Land Trust Protects Scenic 12-Acre Farm

Indiana Township, PA – Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) and landowner Susan Orenstein worked together to protect 12 acres in Indiana Township using a conservation easement on “Catch the Wind Farm”.

Placing an easement on the farm has ensured that the land will forever be conserved, and will never be developed.

“This farm, a portion of a much larger farm that existed here for more than a century, is a precious place that allows wildlife and plants and the water sources that sustain them to thrive adjacent to the large open spaces of Hartwood Acres,” said Susan Orenstein, who owns the land. “I’m thrilled to give up my right to profit financially by development in order to preserve the far more important value of the land itself, and am grateful to ALT for helping me to do that.”

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land to protect its conservation values. Landowners retain many of their rights, including the right to own and use the land, sell it, and pass it on to their heirs, and entrust the land’s development rights with a conservation entity.

In addition to federal tax benefits that land owners can enjoy from donating a conservation easement, surrounding communities benefit from the protected scenic beauty, wildlife habitat, and water quality.

“We were excited to work with Susan on the easement to protect her land. The Cedar Run area is one of the last remaining vestiges of the county’s agricultural heritage, and ALT is very happy to be a partner in protecting it,” ALT VP of Land Resources and Capital Projects Roy Kraynyk said.

Catch the Wind farm is comprised of a woodlot, scenic pasture, and a shallow valley. It will be monitored, maintained, and protected by Allegheny Land Trust using a restricted stewardship fund created with a donation from Orenstein.

Protecting more than 2,200 acres of green space in the Pittsburgh region, ALT now has a conservation area within 12 miles of every Allegheny county resident. These lands provide natural areas for recreation, environmental education and improvement of our region’s sce¬¬nic quality, biodiversity, and quality of air and water.

New Citizen-Scientist Program Generates Buzz

April 5, 2018

For Immediate Release

 

Sewickley, Pennsylvania—Allegheny Land Trust and Point Park University have formed a partnership to promote citizen-scientists in the Pittsburgh region who will have an opportunity to learn about native bees and other pollinators.

 

“Project Bee Watch” will involve regular volunteer visits for surveying the Audubon Greenway Conservation area and a pollinator festival.

 

“Bees, among many other pollinators, provide an important function in maintaining the ecosystems that many animals and humans rely on for food,” said Matthew Opdyke, an associate professor of environmental science at Point Park University.

 

North America has about 4,000 species of native bees, and more than 300 species occur in Pennsylvania. Opdyke said that some of the bee volunteers might see could include bumble bees, sweat bees and mason bees.

 

“We hope this initial study sparks other organizations to work with us gathering similar data from citizen-scientists at other locations,” Opdyke said. The data that will be collected will help in determining the status of native bees in the region and help to encourage their conservation.

 

“Bees go way beyond the European honey bee, which most people think about,” Opdyke said. “And we hope the community members will come away from the program with a greater appreciation for native bees and other pollinators.”

 

Volunteers will work with Opdyke to attend trainings and conduct studies at Audubon Greenway, Allegheny Land Trust’s (ALT) 161-acre green space in Sewickley. They aim to learn about the different pollinators using the green space. The project’s Pollinator Festival is being planned for Saturday, July 28 at Audubon Greenway, which will include displays, walks and presentations about the pollinators being studied.

 

Emilie Rzotkiewicz, vice president of land resources for Allegheny Land Trust, said that the partnership will advance ALT’s efforts to recover native grasses that were mowed in previous years, which impacted wildlife like native songbirds, and suppressed the native wildflowers that support pollinator species like bees and butterflies. Using this partnership, ALT can plant warm season grasses and native wildflowers will enhance the meadow to attract more diverse species.

 

“Not only will the work be informative about local pollinators, but it will further engage and empower people to become citizen scientists and learn about the world around them,” Rzotkiewicz said.

 

The project is being funded through Point Park’s Social Impact Grant sponsored by the Center for Inclusive Excellence and the Department of Community Engagement. This project also will allow ALT to advance an existing project at the green space, which is supported by Bayer’s Feed a Bee initiative. The initiative focuses on supporting organizations with projects to establish or restore pollinator forage in every state by the end of 2018; ALT is one of 112 funded projects in 39 states and Washington, D.C.

 

Volunteers will need to attend a training session at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, at Audubon Greenway, 160 Magee Road. Interested in becoming a volunteer? Contact Professor Matthew Opdyke at Point Park University mopdyke@pointpark.edu.

 

About Allegheny Land Trust

Now, for 25 years, Allegheny Land Trust has helped local people save local land.

ALT’s mission is to serve as the lead land trust conserving and stewarding lands that support the scenic, recreational and environmental well-being of communities in Allegheny County and its environs. Since 1993, ALT has protected more than 2,200 acres in 27 municipalities.

 

About Point Park University

Point Park is a dynamic, urban university with a strong liberal arts tradition. Located in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh, Point Park enrolls more than 4,000 full- and part-time students in 79 undergraduate programs, 18 master’s programs and two doctoral programs offered through its School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Communication and Conservatory of Performing Arts. Its students represent 46 states and 41 countries.

 

THREE RIVERS AGRICULTURAL LAND INITIATIVE GROWS

January 30, 2018

For Immediate Release

 

The newly-formed Three Rivers Agricultural Land Initiative (TRALI) completed its steering committee in January 2018 by bringing on three community representatives.

 

Dana Harris-Yates, Masoud Sayles and Gavin Deming will represent three unique, Pittsburgh communities in governing TRALI on a nine-person steering committee, which also includes representatives from Grow Pittsburgh and Allegheny Land Trust (ALT).

 

Dana Harris-Yates was raised farming, gardening and learning horticulture passed down from Indigenous teachings from her Aniyunwiya American Indian heritage. Dana is the founder of Cultural Oasis Healing Emporium LLC, and is the Operations Manager for the Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers Cooperative of Pittsburgh (BUGS) based in Homewood. Her personal mission is to promote spiritual, emotional and physical health and wellness in Indigenous communities throughout the entire diaspora, and to share ancient techniques of healing to all ages.

 

Masoud Sayles has a bachelor’s degree in Geo-Biology from Penn State and practices permaculture design. An active volunteer in his community, Masoud manages a community garden in McKeesport. He believes strongly that human existence is only a successful endeavor if it is conducted in partnership with other organisms in our environment, especially trees.

 

Gavin Deming is Executive Director of Allegheny GoatScape and Community Specialist with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s community garden and greenspace program. Gavin volunteers for the Ballfield Farm community garden on the North Side. He believes that the earth and its people can heal at the intersection of environmental stewardship and intentional community building, and we all need to be quick to listen to those who are not usually heard in decision-making situations.

 

TRALI launched in August 2017 with the goal of protecting and preserving selected urban agricultural lands in perpetuity, and held its first planning meeting in December 2017. It will provide long-term security for existing community gardens and urban farms, and ensure that future urban agricultural expansion will be planned and conducted on protected land. The initiative will create the stability necessary to foster a vibrant, sustainable urban agriculture movement in the Pittsburgh region by removing the threat of future sales of agricultural lands for other development purposes and creating opportunity to expand urban agriculture.

 

Community gardens and urban farms provide environmental benefits including stormwater mitigation, pollinator habitat creation and neighborhood food insecurity reduction, and also serve as vital places for social connections and community-building. There are more than 80 community gardens and urban farms in Allegheny County, many of which are using land without a formal land use agreement or have only temporary permission. With this initiative, Pittsburgh will join Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago and Providence, which all have land trusts dedicated to protecting urban agriculture projects.

 

Rounding out the TRALI steering committee include Quincy Swanson, Grow Pittsburgh representatives Quincy Swanson, Rayden Sorock and Jake Seltman, and Allegheny Land Trust representatives Beth Dutton, Roy Kraynyk and Chris Beichner.

 

Those who are interested in learning more about having their community garden or urban farm participate in the program can send an inquiry to info@growpittsburgh.org

 

About Grow Pittsburgh

 

Grow Pittsburgh’s mission is to teach people how to grow food and promote the benefits that gardens bring to our neighborhoods. The organization was founded in 2005, and has been a registered 501c(3) entity since 2008. We use growing food as a platform to bring people and communities together, while inspiring them to be healthier individuals, learn new skills, care for the earth and make our city and region a more livable, equitable and desirable place to be. Please visit our website to learn more about the distinct programs and production sites that provide opportunities for people of all ages to grow their own food. More information can be found at growpittsburgh.org.

 

About Allegheny Land Trust

 

Founded as a nonprofit in 1993 in response to the rapidly declining amount of green space in Allegheny County, ALT has protected more than 2,100 acres to preserve our region’s unique natural beauty, provide accessible outdoor recreational opportunities, improve water quality, sustain biodiversity, and enhance the overall quality of life for all. ALT’s mission has expanded in recent years to include innovative methods of land conservation in support of community needs for urban green space as well the addition of a professional environmental education team teaching people of all ages to understand and appreciate the natural world. More information can be found at alleghenylandtrust.org.

Become a PA Master Naturalist

UPDATE: As we confirm locations and experts, we’ll update the PDF schedule here.

–

The Pennsylvania Master Naturalist program is coming to Western Pennsylvania in Spring 2018 for the first time via Allegheny Land Trust. The program is a great opportunity for educators, volunteers, and nature-lovers alike to earn a prestigious ecological training.

Through this year-round intensive program, a PA Master Naturalist will collect an understanding of natural sciences in the context of Pennsylvania’s ecological systems; you will deepen strong, foundational knowledge through continuing education, and extend your knowledge to the community through volunteer service in natural resource conservation and education.

The Pennsylvania Master Naturalist initiative is a statewide partnership aiming to develop a local corps of master volunteers and service providers to offer education, outreach, and service dedicated to the understanding and management of natural areas within their communities.

2018 Training Program Dates:

March 21, 28, 31*  |  April 4, 11, 18, 25, 28*  |  May 2, 9, 16, 19*, 23, 30  |  June 6, 13, 20, 23*, 27

*These dates are field days*

 

APPLY & FIND MORE PA MASTER NATURALIST INFO

New Land Protection Project: 70 Acres

A father helping his young son bait a hook stops to point out a great blue heron gliding silently through dappled sunlight above the stream in search of prey in the sparkling creek water. A cyclist slows her pace to allow a gaggle of turkey to cross the road in front of her. Wildflowers create a collage in a meadow that several equestrians trot through.

No, this is not Colorado or the beautiful Laurel Highlands; it’s right here in Allegheny County, fewer than 15 miles from downtown. It is the serene landscape in the Big Sewickley Creek and Little Sewickley Creek Watersheds in Bell Acres and Franklin Park.

We have these 70 acres under contract, and need your help to close the deal. We have already raised through grants and donations a significant portion of the total toward acquiring this green space, but to complete the transaction we need to raise another $27,000 by the end of the year.

We need your help to raise this money and keep our community green, pristine, and wooded. So, please use our website to make your tax-deductible contribution today, and know that you are protecting this land forever.

Read more about this project in our latest edition of Vistas or in a Sewickley Herald article. 

Make a Difference | Donate to this Project

Environmental Nonprofits Launch Shared CFO Position

September 5, 2017
For Immediate Release

Pittsburgh, PA – Five environmental nonprofits have established an innovative Shared Chief Financial Officer (CFO) position, which launched last week.

Allegheny Land Trust (ALT), Hollow Oak Land Trust (HOLT), Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC), Three Rivers Waterkeeper (TRW), and Venture Outdoors (VO) formed the resource-sharing position to increase the abilities of each nonprofit to produce better reporting, transparency, financial management capabilities and strategic financial planning.

Karen Wood, CPA was hired by the five nonprofits to take on the responsibility of collaborating with each organization’s leadership and boards in managing finances and growth of each organization. The shared CFO position was modeled after two other successful shared CFO collaboratives in Pittsburgh–The Environmental Finance Collaborative and The Arts Finance Cohort. Learning from those programs, the nonprofits adapted those programs to allow Wood to service a cohort of varying size, complexity and geographic reach.

“In a City where the not for profit community provides so many critical resources, it is imperative that this work takes advantage of opportunities to realize efficiencies. The shared CFO model is designed to provide significant financial expertise to a broad group of organizations and in a structure which maximizes the new resource while minimizing the cost to each organization,” Justin Stockdale, Western Regional Director of the Pennsylvania Resources Council, said. “These five organizations will each become stronger as we collaborate in employment of this executive level financial resource.”

Each nonprofit works to improve the region’s environmental health, making the partnership a natural one as they have aligned missions and funding streams.

“We wanted to ensure the shared CFO could have the time and focus to be able to intimately understand each nonprofit’s mission and to align financial management capabilities in support of those goals.,” Venture Outdoors Executive Director Joey-Linn Ulrich said. “Many of us have used for-hire intermittent services or consultants that don’t quite meet our goals or strategic financial planning that we can get through this program.”

Wood is a Pennsylvania licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and a member of the American Institute of CPA’s and of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPA’s. She has worked for the past nine years with Ruzomberka Holland Renk Smith (RHRS), a full-service accounting firm based in Franklin Park. In her position with RHRS, Karen specialized in all aspects of nonprofit accounting and consulting, accounting software consulting and support, bookkeeping support and client care, and payroll and sales taxes, in addition to providing tax, accounting and attest services.

“I am honored to be part of this highly respected team of organizations, who put forth such enormous efforts every day to make our region and state a better place to live for all of us. In over 30 years of working with nonprofits, I am all too familiar with the common paradox that small to mid-sized organizations face, of complicated finances paired with tiny administrative budgets. The result is that most of these organizations operate without the kind of support they need to be able to stay on top of a complicated web of operating finances, complex accounting rules, and agency regulations,” Wood said. “I look forward to helping each organization improve their efficiency, gain valuable insights on the costs and benefits of their programs, and access more useful information for budgeting, management and oversight.”

The goals for the position are to increase the efficiency, planning, performance and reporting capabilities of each organization to ensure ongoing financial sustainability and ability to achieve mission related goals.

—

About Allegheny Land Trust (ALT)
Founded as a nonprofit in 1993 in response to the rapidly declining amount of green space in Allegheny County, ALT has protected more than 2,100 acres to preserve our region’s unique natural beauty, provide accessible outdoor recreational opportunities, improve water quality, sustain biodiversity, and enhance the overall quality of life for all. ALT’s mission has expanded in recent years to include innovative methods of land conservation in support of community needs for urban green space as well the addition of a professional environmental education team teaching people of all ages to understand and appreciate the natural world. More information can be found at alleghenylandtrust.org.

About Hollow Oak Land Trust (HOLT)
Founded in 1991, the HOLT is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects and connects greenspace with an emphasis in the Pittsburgh Airport Corridor. Currently protecting five conservation areas and two easements, totaling nearly 500 acres, HOLT protects land to maintain and enhance their ecological values. Protected wildlife habitats include mature forest, steep slopes, floodplains, wetlands, and meadows. More information can be found at hollowoak.org.

About Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC)
PRC is Pennsylvania’s oldest grassroots environmental organization. Since 1939, PRC has worked to protect the Commonwealth’s resources for future generations through environmental education, recycling and waste diversion programs, anti-litter campaigns, and much more. PRC’s mission is to lead and promote individual and collective actions to preserve Pennsylvania’s environmental resources for each generation. More information can be found at prc.org.

About Three Rivers Waterkeeper (3RW)
3RW mission is to protect the water quality of the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio Rivers, and their respective watersheds. 3RW do this by patrolling the rivers with the Waterkeeper boats, monitoring water quality, evaluating incidents of pollution, reviewing permits, supporting community education, and holding polluters accountable to our nation’s clean water laws. More information can be found at threeriverswaterkeeper.org.

About Venture Outdoors (VO)
Venture Outdoors is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting everyone to the benefits of outdoor recreation throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. We believe everyone deserves the chance to experience how incredibly fun the outdoors can be, so we provide the gear, guidance, and inspiration to make outdoor recreation¬ part of people’s lives. Venture Outdoors offers over 800 programs a year including kayaking, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, fishing, cross country skiing, and geocaching trips for all ages and skill levels. More information can be found at ventureoutdoors.org.

Grow Pittsburgh & ALT Partner for Urban Agriculture

August 22, 2017

For Immediate Release

 

JOINT VENTURE FORMED TO PROTECT URBAN AGRICULTURAL LAND

Two Pittsburgh-area nonprofits, Grow Pittsburgh and Allegheny Land Trust (ALT), announced today that they will partner on a joint venture to protect and preserve selected urban agricultural lands in perpetuity.

The joint venture, Three Rivers Agricultural Land Initiative, will provide long-term security for existing community gardens and urban farms, and ensure that future urban agricultural expansion will be planned and conducted on protected land. The initiative will create the stability necessary to foster a vibrant, sustainable and expanding urban agriculture movement by removing the threat of future sales of agricultural lands for other development purposes.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with ALT, a regional leader in conservation and green space protection, to create this innovative program,” Grow Pittsburgh Executive Director Jake Seltman said. “Increasing development pressure in many Pittsburgh neighborhoods is causing concern among gardeners, farmers and government partners that they may lose their precious spaces to other uses. This initiative will give the community a tool to help support the long-term success of existing projects, and build the confidence necessary to develop new ones.”

“Green space is increasingly cited as a key component to the livability and sustainability of urban areas and one of the reasons for this is urban agriculture. ALT is really proud to work with Grow Pittsburgh to protect land that can be used by community members to reduce food insecurity,” said Chris Beichner, ALT’s President and CEO. “Grow Pittsburgh and their partners have done an amazing job in fostering urban ag in the region, and we’re happy to contribute to that momentum by providing land security.”

This partnership leverages the proven experience and skillsets of the two well-respected non-profit organizations. ALT will contribute its expertise as an accredited land trust to acquire and manage lands in perpetuity, while Grow Pittsburgh will provide its leadership in operating urban farms and assisting neighborhoods in starting and sustaining community gardens.

“We can empathize with the frustration of a well-organized community group being unable to identify a place in their community where a garden will be welcomed long-term, or when a well-loved community garden is lost to an alternate land use,” Seltman said. “These projects become community anchors, playing a significant role in the social fabric of a neighborhood, and providing important food resources and they need to be protected.”

Community gardens and urban farms provide environmental benefits including stormwater mitigation, pollinator habitat creation and neighborhood food insecurity reduction. There are more than 80 community gardens and urban farms in Allegheny County, many of which are using land without a formal land use agreement or have only temporary permission. With this initiative, Pittsburgh will join Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago and Providence, which all have land trusts dedicated to protecting urban agriculture projects.

The Three Rivers Agricultural Land Initiative will be governed by a nine-person steering committee consisting of representatives from Grow Pittsburgh, Allegheny Land Trust and three representatives from local community gardening groups. For anyone interested in serving as a community representative, applications and nominations for the three steering committee positions are open until September 8th.  The steering committee form is available both on Grow Pittsburgh and Allegheny Land Trust’s websites.

 

About Grow Pittsburgh 

Grow Pittsburgh’s mission is to teach people how to grow food and promote the benefits that gardens bring to our neighborhoods. The organization was founded in 2005, and has been a registered 501c(3) entity since 2008. We use growing food as a platform to bring people and communities together, while inspiring them to be healthier individuals, learn new skills, care for the earth and make our city and region a more livable, equitable and desirable place to be. Please visit our website to learn more about the distinct programs and production sites that provide opportunities for people of all ages to grow their own food. More information can be found at growpittsburgh.org.

Contact: Jake Seltman | jake@growpittsburgh.org | 412-362-4769 x201

About Allegheny Land Trust

Founded as a nonprofit in 1993 in response to the rapidly declining amount of green space in Allegheny County, ALT has protected more than 2,100 acres to preserve our region’s unique natural beauty, provide accessible outdoor recreational opportunities, improve water quality, sustain biodiversity, and enhance the overall quality of life for all. ALT’s mission has expanded in recent years to include innovative methods of land conservation in support of community needs for urban green space as well the addition of a professional environmental education team teaching people of all ages to understand and appreciate the natural world. More information can be found at alleghenylandtrust.org.

Contact: Lindsay Dill | ldill@alleghenylandtrust.org | 412-741-2750 x206

 

 

Steering Committee Interest Form   |   Initiative Summary

Experts & Volunteers Log 500 New Species

Through the Power of Citizen Science, Wingfield Pines’ Ecology is Tracked

Thanks to attendee experts and volunteers of our Bioblitz series, more than 500 new species have been logged at Wingfiled Pines.

Using iNaturalist, a crowd-sourced biodiversity tracking app, Bioblitz attendees have begun the process of tracking change over time for existing species, and created a framework for continuing to log new species. All of this allows us to paint a more complete picture of Wingfield Pines’ ecological health and effects of changes in the environment on the green space. We’ll share more species details in our next Vistas Newsletter.

This day was possible thanks to a partnership with Upper St. Clair Citizens for Land Stewardship, who attracted our experts, volunteers, and food/refreshment donors. We’re also very thankful for all of our taxa experts from Blue Heron Nature Skills, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc, Duquesne University, Point Park University, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club. Finally, a belly-rubbing thank you to our food and refreshment donors: Baskin Robins, Chipoltle, Chick-fil-A and Eat-n-Park of Upper St. Clair, and Dunkin Donuts and Panera Bread of Mt. Lebanon.

Missed out on the first three? We’ll have one final Bioblitz at Wingfield Pines this year on September 30. As the date approaches, keep an eye on our website calendar, our e-blasts, or our social media for the RSVP link and hike topics for the day.

ALT Joins in Urging Public Support for Environmental & Sustainability Issues

As Earth Day is upon us, our President & CEO is joining leaders from 24 other local environmental and community organizations at a press conference on April 20 at the Energy Innovation Center to urge the public to be aware of and get more involved in environmental and sustainability issues.
 
“It is important for all of us who live in Western Pennsylvania to understand and appreciate the environmental accomplishments that have been achieved over the past several decades and to recognize the incredible contribution they have made to our region’s economic resurgence and quality of life.
 
Now more than ever, we must all work together to show our support for this progress and for continued environmental protection so that we may advance, not reverse, this positive momentum.”
 
– President & CEO Chris Beichner

RELEASE: DCNR Names Pittsburgh Green Space “Wild Plant Sanctuary”

*MARCH 7, 2017 UPDATE*

ALT will hold a designation ceremony & a plant identification hike with its Environmental Education Team experts on May 7, 2017 in honor of this distinction. To RSVP, check back on our website calendar and Eventbrite page as the date approaches.

McKeesport, PA – Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) designated Dead Man’s Hollow as part of the Wild Plant Sanctuary Program in January 2017.

The goal of the Wild Plant Sanctuary Program is to recognize some of the best examples of habitat supporting state‐listed species of concern. The property in question must function as an exceptional refuge for Pennsylvania’s natural heritage.

“We would like to commend (ALT’s) continued efforts to conserve native wild plants in Pennsylvania,” DCNR said in the designation letter.

Owned and managed by Allegheny Land Trust, the 450-acre Dead Man’s Hollow Conservation Area (DMH) sits along the Great Allegheny Passage in McKeesport boasts an abundant wildflower population and other natural wonders.

DMH is the largest privately-protected conservation area in Allegheny County and was once the site of a thriving industrial area. Time and nature have reclaimed the site, and visitors today can get close to nature as they trek over 6 miles of woodland trail, leading to vistas that tell of a rich history.

ALT is currently implementing a management plan to expand recreational opportunities at the conservation area while protecting the Hollow’s unique spaces and habitats.

For more information, contact Lindsay Dill at 412.741.2750 x206 or ldill@alleghenylandtrust.org.

Read more in coverage from WESA and the Tribune-Review.