There’s a new person hanging out at the Dvoor Farm nowadays and I’m happy to say that she, like everyone who comes around the farm, is good people. The New Lady (editor’s note: for the record The New Lady is Karen Forbes, Interim Executive Director of the Hunterdon Land Trust) really knows what is important.

She gives good belly rubs, and even more importantly she makes time to get outside and enjoy the farm, which, of course, is why we work so hard to preserve land. She somehow caught on to my mom’s rule not to share lunch with me, but hey I can always hope for crumbs.

I took the New Lady out to show her around the Dvoor Farm. I showed her where the farmers’ market takes place and the restoration of Walnut Brook. We also checked out the stand of Old Growth trees where Momma Hawks hung out this summer yelling at me if I got too close to the trees where their little ones were nesting. And then the best thing of all happened – we had a good game of fetch.

After our game of fetch, I settled down for a nice nap. Before falling asleep I heard that this New Lady will be helping my people to find a “permanent Executive Director.” I’m not really sure what that means, but I hope it means even more outdoor-loving, fetch-playing people around. Maybe even an outdoor-loving,  fetch-playing, lunch-sharing person. Sweet dreams indeed!

Good news – my people finally brought me to the Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market last week. I guess I’ve been such a good mentor to office puppy Sherman that they figured I’d be ok with other dogs too. Turns out the farmers’ market is one of the best places ever – I can’t believe my people have been holding out on me. If you’ve never been, you don’t know what you’re missing.

There were lots of kids dropping food everywhere. Some people even shared their breakfast with me on purpose. That never happens at home.

Me and my hat

I liked it so much that I behaved perfectly. Well, I did growl at that one dog, but we got over it. Everyone was so impressed with me, that they dressed me up in a funny hat and took pictures with me all day. The hat was a little weird, but folks seemed really happy that I had it on so I humored them.

The other weird thing was that everyone kept saying ‘Happy 15^thBirthday’.

Sherman came to the market too!

Now I am 70 years old, which is 10 in people years not 15, but I was having such a good time that I didn’t tell them they were wrong! (Editors Note: Despite Pepper’s impressive grasp of math, she seems not to have understood that it was the land trust’s 15th birthday. Thanks to all of you who did understand and helped us celebrate.)

It was such a great day I just had to share it with all my fans. The only thing missing was a good game of fetch. Go check the market out for yourself and when you do, bring a nice stick for me to play with, ok?

Sherman has lots of friends and they all wanted a photo with me

The Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market is open Sunday mornings from 9-1 through November 20^th and is located on the Route 12 (Dvoor) Circle in Flemington, NJ.

Me and my mom - see how proud she is of me?

This has been a great summer! Not only do I get to play outside with my new friend Sherman, there is also a new person in the office these days.  Her name is Melanie .  She is working at the land trust this summer as an “intern”.  I am not sure what the word means but I do know that it’s good to have another person available to take me outside for walks and play fetch  with my “babies” and me in the office.

I overheard that Melanie is helping the land trust put together management plans for some of the properties we own.  These plans are going to help the land trust manage its properties so that the native plants and animals can thrive.  Melanie seems really interested in plants and animals.  She’s not so much into sticks, though. Baffling, I know.

I got to help Melanie water some of the trees and plants that were donated to the land trust by our friends at the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.  They had lots of native plants to spare, like black eyed susans, echnicea, and white oak trees and gave some to us to plant in our preserves.

Melanie is a student at Rutgers University and she’s studying Ecology.  Working at the land trust helps Melanie get some on the job training, and she helps the land trust get some important work done.

I think the land trust should have more interns like Melanie so I can play outside every day!

Pepper here. Sorry I haven’t been blogging much recently, but these land trust people have been keeping me really busy. In addition to greeting everyone who visits the Historic Dvoor Farm, and generally keeping an eye on all my people, my job description has a new responsibility – Puppy Mentor. Now I know my people have told you that I don’t always play well with other dogs, but the truth is it just has to be the right dog for me to play with. Thankfully the land trust people got it right when they brought in my little protégé, Sherman. He is nice enough that I will even share my toys (and a smooch) with him.

In some ways Sherman and I are just alike, for example we both like to spend as much time outside as we can, maybe you do too. Unfortunately for those of us who like to be outside, ticks are a part of life here in Hunterdon County. Part of my role as Puppy Mentor is to make sure Sherman knows all about these annoying blood-suckers.

Deer Tick, Ixodes scapularis

There are several varieties of the tick here in New Jersey including the Deer Tick, Lone Star Tick and my personal nemesis, the American Dog Tick—can you guess what kind of host this tick is looking for?  Geesh!

But it is the tiny deer ticks that cause the most commotion in the office here at the Hunterdon Land Trust because they carry Lymes’ disease. I know some people and dogs who had Lymes’ disease and it is no fun at all.                         

                

But all my human friends tell me not to panic and that being aware and prepared is the best defense against tick borne illnesses.  The Hunterdon County Department of Health has some good advice on their website to protect yourself, like tucking your pants into your socks and wearing light colors when you go for a walk in the woods. 

After I take Sherman outside, my human friends check me for ticks, and I watch to make sure he gets checked too.   I know that if we catch the ticks early enough it significantly decreases the chances of getting Lymes’ disease. 

Turns out I am such a good Puppy Mentor that Sherman even got in on the act and re-checked me when we were done!

Don’t forget to check yourselves for ticks after playing outside, and if you are looking for places to play, you can find some great places on our website.

Did you know that squirrels can swim?  I didn’t either, until I saw it for myself.  This really raises the stakes in the ongoing squirrels vs. dogs battle for world domination. 

 

I was out exploring the Dvoor Farm with my usual human walking companion, MW who wanted to look for migrating birds.  Personally, I am bored by this, but some humans seem to be endlessly entertained by standing in a field, early in the morning, and listening for tweets and trills. 

Baltimore Oriole

 MW has assembled a list of birds she had spotted, along with some of her birding friends, at the Dvoor Farm during the spring bird migration.  I am told that birds fly vast distances to spend their winters in warm climates, and head back north for the summer.  This puzzles me.  Do they not have nice warm beds with humans in them to keep them warm? The humans report seeing all sorts of birds at the farm including a pair of Baltimore Orioles, Solitary Sandpiper, a Rugous-sided Towhee and Pileated Woodpeckers. 

Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) (Not the squirrel in question, but probably on of his kin)

I am not interested in birds.  Squirrels are another matter entirely. On this particular day, MW was listening for birds, I was checking out the smells around the base of a tree, when we were both startled by a loud rustling above our heads.  We looked up and saw a squirrel staring down at us, doing that thing that drives us dogs mad, the “if I don’t move they won’t see me” freeze.  Well, I made my move to defend my territory, he ran to the end of a branch and leapt right into the air and into the depths of the Mine Brook! 

He landed with an impressive splash, and disappeared.  Seconds later, up popped his head, and he swam frantically to the opposite shore, climbed out and promptly scampered up a blooming apple tree.   

Since I cannot use the camera and my walking companion was suffering from a paralyzing fit of laughter and doing all she could to keep from toppling into the Mine Brook herself, we did not capture the event on film.

This is me, registering my annoyance.

It seems the Dvoor Farm is not only a good place to stop for a drink and a meal when you are a migrating bird, but the squirrels have found it to be a good place for confounding dogs with their dare-devilry.   

 

Are there wolves at the Dvoor Farm?  I wish! Wolves haven’t been seen in these parts for many years.  I am currently the only representative of the canine species in residence at the farm.  Note the difference: 

Canis Lupus

Canis domesticus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But it looks like there may be Wolf Trees at the Dvoor Farm, which doesn’t impress me nearly as much as seeing a real life wolf would, but the humans here seem pretty excited about it.  I just feign interest and stay close in the hopes they will drop some food on the floor in all their exuberance.   (This actually happens more than you’d think. The best was when some girl scouts came by, here’s me at snack time waiting for the goodies to come my way.)

  

Anyway, I went for a walk with MW and her friend Terrence Nolan, from the Trust for Public Land, Terrence pointed out this big, old, gnarly looking oak tree on the edge of the stream. 

Wolf Tree!

Terrence was pointing out all the nooks and crannies, the twisty limbs, alive and dead, and told us that old trees like this are called Wolf Trees.  Back when people were clearing the land for pasture, they sometimes saved a few trees to provide shade for grazing animals (and maybe their dogs, too).   As these trees grew older, they got bigger, shading out younger trees from growing — not much of a “team player”, probably wouldn’t do well in a pack, but eliminating its competition earned the Wolf Tree its name, coined by humans as homage to the wolf and its predatory practices.  Even though my brethren have not roamed the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic landscapes for many years, they still manage to inspire fear and awe!  

Terrence told us that Michael Gaige, a conservation biologist, studied Wolf Trees in the Vermont forest and found them to be havens for wildlife; birds and mammals are drawn to these trees for food and shelter.  Something tells me squirrels love these trees. 

Michael wrote this article about it,  I can’t read, but my human friends tell me it’s good. 

Now that I think about it, maybe I can see the attraction to these Wolf Trees. That looks like a pretty good place for a nap…

A good place for a sleepy dog

Opening day of the Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market at the Historic Dvoor Farm is Sunday, May 15, 9am-1pm. Come out for fresh fruits and vegetables, organic produce, grass-fed meats, artisanal cheese and bread, honey, wine, alpaca woolens, live music, and more.

me in the office

 Every now and again, when I am not entertaining guests, I walk around the office and check in with my human co-workers.  I manage to pick up some interesting tidbits of information by eavesdropping.  Common terms that get thrown into human conversation around here include: preservation, stewardship, treats, contracts, grant application, gratitude, and chocolate, to name a few.

 

One term caught my attention the other day: Invasive species.  Perplexed, I decided to stay and hear more, rather than grabbing that oh-so-tempting toy sitting in the corner and engaging someone in a nice game of fetch.

 

What I learned is that invasive plant and animal species are kind of like alien invaders.  Though not like this kind of alien: 

space alien

 More like this: 

Asian Long-Horned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)

Though maybe they are more similar than I think….

 

Anyway, non-native invasive species are non-indigenous plants or animals that adversely affect the habitats they invade, often to the detriment to the native species of plants and animals.  They tend to spread fast and furious.  So, bad news if you are plant that’s been here a long time and for the animals that have come to depend on you for a meal and maybe a place to live. 

 

On a walk today MW showed me the Lesser Celandine(Ficaria verna), aka Fig Buttercup. Pretty, huh?

Ficaria-verna

 

Turns out it’s not originally from these, here parts.  It comes from Eurasia – not sure exactly where that is, but I know it’s not where I am from, which is Hunterdon County, New Jersey. 

    

Anyway, this plant invades marshy areas and crowds out other native marsh plant species like this one: 

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

 

They look surprisingly alike, don’t they? Humans probably cannot tell the difference very easily, but I can – they smell really different.

 

Another invader plant at the Dvoor Farm is called Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora), and it originates in Asia, not North America. I know lots about this one because it causes great consternation to me on my daily walks.  

Rosa multiflora and me

It’s prickly and low to the ground and sometimes I get lost in it as I track a really good smell.

Turns out that most of these invasive species find their way to Hunterdon County through human activity.  Some of these invaders are considered decorative by humans, who willingly plant them in their gardens and yards.  Multiflora Rose was at one point promoted by the US Soil Conservation Service as an ideal “living fence” and for erosion control.  It’s now classified as a noxious weed  in New Jersey.

Humans, go figure. 

I hear lots of talk in the office about controlling these alien invaders and encouraging native plants and animals to flourish.  Sometimes we get volunteers out on the farm to pull out multiflora rose and plant native shrubs and trees.  It seems like lots of work to me, but I am happy to tag along and supervise.

If you’d like to volunteer and help spruce up the Dvoor Farm, my office people are having a clean up day on Saturday May 7th (9 am to noon). Email catherine@hlta.org for more info.

In case you don’t know me, I’m Pepper, official office companion of the Hunterdon Land Trust. The land trust moved its offices to the Dvoor Farm in Flemington at the beginning of the year and now I get to come to work at a 40 acre preserved farm.

I have an important job at the land trust-I greet the guests. Everyone is very friendly to me and I get lots of attention. Kids especially like me. I also provide the staff at the land trust the excuse they need to leave their desks and chairs for an occasional walk at the farm. They say that these walks remind them of “why they do what they do”. I am just happy to get out and patrol the perimeter, got to keep an eye on things.

Today I went for a walk after lunch with MW (the people call her Margaret Waldock ). We headed to the woods at the southwest corner of the Dvoor Farm, lots of big, old trees. They’ve all been tagged with silver labels like this:

It’s okay, the nails don’t hurt them. The people at the land trust are inventorying all these giant trees. They want to know how old they are and whether they are healthy, so they can protect them and make sure they live as long as possible. Some of these trees have been here for over 200 years. That’s about 1400 dog years.

Next, we headed through the trees and into the marsh, lots of action and smells here–birds everywhere, all different kinds. On are way back to the farmhouse, MW and I saw two eastern bluebirds in the marsh, looks like they knew each other because they were following each other from tree to tree. MW tried to get a picture, but they weren’t cooperating–every time I got closer, they flew farther away. They looked like this:

One was really bright colored, the other not so much. MW mentioned something about them being a pair and that we might see new tenants in the houses in the marsh, but I wasn’t paying attention because I had a stick in my mouth.

This is apparently where eastern bluebirds like to live.

 

This is where I like to live:

There’s no accounting for taste.

If you would like to visit the Historic Dvoor Farm to see the restoration projects the Hunterdon Land Trust is undertaking, including managing the old growth forest, the Mine Brook restoration, planting a native grass meadow – or if you want to meet Pepper – drop us an email at info@hlta.org and we’ll be happy to send you directions.

We’re pleased to kick off 2011 with the announcement of another successful preservation effort. Bob Jones, the owner of Winnewald Day Camp in Clinton Twp, has donated a conservation easement to the Land Trust. The conservation area encompasses 19 acres of forest and wetlands, and includes Prescott Brook. Mr. Jones decided to preserve his land because he hopes it will always be a place for children to connect with nature.

“Every acre we protect in Hunterdon County gives current and future residents the gifts of clean air and water, peaceful forests, diverse wildlife, and locally produced food,” said Margaret Waldock, Executive Director of the Hunterdon Land Trust. “Preserving Winnewald Day Camp is especially meaningful because this is the very place that many Hunterdon residents have learned to value nature.”

Read more at http://flemington.injersey.com/2010/12/31/hunterdon-land-trust-preserves-clinton-township-children’s-camp/