The Citizens for Lexington Conservation (CLC) and the Lexington Conservation Stewards (LCS) are pleased to invite the public to a talk on “The Future of Farming and Forests in New England” by Brian Donahue, Associate Professor of American Environmental Studies at Brandeis University, on Tuesday, April 12 at 7PM in Cary Memorial Hall. According to Prof. Donahue, Massachusetts has been losing forests to development since the 1970s at a faster rate than it gains unused agricultural land. Donahue suggests that between one-quarter and one-half of the land in every township ought to be 'commons,' either publicly held or privately-owned but subject to conservation easements. Although he is certainly in favor of private farms as a part of every local economy, he further suggests that every town should have one community farm occupying and managing a portion of its public land, its activities demonstrating the essential connections between ecology, economics, education, and aesthetics. Professor Donahue is a Weston resident and is the author of "Reclaiming the Commons: Community Farms and Forests in a New England Town"(1999). He also wrote "The Great Meadow: Farmers and the Land in Colonial Concord” which won the 2004 Marsh Prize from the American Society for Environmental History, the 2005 Saloutos Prize from the Agricultural History Society and the 2004 Best Book Prize from the New England Historical Association. Members and non-members are all invited to attend this fascinating talk. There will be a brief CLC business meeting at the start of the evening and an opportunity to learn more about CLC and LCS. Refreshments will be served following the presentation.
Admission is free. For more information, visit: www.lexingtonma.org/clc/HomePage.htm CLC Home Page
