2010 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP APPEAL

Ridge and Valley Conservancy Working to keep things natural

"BEFORE"	"AFTER"

We have been working hard for 18 years to keep things natural.

At Ridge and Valley Conservancy (RVC), we are working hard to keep lands in our region in their natural state. Along wit our efforts to preserve farmland, we strive to preserve the special places that protect your water supply, give refuge to wildlife, produce local foods, and give you somewhere to get away from it all, without going too far!

Buying land and easements fro preservation is expensive. We've managed to leverage your contributions by obtaining millions in grants from many sources to protect over 3,000 acres - some of the most sensitive land in northwestern New Jersey.

With your help we can keep the "garden" in our area of the Garden State. Our nature preserves are open for your enjoyment and as a refuge to the plants and wildlife that make our region special.

Please contribute to protect the places you love. We look forward to working with you to protect the natural world.

Thank you.

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2010 HEPBURN/MARTIN CHALLENGE

RVC received a generous grant of $8,000 from patrons Kenneth Martin and Christine Hepburn Foundation to help us continue our land protection activities.

In addition to this outright donation Kenneth and Christine have issued a CHALLENGE GRANT of $4000, meaning if we can raise an additional $4,000 from our members, they will match this amount. Bring their total contribution to $12,000. Plus your $4,000 - - a grant total of $16,000!

We ask that you meet this challege by matching the spirit of Ken and Christine an ddonate to help us reach our goal of $4,000 for the match.

Funds will go directly to our protection efforts and sustain our organization.

Chart update: 01/27/2010

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"Accomplishments in 2009"

We purchased the 145-acre McConnell property in Blairstown and established the Hemlock Ridge Preserve. A trail will be installed for public use by the end of 2010 that will allow our members and others to experience this beautiful forested tract. We entered in to a contract to purchase the 39-acre Faeillo property in Hope. We will close on the property in early 2010. This acquisition will protect limestone springs, a stream and a forest. We received grants totaling $25,00 to plant 30 more acres of native grasses at our Dark Moon Preserve in Green Township and study the uptake of carbon by these grasses. We completed plans for an equine trail and a trail head, which will be constructed in 2010 to allow for expanded horse riding on the preserve. We worked with local Eagle Scout Patrick Sheahy, who installed a new trail head parking lot area and upgraded stream crossings to improve hiking conditions at our Beech Ridge Preserve in Blairstown.

Join Our Efforts Now

2010 Membership / Donation Form (print and/or email back to RVC)