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 Our Annual Report is Now Available
The CELT 2015 Annual Report has just been published! The report, which is making its way into the mailboxes of CELT members and Cape Elizabeth residents this week, presents CELT's thirty years of saving Cape's great places "by the numbers," shares stories of the "people behind the mission," and thanks CELT members and volunteers for their support.
You can view the report
on our website, or stop by the office to pick one up if yours has not yet arrived.
Please consider a tax-deductible donation to our year-end appeal to sustain the momentum you'll see documented in the Annual Report. In addition to traditional land acquisition projects, stewardship, and education, working with Cape Elizabeth's agricultural community to conserve farmland and our town's rural character is a top priority for CELT in the coming year.
To make a donation, please
click here, stop by the office, or call 767-6054. We are so very grateful for your continued support. Our success would not be possible without you!
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Volunteers Install New Boardwalk Sections in RWII
If you've been out on the Robinson Woods II Pond Trail recently, you will have noticed that new boardwalk sections were added along some of the historically wet portions of the
 trail on the north side of the pond. We are grateful to both the Cape Elizabeth Planning Board for approving the boardwalks and to the dedicated CELT stewardship volunteers who helped install them.
About a dozen volunteers turned out on a beautiful Saturday morning in October to walk the lumber in
from the nearby Cranbrook neighborhood and construct the 160 feet of boardwalk. Special thanks to those who volunteered: Eric Chapman, Herb Janick, Bob Dawson, Steve and Lisa Gent, Ellen Kast, Elizabeth Goodspeed, Nikki Dresser, Dave Hoggard, Wyman Briggs, Tim Case, and Neil and Suzanne McGinn.
During the installation of the boardwalks, many folks walking or riding bikes on the trails stopped to observe and greet the volunteers. As a volunteer, it's rewarding to see the fruits of your labor, meet new folks, and walk along the trail you helped to improve. The group's favorite 'thank you' of the day came from this lovely couple (in photo) who were out on their regular walk in Robinson Woods.
While the trails appear to be dry now, a wet season will be upon us next spring. The boardwalks are particularly helpful in maintaining the integrity of the trails when mountain biking occurs on wet spring days. CELT appreciates the mountain bikers using the boardwalks and abiding by the new open/closed signage along the trails.
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Annual Meeting Bids Chris Franklin a Fond Farewell
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Board Member Suzanne McGinn presents outgoing Executive Director Chris Franklin with a painting by local artist
Mary Anne Cary.
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Over 150 CELT members and friends turned out at our annual meeting November 1st, to celebrate outgoing Executive Director Chris Franklin
, and to hear John Greene speak about "Wild Cape."
Chris was honored for his twelve-plus years of commitment to saving Cape's great places with gifts of beautiful, Cape Elizabeth-themed art from both the Cape Farm Alliance and the CELT Board of Directors. Chris then provided a retrospective of his years with us, and ensured us that the "best is yet to come."
We also enjoyed local amateur naturalist's John Greene's images and stories of the wild and wonderful animals with whom we share the fields, forests, farmlands and shore lands of Cape Elizabeth.
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Photo Contest Entries Showcase the Beauty of Cape
 Our annual photo contest received many outstanding entries, and we appreciate everyone's participation. Our first place winner was Martha Agan, whose beautiful 'Moon Over Marsh' photo graced our October newsletter (and can be seen on our website).
June Eiesland's photo of Trundy Point (shown at left) won our second place prize; June submitted several terrific images. We selected Cynthia Gray's photo of a handsome fox for third place. Photos by all of our talented finalists can be viewed on the
Land Trust website.
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Maine's 'Wild' Turkey Population Has Expanded
We've all seen flocks of turkeys in our fields and forests - Cape seems to be home to a large number of these intriguing birds. Our farmers often consider them a nuisance, but love 'em or hate 'em, 'wild' turkeys are back in Maine in huge numbers: 60,000 and counting.
It's estimated that 7 million turkeys live in 49 states, but in the early 1800s, turkeys were extirpated in Maine. The turkey became locally extinct due to loss of forest habitat as we expanded agricultural practices and via unrestricted hunting. Then by 1970, only about 15% of York and Cumberland  County remained farmland, which, if it wasn't developed into house lots, reverted back to forest - prime turkey habitat. An effort was made to reintroduce the turkey, primarily for hunting. As late as 1988, Maine was still trying to establish wild turkey populations by bringing birds in from Vermont and Connecticut. It's one of the most successful restoration projects in our state.
Fun facts about turkeys:
· Benjamin Franklin questioned the choice of the Bald Eagle as our national symbol. He wrote to his daughter, "I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly... the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage...."
· It's hard to believe looking at them, but wild turkeys can run at 20 mph and fly at a speed of 55 mph!
· The male's distinctive gobble can be heard by potential mates over a mile away.
· A group of turkeys is called a "crop", "dole", "gang", "posse" or "raffle."
- Erika Rhile, CELT Education Committee Chair
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'Tis the Season for Maine Cranberries
As the season for harvesting many of our local fruits and veggies comes to a close, it's the cranberry's time to shine. The cranberry
is native to the swamps and bogs of northeastern North America, including Maine and Cap
e Elizabeth, and belongs to the Heath, or Heather, family. A low-growing, woody perennial, the cran
berry plant blooms from late June to mid-July and fruits in October and November. The ruby red berries are well known for their presence on the Thanksgiving table, and more recently as antioxidant powerhouses. You can find Maine-grown cranberries at local farms and retailers including Alewive's Brook Farm on Old Ocean House Rd. and The Farm Stand in South Portland.
Looking for a ne
w and delicious way to cook with cranberries? CELT Board President Anne Carney has just the thing! Enjoy Anne's original recipe for cranberry pear chutney.
Maine Cranberry Pear Chutney
1 lb. fresh Maine cranberries (a generous 4 cups)
½ cup finely chopped onion
½ cup apple cider vinegar
½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
¼ cup white sugar
½ cup raisins
Freshly grated zest of 1 lemon
Freshly grated zest of 1 orange
¼ cup chopped crystallized ginger
¼ to ½ teaspoon ground clove
Juice of 1 orange
2 large firm pears - look for Maine Bosc or Red Rogue pears this time of year
Combine all ingredients except orange juice and pear. Cook at a gentle simmer, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves and cranberries collapse (10-15 minutes). As the cranberries cook, peel and core the pears and cut into ¼ inch cubes and juice the orange. Add the pears and orange juice to the cranberries, and cook another 5 to10 minutes, until the pears are tender but not mushy. Taste and add more ground clove if desired. Then cool and store in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.
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