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South Mountain Fruit Belt a "Featured Landscape"

A case study on the South Mountain Partnership as an important cultural landscape has been posted on the Living Landscape Observer. Read about it here!

Free Webinar: Outdoor Programs for the Winter Season

Get Outdoors PA is hosting a free webinar on Monday, September 29th (2-3 pm) for partners interested in adding winter programming to their schedule. Humans were never meant to hibernate - learn how to create winter programs to get folks out-of-doors throughout the winter! Click here for more information.

Conococheague Institute's Fall History Seminar Series underway

The Conococheauge Institute's annual Fall History Seminar started on September 6th and runs through November 1st. This year's theme is "Hacked out of the Wilderness: Setting Boundaries on the Conococheague Institute." Click here for more information and the full line-up of lectures scheduled.

Central Pennsylvania Conservancy to host annual Fall fundraiser at the Ironmaster's Mansion

The Central Pennsylvania Conservancy's annual fall fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, October 12th. This year's theme is "Old Tyme at the Ironmaster's Mansion" and will feature live music and a Farm-to-Table dinner. More information is available here.

Pine Grove Furnace State Park to host annual Fall Furnace Fest

The annual Fall Furnace Fest is scheduled for the weekend of October 18th & 19th. Click here for more information.

South Mountain Partnership to host

Fall 2014 Partnership Meeting

Friday, October 3rd

9:30 am to noon

South Middleton Township Municipal Building

Register Today!

Join the South Mountain Partnership for the Fall 2014 Partnership Meeting:

Reconnect with the Partnership to learning more about the initiative and on-going projects;
Network with and connect to diverse partners from throughout the South Mountain landscape;
Learn about topics relevant to the South Mountain landscape and to your work within the landscape; and

Hear about opportunities to engage with the Partnership.

The Fall Partnership Meeting on October 3rd will explore the theme of the cultural historical legacy of past human land use, and how this legacy continues to shape the landscape in unique ways.

For the agenda, more information, and to register, please CLICK HERE.

South Mountain Speakers Series:

The Changing Face of Agriculture: Re-creating the Cider Industry in the South Mountain Region

October 4 & 5 and October 11 & 12 at the

National Apple Harvest Festival

In collaboration with our partners at the Gettysburg Wine and Fruit Trail, the South Mountain Partnership will be hosting "The Changing Face of Agriculture: Re-creating the Cider Industry in the South Mountain Landscape," a panel discussion that will take place at 2 pm on each of the four days (Oct 4 & 5 and Oct 11 & 12) of the National Apple Harvest Festival at the scenic South Mountain Fair Grounds in Arendtsville, PA.

Learn how four family farms are finding renewed economic success by turning back to cider. Hauser Estate Winery will discuss how their hard cider production is transitioning their farm and business; Reid's Winery will discuss the planting and use of heirloom cider apples for their farm's hard cider production; Big Hill Winery and Cider Works will discuss creating a modern farm business based on the old value added product of apple cider, sweet and hard. Oyler's Organic Farms and Market will discuss transitioning from conventional to organic apple growing and sweet cider production.

Partner Profile:

The Land Conservancy of Adams County, Boyer's Nurseries partner to conserve 900 acres of working lands and forests

Over the last two years, the Land Conservancy of Adams County worked with Boyer's Nurseries and Orchards in Franklin Township to complete four conservation easements. With these easements in place, the Land Conservancy has enabled the Nursery to preserve its "Home Farm," over 900 acres of orchards, farmlands and upland forests.

This conservation project preserves the beautiful setting of the Home Farm for future generations, and is a critically important step towards preserving the region's water resources. Located along the slopes of the South Mountain ridge line in western Adams County, this property serves as the headwaters for Marsh Creek, an important source of drinking water.

Congratulations to both the Land Conservancy of Adams County and Boyer's Nurseries and Orchards for this wonderful partnership and project!

DCNR Seeks Nominations:

2015 Trail of the Year

& members for Trail Advisory Committee

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is currently accepting nominations for its 2015 Trail of the Year and for eight openings on its Trail Advisory Committee.

"It could be short or long, easy or challenging, near a waterway or up a mountainside, but if you have a favorite trail we'd like you to tell us why it is special by nominating it for our Trail of Year," said DCNR Secretary Ellen Ferretti. "We are so fortunate to have a fantastic and diverse system of trails in Pennsylvania and we want everyone to realize the opportunities they provide for healthy outdoor activities and to enjoy nature and the boost trails give to the economies of local communities."

Nominations are being accepted through November 7th and can be submitted here.

Additionally, nominations are being accepted through November 7th for eight open positions on the state-wide Trails Advisory Committee, including positions to represent the following user groups: ATV riders, member at large, trail walkers, mountain biking, snowmobiling, people with disabilities, trail advocate, and trail trainers. More information and application materials can be found here.

Have upcoming events that you would like to see highlighted in the "Around South Mountain" updates? Contact the Partnership at jpeterson@appalachiantrail.org