Wednesday Weekly

Nov 6, 2024

In this issue: Join the Conversation about Conservation; Donate Furniture; Review the New State Report; and Bird of the Month

Giving Yourself Space, Time to Find Serenity

Nature Offers a Reprieve from the Stress
The long, intense election season has concluded, but the stress about the future has not. We are also heading into a particularly busy time of year for many individuals as the holidays fast approach. Then there are the daily stresses that can rob us of our joy and negatively impact our mental and physical health.

We find solace in the sights and sounds of nature. Whether you find calm in the mindfulness that comes from a solitary walk or the relationships that are strengthened when you bike with friends, we encourage you to focus on self care during these particularly challenging times.

We are honored to care for public spaces where we can all reflect, renew our resolve, practice gratitude and mentally recharge.

Let’s Engage with The Light Eaters

WLC Launches Annual Read Program
We’re launching a new program in January, and we want you to be a part of it! We’re proud to announce WLC’s Annual Read, a two-part event in partnership with the Woodstock Library and The Golden Notebook Bookstore.

Each winter, the Conservancy will select a book focused on ecological practice. We’ll provide participants with a free reading guide. Our own Miranda Javid will moderate two virtual book discussions, one in January and the other in February.

We’ve selected “The Light Eaters” by Zoe Schlanger for our 2025 inaugural event. The book is available at The Golden Notebook with a 10% discount or through the Woodstock Library, including a rentable audiobook read by the author.

Sign up for the Annual Read’s mailing list, and we’ll send you the Zoom links, the free reading guide and important reminders.
Sign Up for The Annual Read Mailing List

We’ll Take Your Furniture

Creating Spaces for Engagement at the Office
As we plan for the full year of 2025 programming, we are looking to create comfortable spaces in the Conservancy office for meetups, discussions and presentations. We have an inviting front porch and a spacious “living room” that would both benefit from furniture.

We are interested in giving your gently used couch or loveseat a second life, and we are keen to set up some chairs and a small table on our front porch. Do you have outdoor furniture that you no longer need? Do you have indoor furniture that would make our office feel more inviting? If so, please email us.
Email Us about Furniture Donations

WLC Office Closed to Honor Veterans Day

Staff to Return Tuesday, Nov. 12

We will be closing the office next Monday to commemorate Veterans Day.

First observed in 1919, Veterans Day is always celebrated Nov. 11 to remember the day fighting ceased in World War I. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, the federal holiday is “a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”

There are ceremonies and activities across the Hudson Valley to honor those who have served our nation.

State Releases Economic Development Report

Parks, Trails Bring in Billions to New York

“In terms of GDP, labor income and overall economic importance, the state park system has a comparable impact to the agricultural sector.”

Parks & Trails New York, a statewide advocacy organization, recently released its economic impact report, and its bottom line is that “parks pay off”! The report details the millions of visitors to the state’s public lands and how much more those visitors spend. Read more by clicking on the link below.
Review the 2024 Economic Impact Report

Bird of the Month

Wild Turkey
There’s a long-standing connection between November and turkeys, but this large game bird deserves attention throughout the year. Known for their distinctive sounds — the gobbling that kids learn to mimic — and their colorful heads, wild turkeys are found year-round in almost every state in America. They spend most of their time on the ground where they forage for food and build their nests, but wild turkeys can fly. Scientists say females tend to fly when scared, while males tend to run. Males attract mates by showing off their glorious tail feathers, but they are only interested in hanging out with those females to breed. Outside of breeding season, the males stay together while the females are left to raise the chicks.

Bird aficionados say you can attract wild turkeys to your backyard by planting nut-bearing trees or certain berry trees. The turkeys will eat the nuts and berries that fall from them. You’ll need to be up early in the morning to see them foraging.

We must assume turkeys have been part of the American landscape since the country’s founding. There’s a long-standing myth that Ben Franklin advocated for the turkey to be the national bird rather than the bald eagle. Not exactly, according to historians, but it must make turkeys feel good to know that Franklin did not question their moral character nor their compassion. The eagle may have made it on national seal and become a symbol of our nation, but the turkey can proudly point to its high morals and unassailed character.
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