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!