Through this work, we aim to improve wildlife habitat, strengthen grassland and meadow ecosystems, and support the long-term health of our forest. Most importantly, these efforts help ensure Prescott Farm remains a vibrant place for both wildlife and learning.

Why Forest Management Is Important

Because forests change over time, healthy landscapes need thoughtful care. Just like gardens or fields, forests benefit from active management that encourages diversity and resilience.

For this reason, our work follows recommendations from Prescott Farm’s 2021 Forest Management Plan. The plan was developed with guidance from UNH Cooperative Extension Wildlife Specialist Matt Tarr and focuses on supporting wildlife while maintaining healthy, productive forests.

By actively managing select areas of our land, we can:

• Increase habitat diversity
• Support species that depend on young forest and meadow environments
• Improve long-term forest health
• Maintain access for future stewardship and education

What Forest Management Includes

As part of this project, we are partnering with Tim Nolin of Forest Land Improvement (Ossipee, NH), with logging conducted by L.E. Taylor & Sons, Inc., a family-owned company certified through the Master Logger Certification Program.

Specifically, we will create early successional habitat by clear-cutting two areas totaling approximately 4.5 acres next to existing fields. These areas currently contain poor-quality growth with limited long-term value. As a result, the work will expand meadow space and create productive transition zones between open fields and forest.

The result will be expanded meadow space paired with nearby shrubland, creating what ecologists call an “edge effect”—the transition zone between open field and mature forest that supports a wide variety of wildlife.

“These areas are being clear-cut to create functional blocks of early successional habitat right next to open, maintained fields,” explains Tim Nolin. “This edge effect is one of the most productive habitats for wildlife, and periodic maintenance ensures these benefits continue over time.”

Who Benefits From Forest Management?

Some wildlife depends on young forests for their ideal habitat. According to Good Forestry in the Granite State, more than 70% of New Hampshire’s vertebrate wildlife species rely on young forest habitat at some point in their lives. State guidance recommends maintaining 5–20% of the landscape in young forest—conditions that were historically common in the Lakes Region.

Overtime, the species expected to benefit from this work include:

• Bobolink
• Chestnut warbler
• Alder flycatcher
• American woodcock
• Wild turkey
• Red fox, bobcat, snowshoe hare
• White-tailed deer and meadow vole

We will maintain these openings on a 10–15 year cycle to preserve their long-term ecological value.

What Visitors Should Expect

During active operations, some trails may be temporarily rerouted. However, licensed professionals will complete all work using best management practices for soil protection, erosion control, and invasive species prevention.

To keep visitors informed, we will post updates both on-site and online as the project moves forward.

Forest Management to Create Living Classroom for the Community

Beyond its ecological benefits, this project will serve as a living classroom. The managed areas will be incorporated into upcoming public programs, including plant identification walks and birding classes scheduled for the upcoming season.

At the same time, this work also offers a practical example for local landowners interested in managing their own property. By showing sustainable forestry practices in action, we hope to help community members better understand how thoughtful management supports wildlife, forest health, and long-term resilience.

“As forests and fields in our area have increasingly been developed, pressures on native species have grown,” says Executive Director Jude Hamel. “We expect that community members will take an interest in the changes to our fields and forests and we hope they will get involved in some of the learning opportunities this project provides. After all, a big part of Prescott Farm’s work is teaching children and adults in our community about the interconnected plant and animal species native to this area and the choices we can all make in our lives to conserve the natural environment that sustains us all.”

Learn More

We invite visitors to explore the land, ask questions, and join us for upcoming programs that will highlight this work in action. Forest management can look dramatic in the short term, but its benefits—to wildlife, ecosystems, and future generations—are long-lasting.

The post Forest Management Work Beginning This Winter at Prescott Farm appeared first on Prescott Farm.

Just as planting seeds for the start of the gardening season leads to daydreaming about recipes to use with the harvest, the start of maple season makes one’s mouth water thinking about all the ways to sweeten dishes with maple syrup. Maple syrup shines on pancakes and waffles, but it has so many more uses: salad dressings, glaze for roasted veggies, sweetener for one’s morning coffee, or various maple baked goods to name a few.

A favorite and go-to recipe when we need a simple, refreshing drink at Prescott Farm is maple lemonade. Not only is it more delicious than regular lemonade, it is much easier to make. Your guests will think otherwise, so it is up to you if you want to divulge that your special drink was actually a time saver. With normal lemonade, you need to make a syrup that involves dissolving the sugar in water. It then needs to cool before enjoying. Because maple syrup is already a syrup, you can skip the heating step and simply mix it with water and lemon juice. During maple season, I like to replace the water in the recipe with maple sap. While it likely does not add much in the way of flavor compared to the more concentrated maple syrup, it does add one more homemade element. This is especially exciting for any kids involved so they can get a little quicker gratification from the sap they have collected before the long process of boiling it down.

Our recipe for maple lemonade includes a simple version for a quick drink as well as some variations to add additional flavor from your garden or pantry. This recipe can also be easily scaled for larger or smaller batches.

Maple Lemonade Recipe
Yields: 1 to 1¼ quarts
Time: 10 minutes (24+ hours if adding additional flavors)

Ingredients:
½ cup maple syrup
½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 3-4 lemons)
3-4 cups cold water or fresh maple sap
Optional: Dried lavender flowers, fresh mint, ginger, or basil

Directions:
Squeeze lemons into a large or pitcher.
Add maple syrup and 3 cups of water or sap to the pitcher.Mix until all ingredients are combined.
Taste the lemonade and add up to 1 cup more of water depending on desired sweetness level.
If not adding any optional ingredients, refrigerate or add ice to further chill. The lemonade is ready to serve immediately.
If adding optional ingredients, add at the end and allow the lemonade to sit in the refrigerator for as little as 4 hours or up to 24 hours for maximum flavor.

Variations and Tips:
Experiment with different grades of maple syrup. Amber will give your lemonade a robust maple flavor while balancing out any other flavors you add. Dark and Very Dark will provide a strong, maple-forward flavor. We find that Golden is too delicate of a flavor for this recipe.
If you have any staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) nearby that still has its red seed clusters on it, you can replace some or all of the lemon juice with sumac’s tart flavor. Simply cut off the flower clusters and rinse off any unwanted debris. Soak the sumac seeds in water or maple sap for a few hours to a few days. Strain out the flowers before adding the rest of the ingredients.

Prescott Farm runs maple programs from mid-February through the month of March. Click here to learn more about our upcoming Tap into Maple programs.

The post Maple: A Tasty Way to Learn About Nature appeared first on Prescott Farm.

In ancient times there are stories of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World described as a remarkable feat of engineering with an ascending series of tiered gardens containing a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and vines, resembling a large green mountain constructed of mud bricks. These were called the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

While The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are said lost to time there are some gardens that are equally brilliant and full of diversity, where anyone can visit and spend hours of time among the pollinators and flowers, Prescott Farm. There are many gardens at Prescott Farm but the main three are The Heritage Garden(vegetable and herbs), The Perennial Garden, and The Learning Garden(currently being rebuilt). The best part of the gardens, they are free to visit! Dawn till dusk .

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Prescott Farm is full of developments and there couldn’t be more excitement. Spring has finally decided to show itself and many fresh changes come with warmer weather. One of those endeavors has come to completion with the hiring of Asia Scudders, Prescott Farms’ new Communications and Events Director.

Asia Scudder brings over a decade of expertise in marketing alongside a strong background and passion for the natural world, adding to the mission of Prescott Farm in promoting environmental awareness and conservation in the Lakes Region and beyond.
Throughout her career, Scudder has cultivated a clear understanding of effective marketing strategies and community engagement, providing her with the skills to create meaningful connections within the community and curate events that inspire and educate individuals of all ages. Scudder has always found solace and inspiration in the natural world, from hiking through rugged mountain trails to cycling along serene pathways. Joining the team at Prescott Farm gives her a chance to make a tangible difference in the world around us and foster a positive future for our community. Scudder looks forward to collaborating with fellow nature enthusiasts, educators, and community members at Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center.

Prescott Farm has also fulfilled its empty Volunteer Coordinator role with Brett Rouleau, current Administrative and Marketing Assistant, taking over the position. He looks forward to bolstering Prescott Farms’ already strong volunteer base and opening many new opportunities for the community to engage with Prescott Farm.

The post New Seasons, New Landscapes, and New Faces at Prescott Farm appeared first on Prescott Farm.

Of course there are still plenty of residents and visitors who don’t know about us – and we’re working on fixing that! In recent months, we’ve been able to expand our connections in the community through participation in local events. Did you visit our table during the NH Pumpkin Festival? Have you taken a stroll through Celebrate Laconia‘s Tree Walk to gaze at the beautiful and fun pollinator-themed tree? Did you hear us on Lakes 101.5 FM or see us on Lakes Region Public Access talking about the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction? 

We love being part of this community and we are always looking for opportunities to participate in events like these. Got a community event that could use a little Prescott Farm magic? Let us know! We’d love to be part of it!

The post Prescott Farm engaging you at the Community Level appeared first on Prescott Farm.

Did you know that in 2023, 18 gardeners volunteered more than 400 hours of their time to help make Prescott Farm beautiful and bountiful? It is a testament to each individual’s dedication and the sum is certainly greater than its parts when we realize the impact of this commitment. Mary Doyle, Environmental Educator and staff liaison to the gardening volunteers, shared a sample of the produce that was grown and how it was used in our educational programs:

• Abenaki Vermont Cranberry beans, Abenaki Calais Flint Corn, & Algonquin Squash for use in Naturalist in the Classroom (NIC) lessons about Native crops and foods at Inter-Lakes Elementary School and Gilford Elementary School
• Raven Zucchini and Abenaki Patty Pan Squash harvested and eaten as sauteed squash by WildQuest summer campers
• Green Storage #4Cabbage and Ruby Perfection Cabbage used in Community Connections Program fermentation class to make sauerkraut
• Pickling Cucumbers used in Community Connections Program fermentation class to make lacto-fermented pickles
• Cucamelons grown for WildQuest Camp, Harvest Festival, and other tours for people to snack on while in the garden
• Lacinto black magic kale, Winterbor kale, and Red Russian kale used to make kale chips for Harvest Festival by volunteer Carol Newton
• Algonquin Early Season Potato, Magic Molly Fingerling Purple Potatoes, Oregano, and Rosemary harvested and eaten by WildQuest campers as baked, herb fries
• Basil, Garlic, Carrots, Raven Zucchini, San Marzano II Tomatoes, grown, cooked, and served at Harvest Festival by volunteer Jim Mull
• Apples and Pears grown, sauteed, and served at Harvest Festival by volunteer Sue Decarolis, applesauce made by Fledglings Preschoolers, during in Tadpoles, and Polliwogs
• Algonquin Early Season Potato, Magic Molly Fingerling Purple Potatoes, Chives, Green Onions, & Parsley grown and used to make French style potato salad for Harvest Festival
• San Marzano II Tomatoes grown and canned in Community Connections Program canning class
• Pears grown, cooked down to pear butter, and canned in Community Connections Program canning class

The post Gardeners make our programming possible appeared first on Prescott Farm.

This year’s annual festival has guests’ favorite activities from past years – plus some brand *new activities and performances. See the list below for a preview!

*New activities are noted with an asterisk.

As always, admission is FREE! Stop in for a few minutes or spend the whole day, 10 am – 3 pm.

The post Harvest Festival Returns Saturday, September 16 appeared first on Prescott Farm.

One such Business Partner is Lakes Region Airport Shuttle Service/Lakes Region Student Transport. We asked business owners Don St. Gelais and Sandra Dame-St. Gelais why they decided to support Prescott Farm.

Prescott Farm: How long has your business been in operation?

LRAS/LRST: Lakes Region Student Transport (LRST LLC) has been in business for 22 years and Lakes Region Airport Shuttle Service (LRASS LLC) has been in business for 21 years.

Prescott Farm: What services do your businesses provide?  

LRAS/LRST: Lakes Region Student Transport provides contracted transportation for the public schools in the Lakes Region, while Lakes Region Airport Shuttle Service Providing transportation to and from all major airports; train stations and Black Falcon Pier for the cruise lines.

Prescott Farm: What made you decide to support Prescott Farm as a business sponsor?

LRAS/LRST: We are always striving to give back and to support the youths in our community through non-profit donations. We feel very strongly about helping the less fortunate and supporting organizations that have a similar mission statement.

Prescott Farm: If you can only choose one, would you rather go for a hike in the mountains or spend the day on the lake – and why?

Don: I would have to choose spending time on a lake as I was fortunate to be able to enjoy Lake Opechee growing up. The serenity of being on the lake at the crack of dawn fishing or just relaxing on a float raft. This brings back great memories as a child and young adult.

Take the stress and chaos out of your next trip by hiring Lakes Region Airport Shuttle Service to get you to the start of your next destination. Based in Tilton, NH, LRASS specializes in providing safe, reliable transportation at affordable rates using well-maintained vehicles operated by professional and courteous drivers. Click here to begin your journey.

The post Meet Donald St. Gelais and Sandra Dame-St. Gelais: 2023 Business Partners appeared first on Prescott Farm.

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