Thursday, December 19, 2019

FOHW's ACHIEVEMENTS 2019

It's been another year of moving FOHWard at Herrontown Woods. The lease we negotiated with the town for the Veblen House and Cottage awaits town ratification this January. We built a new trail and continue to restore existing trails and habitat. The botanical garden is growing into a sea of wildflowers. A girlscout troop and other volunteers contributed to improvements in the grounds and signage. Ongoing research is expanding our appreciation of the vision and pioneering spirit that helped Oswald Veblen achieve so much in the world and our community.

Please support our work, and join us out at Princeton's first nature preserve.

LEASING VEBLEN HOUSE AND COTTAGE
  • Completed negotiations with Princeton to lease the Veblen House and Cottage, beginning early in 2020

NATURE PRESERVE STEWARDSHIP
  • FOHW volunteers continue to care for 220 acres of public land at Herrontown Woods and Autumn Hill Reservation
  • A very wet spring prompted many trail improvements towards making trails useable year-round
  • Constructed a new trail through 7.5 acres of sloping woodland donated to Princeton in 2018 through FOHW’s initiative
  • Botanical Garden: With ongoing care, we are transforming a forest opening into a sea of native wildflowers and grasses to feed summertime pollinators, with 100 native plant species.
  • Collaborating with Town on control of invasive species

VEBLEN HOUSE AND COTTAGE
  • Keeping buildings secure and dry
  • Evaluating structures in preparation to begin repairs in 2020
  • Converting window covers to shutters to expedite window repair.
  • Redirecting runoff away from buildings and into attractive raingardens
  • Grounds around house and cottage mowed, maintained, invasive plants removed, paths installed.
  • Nurturing an edible forest of pawpaws, hazelnuts, butternuts, persimmons and plums.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH:
  • Girlscouts Cadette Troop 72905 installed interpretive signage telling the history of the Veblen House and Cottage
  • Designed and produced educational flip cards for nature adventure backpacks available at the Princeton Public Library
  • Ongoing research and website posts about nature and the fascinating history of Veblen House at VeblenHouse.org, FOHW.org, and PrincetonNatureNotes.org
  • Renewing connections with local schools
  • Regular nature walks led by area naturalists
  • Hosted our second annual Oswald Veblen Birthday BBQ in June. 

BOARD
  • New board members and some particularly engaged friends of the preserve are adding their energy and expertise to FOHW’s work.
  • Had our second board “retreat” to develop strategic planning

FUNDRAISING
  • Additional progress towards our initial goal of raising $100,000.

Thanks to all who have contributed to making these achievements possible.
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