When our review team received Krista’s resume and materials for the open land steward/educator position early spring from a field of over 40 applicants from literally across the globe, we knew she was the one! After meeting Krista, our group feeling was confirmed. Energetic, knowledgeable, field-savvy, interesting to listen to and focused, Krista expressed a strong desire to become a vital member of our local environmental community.

An avid learner herself, she shared many of her experiences: a Wilderness Ranger in the US Forest Service in Bend Oregon, trained in watershed stewardship by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, volunteer work with Americorps performing wetland restoration, biology fieldwork with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Albany, the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook and the Nature Conservancy, Eastern New York Chapter. With these experiences, Krista has managed and directed long-term research projects, collected, analyzed and presented data, collaborated with other research institutions and trained citizen scientists. On top of all this, Krista is to be congratulated on recently completing her Masters of Arts in Teaching Adolescent Education Biology from the State University of New York in New Paltz. Her undergraduate degree is in Conservation of Resources with a thesis on community management.

Krista is actually returning to Northern Westchester after living here from 2002-2005 at the Butler Sanctuary in Bedford. Working in the area, she is familiar with PRLC’s preserves knowing where to find both flora and fauna rarities and understanding some of the environmental research issues like the wooly adelgid infestation of the hemlocks at the Halle Preserve. In her first ‘Living Lighter on the Land’ bi-monthly blog- which she inherited from her predecessor Tate- of returning in this way…

There is an old saying that you can never come home again. I have also heard, “never look back”. Well– we have done both! I am happy to report that little has changed, except that ground cover is increasingly dominated by invasive species like Japanese barberry and Japanese stilt-grass and recent storm damage to trees and soil stability is evident… The landscape of northern Westchester County is still lush and idyllic, perfectly suited for humans and for many kinds of wildlife. I am afraid this would not be true without the tireless work of local conservation groups and their partners. In this blog and through our programs at the Armstrong Education Center, we go beyond the more traditional work of land protection to focus on human relationship with nature and highlight how our daily lifestyle choices impact local ecosystems. We recognize that the quest to live more harmoniously with nature is never-ending, and there is much to be learned (and re-learned)…

After 14 months of programming lead by PRLC’s first staff and land steward/educator, Tate Bushell, PRLC said good-bye the first week of May as Tate departed for a seasonal guiding position at a private preserve in Denali National Park in Alaska. We wish him and his partner Sarah the best in their endeavors and know they will remain fast friends of PRLC. Tate brought extensive scientific background, resource management and wonderful teaching skills to PRLC and our community. We know Krista will continue this tradition and bring her special skills and insights to our local conservation and education work.

Our first Neighborhood Get-Together held on May 5th was a resounding success with over 40 Ward Pound Ridge neighbors meeting each other and learning about PRLC’s local education, outreach and research programming. Another Neighborhood Gathering is planned for the fall of Halle Ravine neighbors.

Early spring, Tate and now Krista have been busy hiring 2013 summer student interns. Supported in part by a grant from Rusticus Garden Club of Bedford, two summer interns have been hired: one as a plant ecology intern and the other as a permaculture landscape design intern for the Armstrong Education Center’s gardens. Several high school students including an organic gardening intern have begun their work in the field.

PRLC's Blog, Living Lighter on the Land, has recently been invited to join the Nature Blog Network and Gest Green Blogs.com. In their own words the Nature Blog Network is ‘the nexus for the nature blog community…the portal through which readers and publishers a like can locate the very best nature blogs on the net.’

Once at the Nature Blog Network or Best Green Blogs website, users are introduced to new blogs a number of different ways: the most visited blogs are showcased in their own section, while random blogs are profiled and highlighted daily. Both sites are free to use and make searching for new reading material a snap. Becoming a network member is testimony to the success of Tate’s blog so far and is will supply it a continuing new readership.