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appreciated.” Managing the preserves (lands owned by SALT), stewardship of the easements (annual monitoring and reporting), and working with landowners (land protection) is only part of our mission. The other branch offers environmental education on a couple of levels. “The first focus is landowner outreach and education, that’s who we primarily serve,” says Nancy. “Our goal is to assist the landowners in the benefits of conserving their land, for themselves, their families and the community.” The other part of the story is offering an opportunity for children to experience their natural world. After all, what we are doing today will not only impact their lives, but we are anticipating that the next generation will take responsibility for the land ethic decision that we are making today.” Nancy recalls the SALT program called “Sand in my Shoes.” It was an environmental education program for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. The three phase series of instruction included indoor classroom activities, outside activities at the school, and activities in a park or SALT preserve. “SALT’s Environmental Educator provided instruction that met the NC requirements for the science curriculum. However, with limited grant money, we were unable to continue the expansion outside of Cumberland County. It was a great success in 47 schools reaching over 5000 students per year.” Last year the Land Trust received a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) grant in order to assist landowners interested in longleaf pine management. Nancy explains, “The longleaf pine ecosystem requires fire in order to thrive. One of the stumbling blocks to landowner’s utilizing this management practice is the knowledge and experience of being able to conduct controlled burns on their property. This grant helped to identify the need for hands on training and helped pull together the resources required. Many of our partners are coming together to help with this educational opportunity and training. With the available resources, a number of individuals have been trained and certified in prescribed burn training. The grant will run through 2017.” It’s not all work and no play at SALT as they host many community events from hikes, to day trips, and speaker events. With three scenic byways in Moore County, 705 which is Pottery Highway, 73 which goes down through Ellerbe and Indian Mound, and 24/27 which goes into Troy, SALT hosts road trips. Nancy tells, “Last year we traveled Highway 705 Pottery Road, toured Robbins, went to Y2C Cattle Ranch, visited the pottery museum, and enjoyed peach ice cream. This fall we’ll be exploring Hwy 73 into Ellerbe and will visit Dr. Rankin’s terrific museum.” SALT holds a conservation easement on approximately 1,000 acres on Drowning Creek belonging to the Rankin family. In addition to events, SALT has secured many properties that are being enjoyed daily by PROTECTING THE PINES continued PROTECTING THE PINES continued neighboring communities in the Sandhills. Just off Pee Dee Road in Southern Pines, locals can experience the Whitehall Trail on many levels from walking to biking to understanding some local history. When the Sandhills Area Land Trust was formed back in 1991, David Drexel donated the first conservation easement protecting 150 acres of Longleaf Pines at this site. Still in private ownership today, it is nestled between Pee Dee Road and Reservoir Park. There is a little sign on the tree that reads Sandhills Area Land Trust. Mr. Drexel has since passed away, but he put white dot trail markers along the path that adds 2.5 miles to Reservoir Park trail. The town of Southern Pines recognizes this trail as part of its Greenway system connecting Nick’s Creek, the Reservoir Park, and Whitehall Trail. Other public spaces protected by SALT include the park in the center of the Town of Broadway, and two tracts of land in Cumberland County that connect to the Cape Fear River Trail will eventually be added to the NC State Park system. The first and only Community Forest in the southeastern United States, owned by Hoke County, is the result of SALT’s efforts to protect Rockfish Creek. This amazing 500 acre preserve will protect the longleaf pine forest for generations to come. “Another SALT project,” Nancy adds, “is the 5-acre Fayetteville Community Garden. While the town revitalized the housing area, the land trust worked to reclaim the five acres for a beautiful community garden featuring gorgeous old pecan trees, a little pavilion, customized sheds, and about 95 plots for anyone to grow a little garden. We are no longer responsible for the community garden; but it’s one of our great community success stories.” Currently SALT is involved in an initiative that includes 4,000 acres along the Deep River between Chatham and Moore Counties. The NC State Park system is working to protect a Blue Trail (waterway). Nancy quiets, “We will be closing on another tract of land in that area soon. The tract supports a little threatened dragonfly.” She pulls back her hair and shows me her dragonfly earrings, “I’m not taking these off until the dragonflies are protected.” In speaking with Nancy, one learns right away that being Executive Director is way more than a job. It wasn’t that long ago when Nancy traveled to Moore with a friend to walk around town, share a dinner out, and enjoy small town life. Upon one visit, they dreamed, “If we ever get the chance, it’d be great to live here.” Nancy remembers, “One day while visiting a local quilt shop, she and her husband met a real estate agent who asked, ‘Where do you want to live and what do you want to be doing?’ They mentioned log cabins, and of course, the agent stated: ‘I happen to have one on the market.’ We completed the construction on the house and now live in a beautiful log home. Several of my adventurous Fayetteville friends also call Moore County home as well.” The transition for many SALT staff and volunteers parallels our early settlers who all came for different reasons, but none-the-less they caught the same drawing of the waters, the whispering of the pines, and the call of the open space. Coming from a career in medical management to working with SALT has been a most unusual transition for Nancy. She tells, “Most of SALT’s early employees, coming from wonderful careers, were over-qualified professionals willing to “work” for the small non-profit. The Land Trust staff then and now continues to bring extensive professional backgrounds and organizational skills into play in order to accomplish great things. Exponential growth occurred until the economic downtimes of 2008 when we downsized to focus on our core mission, to strengthen its base, and plan for the next 25 years. Over the last three years we’ve blossomed again with grants, land protection projects, and donors.” In celebrating 25 years, the growth rings continue. Established as a volunteer organization with one volunteer and one part time employee, SALT hired their first executive director in 2000; Nancy was hired 15 years ago. “We’ve basically gone from that first 100-acre woods to 14,000 acres, 99 tracts of land, and 87 miles of water preserved, with the expansion to serving six counties. In the beginning, land was donated to SALT, and there was little if any income. Today SALT is the recipient of multiple grants, has an active list of volunteers, is an active member of national and state conservation organizations, and is among a small group of land trusts who work with the Department of Defense. We have really expanded our ability to meet the mission objectives through coordinated efforts, partnerships, and shared resources.” Nancy adds. The vision for the next 25 years, Nancy continues, “remains land and water protection and to sustain the responsibility of maintaining the land under our care. We strive to be relevant, responsive, and connected to the various communities we serve.” Grateful for the opportunity, Nancy sees her work as a bridge connecting the future generations with the historical and cultural relevance of our past; it is an opportunity to protect the natural resources that promoted the growth in the area. The location of landmarks such as the Bryant House, McLendon Cabin, and the House in the Horseshoe are examples of the settlers’ dependence upon natural resources. Nancy ponders, “We protect several Century Farms (those farms owned by the same family for over 100 years); these families are strongly tied to the land and to the building of our nation.” In protecting the natural resources, our local story writes many chapters of combining our resources with visionaries. Some transformed our stripped acres into world famous golf, others turned our earth into the “Pottery Capital of the World,” still others planted peaches and grew the title “Peach Capital of the World” in time past. The legends continue down our sidewalks, dine in farm-to-table restaurants, and seek to grow the next generation of greatness. As locals drink a glass of clean water, ride their bikes through the longleaf pines of Whitehall Trail, or kayak down the Deep River, their lives are being touched by SALT—Sandhills Area Land Trust. On this 25th anniversary, join the mission to protect our legendary land. �� Join the mission; become a member. www.SandhillsLandTrust.org PROTECTING THE PINES con't. next column PROTECTING THE PINES con't. next column PROTECTING THE PINES con't from p. 26 p.28 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 124


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