Learning the Land

Well, hey there, Land Trust Listeners! In today's episode, we're trying something new and exploring the history of one of our most beloved properties - Byrne-Milliron Forest.  We're joined by former Land Trust Stewardship Manager (and unofficial Byrne historian) Lynn Overtree to learn more about the property's fascinating history.

About Byrne-Milliron Forest: This magical, 400-acre wood was one of the Land Trust's first public access properties. Located in Corralitos, the forest is a lovely place to hike and explore, with panoramic views of the Pajaro Valley and Monterey Bay and a 1,000-year-old, 250-foot tall “Great White” redwood. But Byrne is more than a destination - it is also a working forest - an example of how sustainable selective timber harvesting can actually sequester more carbon and generate revenue to help offset the cost of maintaining the property. 

Hey there Land Trust listeners! This month’s episode of Learning the Land brings you a special interview with Lauren Snyder, PhD. of the Organic Farming Research Foundation. Together, we’ll explore how preserving open spaces and adopting organic farming practices can help mitigate climate change...and even potentially prevent future pandemics.  

In this episode, we conclude our three-part working lands series by interviewing Land Trust Conservation Director Bryan Largay about the Land Trust's efforts to preserve the Pajaro Valley's nutrient-rich ag land. Together, we'll learn about why we must protect this invaluable resource as well as how the Land Trust stewards its own working ranch - Watsonville Slough Farm! 

In this episode, we meet again with Natural Resource Manager, Matthew Timmer, to continue our conversation about the Land Trust's working lands. In this conversation we focus on "Conservation Grazing" - a beneficial practice we use to maintain endangered species habitat at the Glenwood Open Space Preserve. 

But it's not all rolling hills and sunshine - running a small cattle operation is challenging, and Matt tackles the difficulties faced by our local cattle operator partners and what it might mean for us to lose conservation grazing as an option.

In this episode of the Learning the Land podcast, we’re kicking off a three-part mini-series about our working lands! Specifically, how we integrate timber harvesting, cattle grazing, and farming into our land management plans.

Working lands can sometimes seem at odds with conservation goals, so we’re interviewing our Natural Resources Manager, Matthew Timmer, to get a better understanding of why it can be beneficial to protect AND work the land. Our focus in this episode is on our working forests to give you an inside look at sustainable timber harvesting and the important economic and stewardship role this practice plays in our work.

CONNECTING WILDLIFE TO NATURE

In our first episode of the Learning the Land podcast, we go a little batty for bats while speaking with Bat Ecologist and Acoustics Specialist, Bethany Schulze. We learn more about our local bats and the impact Bethany’s research could have on shaping urban boundaries and wildland conservation policy. Research, like Bethany’s, on local ecosystems and wildlife, is critical to helping pass local and state legislation that protects open spaces and wildlands. We are proud to support her work and learn from her research!