It really has been beautiful outside; I hope you are getting a chance to enjoy it! I have been monitoring easements and preserves like this one along the South Branch of French Creek. We've also started mowing meadows. And today I took down a hazard tree along a roadside.
It is fun to see my neighbors ice fishing on their pond. If you'd rather experience some of this beauty vicariously there are many opportunities! We have friends who started through-hiking the Appalachian Trail on New Year's Day—in Georgia. They are not alone; you can read about the community of hikers on Trail Journals.
I also notice that there is an Environmental Film Festival on February 12th, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm at Unionville Elementary School auditorium; $15 tickets. It's a benefit for the Stroud™ Water Research Center; for more information contact them at (610) 268-2153 x247.
And this weekend there is another cool event that will help spring seem closer: it's the Down to Earth farming conversation and concert. It will be held at the Chester County Historical Society this Saturday, January 24th. From 3 to 5 pm there will be a community conversation, "Abundance and Need in our Local Food System" which is free. Then from 7 to 10 pm there will be a concert: "Mugs and Music" with local bands and samples of local food and drink, tickets $24. There will be handmade artists' mugs for sale at both; sales benefit the Chester County Gleaning Program and the Chester County Buy Fresh Buy Local chapter.
