Arlington Natural Connections Website Now ONLINE!

The Arlington Natural Connections Project is pleased to announce that our website is now available online at

NaturalConnectionsProject.com

The home page currently features our "Scenes of the Season" photo calendar, with pictures showing seasonal changes in Arlington (and nearby) in 2010.

Check in often for ideas about connecting to nature, in Arlington Massachusetts. You may also consider signing up for updates from our Arlington Natural Connections weblog.

The mission of the Arlington Natural Connections Project is to promote a sense of connection to the natural world at the local level by combining an artistic and natural science approach.

The Arlington Natural Connections Project is grateful for funding provided by the Arlington Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

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First Visit to Wright-Lock Farm

The Wright-Lock Farm is located in Arlington's backyard, just north of the Winchester line at 78 Ridge Road. Established in 1638, it is the oldest continuously farmed property inside Route 128. The town of Winchester purchased the property in 2007. The Wright-Lock Farm Conservancy was created by a vote at the Spring 2008 Winchester Town Meeting to continue limited farming operations, develop passive recreational opportunities, sponsor educational programs, and preserve the historic landscape. The farm now welcomes the public to a treasure of hillsides and paths connecting to the Whipple Hill and Locke Conservation areas. During summer a self-pick raspberry operation is becoming a favorite attraction.

RASPBERRY FIELDS at the WRIGHT-LOCK FARM

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On Sunday October 10, as part of Winchester's Week of Environmental Awareness and Action, Alan Field led a tour through the paths and farm structures. Fall color was just beginning to come to the trees, the sun was warm, the air was crisp, a perfect fall day.

GRASSY MEADOWS, SQUARE WELL and POND

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LOOKING BACK TOWARD THE BARNS FROM UP THE HILL

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YELLOW FLOWERS ON A GRASSY HILLSIDE (SNAPDRAGONS?)

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The property has many peaceful paths, with the din of city noise and vehicles almost imperceptible.

The circular horse riding area is a relatively recent but picturesque addition. The barn to the left in the photo was built in 1827 for animals, wagons and farm equipment, some of which still remains. The Squash House to the right was built in 1915 to store and protect squash from freezing, so that it could be taken to Boston in winter, using a massive sled over icy fields and roads. The farm was known for Blue Hubbard squash, which is still grown there today.

1827 BARN (LEFT) - 1915 SQUASH HOUSE (RIGHT)

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RAILS of SLED USED TO TAKE HUBBARD SQUASH to BOSTON MARKETS

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OLD FARM EQUIPMENT STILL IN 1827 BARN

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ALAN FIELD OPENING DOOR TO SQUASH HOUSE BARN

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STORAGE RACKS FOR BLUE HUBBARD SQUASH IN 1915 SQUASH HOUSE

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The town of Winchester has shown great vision and conviction by purchasing this historic property and establishing a citizen-based volunteer conservancy. A number of plans have been put forth for housing and mixed use. While these uses might provide a financial return on the investment, the benefits of emphasizing preservation of this stunning natural area and historical treasure hopefully will take precedence. In the meantime I plan to take full advantage of proximity, and visit often.

One can support The Wright-Locke Farm Conservancy at their website. They also have occasional fundraisers, like an Open House on October 17 2010 featuring tours of the barn and it's contents by John Ott, former Director of the National Heritage Museum. I first learned about the farm at the Saturday morning Winchester Farmers Market, on the Winchester Town Square until October 30.

Thank you Alan Field for your efforts at the farm, your service as a Conservancy Board Member, and a great walk and tour.

Written in Stone - New England Geology

After Ed Myskowski piqued my interest in the geology of New England, I borrowed "Written in Stone" by Chet and Maureen Raymo from the Arlington Robbins Library. A great introduction to the geology of New England. Plate tectonics is central to the discussion. It has changed my whole conception of time, and how mountains, lakes, rivers and valleys formed.

I had heard about "Pangea" the super-continent, but hadn't heard about how the continents were arranged before they coalesced to form Pangea. As impressive as our mountains are now, this book describes how before Pangea a mountain range rivaling the Himalayans stood along what is now the East Coast of North America. At the time though, this land was located near the equator.

The continents have joined and separated, plant and animal species have come and gone, rocks have formed, compressed and changed, mountains have been thrust up and have eroded to plains. In geologically recent times, the land has been shaped and tilled by glaciers. In the last few moments of geologic time, a creature with an unusually large brain has walked the earth. The longevity of this species is to be determined, over the next few 100 millions of years.

For a great animation of the tectonic movements of the earth's land masses, leading to our current continents, see this Animation from UC Berkeley . Note that you can step through the sequence slowly with the left/right arrow keys. Watch Florida float into place at about 430-270 (million years ago) and India zoom up and slam into Asia starting about 120 million years ago.

Added on 6 Mar 2010: A video dramatization and Plate Tectonics primer: