Newsletter-Fall '11FINALFINAL-REALLY - Tinicum Conservancy

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Annual Membership Celebration Under leaden skies with the threat of rain, this year’s Membership Celebration, at Tinicum Creek Farm, was moved from an open field to the protection of a barn porch. That slight change in location gave the 100 people who attended a grand view of the field and the creek, which skirted its far edge. Hosts June Rothkopf and Paul Wieand Paul Wieand conducts a tour of the property Dave Maue and Dave Gaudette Jeff Keller, John Cole (back) and recent TC President Rich Rosamilia 1 For the fourth year, the event offered members the chance to meet and mingle while munching on tempting treats laid out along the porch railing. Tinicum Creek Farm, in Ottsville, is the home of Paul Wieand and June Rothkopf. 2 Just before the event began, Paul led about 25 people on a tour of the 30-acre property. Although he had planned to take the visitors all along the creek, recently flooding – the worst he’d seen in his 30 years there – forced him to reroute most of the hike through the field. Jim Engel, TC executive director, used a chair as a makeshift platform to address the members. Up to four new easements should be complete by the end of 2011 – and all are donated easements. A fifth additional easement is pending for the first half of 2012. Those parcels will push the total number of easements to over 100, with about 4,100 acres in the township protected. The Tinicum Conservancy also honored longtime volunteer Mark Manchester for his continued work on the organization’s Access database, a critical tool for tracking memberships, volunteers, and properties. - Article by Dianna Sinovic/Photos by Kris Becker (1, 2, 4, 8), Tom Casola (5, 6, 7) and Vicki Jenkins (3, 9) Jocelyn and Miles Manchester enjoy the open space 3 4 Martie Kyde, Kelly Germann, Supervisor Boyce Budd and Dianna Sinovic 5 6 Susan and Ted Wachtel, one of the Founding Fathers of the Tinicum Conservancy Sue Smithers and Gail Whittenberger 7 8 9 Mark Manchester is recognized for his contributions as a volunteer Page 10 WWW.TI�ICUMCO�SERVA�CY.ORG Fall 2011
CONSERVATION SPOTLIGHT THE GIVING POND AND TINICUM CONSERVANCY WEED WARRIORS Tinicum Conservancy stewardship volunteers – often dubbed Conservancy Weed Warriors – are establishing a nice relationship with volunteers working for the Delaware Canal State Park. More specifically both sets of volunteers have joined this past spring and summer in an effort to control invasive exotic weeds at the Giving Pond. The Giving Pond is a 155-acre property on River Road just north of the Frenchtown Bridge. It was once a sand and gravel quarry but is now undergoing a wonderful transformation into a state park and environmental education center, offering passive recreation to all who visit. A series of trails wind throughout the property and a boat launch provides access to the 90-acre pond. Kayaks and canoes abound, and people fish on the pond banks. Ecologically the property is one of Tinicum’s treasures. It features a Weed warriors at work mosaic of upland and wetland habitats. Recent inventories have found 210 plant species, four distinct wetland types, 13 fish species and 148 bird species. It’s a property worthy of careful stewardship, to say the least! A major problem at the Giving Pond is the threat of exotic invasive plant species choking out the valuable native species. Here is where volunteer help becomes critical. Next to habitat destruction, the problem of exotic invasive species is the most severe environmental threat we face today. So far Conservancy volunteers have been concentrating on mile-a-minute weed, a rampant annual vine that climbs over native shrubs and trees, cutting off light and moisture. The vine has small barbs along its stem, so volunteers must wear long sleeves, pants and gloves – not pleasant in the heat of a June or July day. But as with all plant species, removal must take place when it will most affect the plant – when it has reached maturity but before it has set seed. Volunteers from both the Tinicum Conservancy and the Delaware Canal State Park pulled mile-a-minute on two hot days. Two township supervisors even pulled their weight! The mood was cheerful; the company was entertaining; everyone felt good because all were making a difference. Future efforts will also focus on Russian olive, multiflora rose and tree of heaven. The planting of native trees will continue. Come join our increasing volunteer weed warrior team! - Article/Photo by Karen Budd The group gathered 'round Mamma D's bar, tasting different spirits TASTING TINICUM’S LOCAL PRODUCE: WINE! On a Saturday morning in late August, a dozen local residents gathered at Mamma D’s Italian Restaurant in Pipersvile, but they weren’t there to eat, yet. With owner Louie Desiato as a most engaging guide, they went exploring his Fratelli Desiato vineyards to learn about the art and love of wine grapes and wine making. From the constraints of Bucks County’s variable weather conditions and the propagation of new vines from old, to his experiments with wild vines and volunteer vines grown from the discarded pressings from other vineyards, Louie entertained the group with interesting and humorous stories as they popped delicious wine grapes into their mouths. Who would have thought that a vineyard could thrive so close to Rte. 611? Louie actually plans to call one of his new mystery grapes “611”! Louie allowed participants to taste an assortment of grapes from different vines and talked about their differences for making distinctive wines. Louie’s specialty is combining several of his very best-tasting grapes to make unique blended wines. He demonstrated the use of a refractometer for measuring the sugar content (called the “brix”) of his grapes right in the field. This amazing yet simple device can show when to harvest the grapes at their optimal sugar content. Using the refractometer, he compared the brix between a ripe grape and a ripe cherry tomato from his garden. Participants were surprised to see that they were very similar! Next, the group was invited into Mamma D’s bar, where Louie first treated the group to something very different: a hard cider made from apples and pears! Among many other wonderful spirits, Louie offered up his favorite blend and driest house wine, “Dago Red,” and finished our wine tasting experience with his delicious Limoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur. As the perfect finish to the morning, many of the group took their glasses to Mamma D’s nearby tables and ordered delightful lunch sandwiches prepared by Louie’s son Nick (a Tinicum native son!). Salut! to Louie Desiato for a wonderful tour, and thanks to all the participants who support Tinicum Conservancy’s free Spotlight Education Programs! - Article by Kelly Germann/Photo by Bill Cahill Fall 2011 WWW.TI�ICUMCO�SERVA�CY.ORG Page 11
Page 1 and 2: FALL 2011 GREEN ACRES After the Ink
Page 3 and 4: - SHOUT OUT Volunteer help is essen
Page 5 and 6: THE CRITTER CORNER Black bears are
Page 7 and 8: HE FUTURE - OUR LAND S (April - Aug
Page 9: BRLC HOSTS REGIONAL OPEN SPACE ROUN

Newsletter-Fall '11FINALFINAL-REALLY - Tinicum Conservancy

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