
Conservation Corner
Ken Hartlage
When my wife, Lucy, and I moved to Pepperell seventeen years ago, we knew nothing about the town, but we liked what we saw: Forests, meadows, and streams; farms and farmstands; and two lovely rivers converging in the center of town. How Pepperell maintained this distinctly rural character remained a mystery to me until a chance meeting with Erik Stromsted – one of the founders of Nashoba Conservation Trust – at Nissitissit Meadows. We had a shared interest in birding, and over the course of many outings on the town’s conservation parcels, Erik related their unique histories.
As I listened to Erik’s stories, I kept hearing the words “the future” over and over again. Whether it was Ted and Mildred Day donating land by Gulf Brook or the entire town coming together to purchase Pepperell Springs, there was an absolute conviction that protecting these parcels for future generations was the right thing to do. It was that kind of thinking that sparked my interest in Nashoba Conservation Trust, and to my good fortune, the NCT Board invited me to join.
Serving as an NCT board member these past fifteen years, and as president for the last seven, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my adult life. I’ve learned from the best in the business, been inspired by countless others, and made many, many friends – all in the name of land conservation. Together we’ve had quite the journey, from fending off the unwanted and unnecessary Kinder Morgan gas pipeline to dedicating the Marion Stoddart Conservation Area by the Nashua River. My thanks go out to everyone who supported NCT’s work over these years.
And while I may be moving on, NCT’s dedication to the community will continue unabated. The founders’ mission – to protect wildlife, educate the public on the wise use of natural resources, and provide passive recreational opportunities to the public – has never been more important than it is today. Your NCT board will continue working to protect the forests, fields, and farms that support the biodiversity for which Pepperell is justly recognized and sustain the rural character that we all treasure.
Editor’s note: Ken, Lucy and their Jack Russell, Lulu, have relocated to Georgia. Ken will continue working with the NCT board in an advisory capacity.
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