Lori Adams, professional photographer and experienced teacher, will be leading a nature photo workshop at Roger Perry Preserve on Saturday, October 6th. We will be gathering at 8:30 am and plan to finish up by about 10:30 am.

Lori uses practical analogies to convey photographic concepts and help people at all levels navigate the choices they have with their photography gear. "I want people to have realistic expectations and get the results they want," says Lori. Focal length, depth of field, shutter speed, ISO, white balance and resolution will be discussed and put into play during the walk.

"Understanding and managing light is the basis of all successful photographs", says Lori Adams. She will teach us how to "spend the light" effectively to convey the ideas about our surroundings that impress us.

Roger Perry Preserve, also called Dover Sand Hills, is a geological marvel in our backyard. The Preserve is made of a series of low, narrow limestone ridges that parallel each other. The ridges eroded over time leaving an area of white sand. The New York State Natural Heritage Program and The Nature Conservancy ranks Dover Sand Hills as an area of high biodiversity. It shares this rank in the Harlem Valley calcareous wetland habitat complex with the Great Swamp.

Space for this event will be limited to 20, so please register below to hold your place. Even if you registered for the earlier photography event, you must register again now.

Through the generosity of our supporters, this workshop, like all "First Saturday" events, is Free to the public. Oblong Land Conservancy has invited Harlem Valley Appalachian Trail Community (HVATC) to be a co-sponsor of this event. 

Please consider donating to OLC as part of your charitable giving to support our programs and help the cause of land conservation in the Harlem Valley. Click here to give.

Where to meet:

Meet at the entrance to the Roger Perry Preserve at 58 Sand Hill Road in Dover Plains. From the parking area to the sandy beach there is a short, fairly level walk of about 10 minutes.

What to bring:

Appropriate clothing and footwear (light clothes, high socks, hiking shoes or boots), tick/bug repellent and sunscreen.

In Case of Rain: 

If it is raining, we will have to postpone this event. If rain is in the forecast, bring a light rain jacket. If in doubt, call or text Dorian Winslow's cell phone at 917-734-7331. 

A Note About Corbin Hill:

We had hoped to introduce our community to the 219-acre Corbin Hill property acquired in July by the National Park Service (NPS) through their Land and Water Conservation Fund (LAWCF). Although some of the original pathways were mown in preparation for events like ours, it was determined that for a photography event there is very little to photograph at this time due to the growth of very tall grasses and invasive species along those paths. We will revisit this next summer!

RSVP Here

The Oblong Land Conservancy is proud to co-host with HVATC (Harlem Valley Appalacian Trail Community) this hike and event alongside our neighbors at Harlem Valley Homestead. In this 2 hour walk and talk, farm naturalist & mycologist Alanna Burns, will lead you through learning the seasonal fungi that grow in the Harlem Valley. From the backyard to pastures and woods, you will leave with new knowledge of identification, ecology, and practical uses of mushrooms and wild plants that grow in our area..

We will meet at the Harlem Valley Homestead at 10:00 am, and hike in search of mycelium and other natural edibles. Please dress prepared for hiking in the woods and on the property, consider sunscreen, bug spray and hiking attire. While not a vigorous hike, this walk will involve going up and down some hills. Please come dressed for the farm and weather. For your comfort, we recommend long pants, closed-toed shoes, and a hat if there is sun in the forecast as well as sunscreen and bug spray. You are welcome to bring baskets for collecting mushrooms and field guides for identification. A limited amount will also be available for use. A small notebook and pen also encouraged to record notes from the field.

Space is limited, RSVP is required. 

click here to give

RSVP Here

This event back by popular demand is at the top of an eroding limestone hill. You would think you were at the beach, or in the desert, and yet you look across a verdant valley to the north-south expanse of East Mountain, the topographical dividing line between Litchfield and Dutchess Counties, and what once formed the eastern boundary of the Oblong, a strip of "no-man's land," and the subject of a historic boundary dispute between NY and CT. 

https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/newyork/places-preserves/eastern-roger-perry-memorial-preserve.xml

The Nature Conservancy owns the preserve, and it is open from dawn to dusk. Come participate in a Yoga class, or just enjoy the space. 

Meet at the Roger Perry Memorial Preserve. To get there take 22 N past Wingdale; approx 5 miles past Wingdale turn right onto County Rt. 6 and travel 1.4 miles to a fork in the road with a bench.  Turn sharply left at this fork onto Lime Kiln Road, and travel 1.2 miles to Sand Hill Road (it's a sharp right). Drive 0.2 miles further where you will see a small parking area on the right.

Please consider donating to OLC as part of your charitable giving to support our programs and help the cause of land conservation in the Harlem Valley. 

click here to give

RSVP Here

This event is at full capacity but we hope to see you at another First Saturday event soon! 

On this two hour talk and tour, we will tour the farm, and learn about sustainable beef, egg, vegetable, honey bee and mushroom growing. The Harlem Valley Homestead is developing a diversified working farm on 250 beautiful acres nestled between the Appalachian Trail and the Tenmile River into a center where people can come, stay, and have transformational experiences learning about food and farming.  Come learn about this new project in our community and get an introduction to growing food in a way that is founded on creating ecological resiliency.

Note: Please bring your own tick repellent, sunscreen, ad comfortable walking shoes.  It may be muddy depending on weather. Limited space available!

147 Old Forge Rd. Wingdale NY 12594

About Josh:

Josh Viertel has been farmer, activist and educator in the sustainable food movement for 20 years.  From 2008-2012 he served as president of Slow Food USA, the US branch of the global Slow Food movement.  Before his work at Slow Food, Josh was a founding director of the Yale Sustainable Food Project which built an organic farm on campus to bring local, sustainable food to the University.  Josh has been listed as one of the seven most powerful voices in the food movement by Forbes and Michael Pollan. Now he is working with friends and neighbors to develop Harlem Valley Homestead, a farmstay and retreat center integrated into a diversified working farm.  Harlem Valley Homestead’s mission is to deepen our connections to place, to each other, and to ourselves through hands on learning and transformational experiences in rural and agrarian living. Josh lives and works in the Harlem Valley where he grows, forages, catches or hunts most of what he eats.

We are sorry but this event has reached FULL CAPACITY. Please stay tuned for other upcoming events! 

Enjoy a guided tour down into the Quarry with Gary Metcalf, Vice President, Peckham Industries on Saturday May 5th along with Oblong Board Chair Philip VanBuren.

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to explore the ancient seabed of the Harlem Valley. Learn about the geology beneath The Great Swamp and how it influences the plants and wildlife found in its ecosystem. 

Please Register here for this FREE event. Friends and family are welcome, but space is limited (MAX 50) so register now. This is one of our most popular annual events, and is being sponsored by Oblong Land Conservancy (OLC).

Meet at the entrance to the quarry, which is off Route 311 in Patterson, just to the east of the railroad tracks. Follow OLC signs. Plenty of parking. More info on Peckham is available at http://www.peckham.com/company/about-us/. The tour will be at approximately 11:00am.

Please consider donating to OLC as part of your charitable giving to support our programs and help the cause of land conservation in the Harlem Valley. 

click here to give

We're looking forward to our annual milkweed plant give-away at the Pawling Farmers Market. Come for your free milkweed plant, the monarch butterfly's favorite food. Details coming soon.

The Oblong Land Conservancy is proud to host a nature photography workshop. Join photographer Lori Adams as she shows you the ropes. Details to follow.

Explore the bedrock underlying the Great Swamp as Gary Metcalf of Peckham Industries takes you on a walk down to the azure blue pond at the bottom of the mine.

OLC Boardmember Theresa Ryan will host this First Saturdays event, back this year by popular demand. Fun for kids of all ages. 

RSVP here, info@oblongland.org or 845-855-5993

A Trail Runs through It 

The Oblong Land Conservancy, is proud to announce a hike led by Dick Stapleton. The talk will be about the succession of the former Stapleton farmland with a particular focus on trees, how the property came to the NPS on behalf of the National Appalachian Scenic Trail, and the local history.  

Participants include Ron Rosen, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, who will describe the challenges faced by NPS in rerouting many of the 2180 miles of Trail, and Jim Nordgren, JN Land Trust Services, who will point out the changing habitats.

The hike is co-hosted by the Oblong Land Conservancy, the Harlem Valley Appalachian Trail Community, and the Naromi Land Trust.

Meet at the AT parking lot on Rt 55, Sherman CT, east of Hoyt Road. Appalachian Trail Parking

RSVP: Oblong Land Conservancy Limited to 35. Rain or shine.  Hiking boots are recommended, and protection against ticks is critical.

The Oblong Land Conservancy is cosponsoring this event with The Harlem valley Appalacian Trail Association and the Dutchess Land Conservancy. We are proud to co-host a hike with Sue Van Hook, an engaging and renowned mycologist. We will meet at the Dover Elementary School parking lot at 11:00 am, hike to Dover Stone Church in search of mycelium, then gather to practice keying our finds.