At this year's Land Trust Oyster Roast, the sun felt as if it lingered in the sky a little longer than in previous years, helping the 1,300-plus attendees receive maybe a half degree of extra warmth on a very cold evening. When the sun did glide down into the Frederica River, the night skies above Gascoigne Bluff were extraordinary.

Two days later, bright and early on Monday morning, we were working to harness a bit more help from the sun with the installation of solar panels on the roof of our offices. The idea of utilizing solar energy first came from a long time and generous donor, Phil, who had assisted another nonprofit in getting solar panels for their buildings. He later added panels at his east-facing, marsh-front home. For nearly two years after Phil brought up the subject, we did our due diligence, conducting research on the longevity of rooftop panels, how they stand up under full-force winds of hurricanes and other storms, their impact on the life of the existing roof, making certain that no trees would need to be removed or branches trimmed. Finally, equipped with enough solid data and generous support from Phil and others, we moved ahead with "going solar."

Phil and his wife Leslie didn't just make a suggestion -- they put their money where their mouths were. By doing so, it has helped the Land Trust to "walk the walk" on sustainability, ecofriendly solutions, and modeling what we and other Land Trusts and conservation groups do to protect and preserve the greatest assets of our communities.

This first month of a new year feels like a new start -- a clean slate -- a chance to review and evaluate past work and to plan as wisely as possible for the future. Our projects list for 2024 is longer than most people's arms. Sometimes what we want to accomplish feels close to overwhelming. But most days it fills us with purpose and gratitude and the greatest sense of community. Thank you, Phil and Leslie and more than a thousand others who support and encourage and partner with us everyday and who are helping to ensure a bright future for this sun-filled island.

Emily Ellison

Executive Director

-- Oyster Roast Attendee

The Land Trust's 2024 Oyster Roast is one we won't soon forget. While it was cold, we have heard from many of you that the Sea Island Forge fires, the delicious coastal cuisine, the live music, and the special time with old friends and new kept you warm.

The event was a WINNING night for all involved, especially the winner of the first-annual Oyster Roast Coastal Cuisine Contest - Jekyll Island Club Resort - who served a phenomenal Seafood Low Country Chowder.

--Kevin Baker, Area Director of Sales and Marketing,

Jekyll Island Club Resort

Thank you to ALL the restaurants and service providers who partnered with us this year, most of whom have been supporting the Land Trust for years. And thank you to the attendees for joining us! Your continued support of land preservation on St. Simons is truly humbling. When a community comes together like this one does, everybody wins!

We are excited to announce the addition of 30+ solar panels that have been installed on the Land Trust's roof this month. "Going solar" provides several benefits including lowering our carbon footprint by reducing our reliance on grid power and fossil fuels, and significantly decreasing our monthly power bill. Thank you to Phil and Linda for their generous support of this project. Thank you also to Live Oak Energy Systems for the seamless installation!

-- Rackley Davis, Live Oak Energy Systems

The Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took place at Cannon's Point Preserve this month. This annual census takes place on a single day within an established 15-mile diameter circle including Little St. Simons Island, the Altamaha River Delta, and Cannon’s Point Preserve. Volunteers coordinated by our partners at Little St. Simons Island follow designated routes spending hours counting individual birds that are seen or heard throughout the count. At the Preserve, more than 50 difference bird species were recorded totaling 268 species.

Thank you to all who participated in the Cannon's Point Preserve count including the Land Trust's Stewardship Director Stephanie Knox, Land Steward Technician Rebecca Cushing, Board Member Bob Sattelmeyer (Coastal Georgia Audubon), Education Task Force Member Gene Keferl (Coastal Georgia Audubon), Volunteer Tom Hodge, and Birds Georgia staff member Sarah Tolve.

To learn more about the Christmas Bird Count, click HERE.

Thank you to Land Trust Volunteers Tom, Misty, and Scott who joined Land Steward Technician Rebecca Cushing at the Preserve this month to plant the remaining live oak seedlings from the Golden Isles Career Academy (GICCA) Future Farmers of America (FFA) greenhouse.

Together, they planted 35 seedlings and installed stakes and plastic shelters to deter herbivory by deer onsite.

Beginning Monday, February 5, the John Gilbert Nature Trail will be CLOSED as the highly anticipated boardwalk reconstruction gets under way.

As a reminder, this trail and the surrounding land is one of the most visited and beloved sites owned and stewarded by the Land Trust. The 40-acre marsh-front property was donated to SSLT in 2002 by Mrs. Dorothy Gilbert in honor of her late husband John. Over the past twenty-some years, the boardwalks, bridges, other structures on the trail have been negatively impacted by storms making them no longer safe for visitors.

If you haven't walked this trail, we hope you'll put it top of your to-do list once the property has reopened. In the meantime, expect boardwalk reconstruction to take six weeks or more. Once completed, we will relandscape the front section of this greenspace with native plants and permeable services. You'll be able to find updates on the progress of this major renovation via social media and our website (sslt.org).

Additionally, if you would like to help fund this initiative, please contact Emily Ellison at emellison@sslt.org or call 912-638-9109. Thank you! And thank you, Mrs. Gilbert!

Our Stewardship team spent a lot of time out on Land Trust properties this month and came across some of south Georgia's best! From blooming camellias at the Mildred Huie Property to bottlenose dolphin foraging in Musgrove Creek to a cluster of false turkey-tail at the Oatland Property. Visiting protected properties never disappoints!

If you find interesting plants or wildlife while visiting Land Trust properties, please share your photos with us! Photos can be emailed to Raleigh Kitchen at rkitchen@sslt.org.

What better way to start the new year than with a brand new 30-gallon fire kettle, spark screen and twisted poker from our friends at Sea Island Forge?

To be included in a drawing to receive this hand-crafted gift (valued at more than $4,000), simply renew, increase, or make your new Live Oak Society membership at the $1,000 level or higher by midnight on Friday, February 16.

Thank you to our partners at Sea Island Forge for their tremendous support, and for offering the chance to win this exciting gift to our members! And thank you to all our members for your dedication to land conservation and preservation on St. Simons.

If you have yet to purchase a 2024 Land Trust calendar, be sure to snag one before they're gone! These 12-month calendars are full of stunning images taken on Land Trust properties and contain important save-the-dates throughout the year. Every month is a reminder of why it's so special to live, visit, and work on St. Simons Island.

Discounted calendars may be purchased by clicking below or by visiting the Land Trust's office at 1810 Frederica Road.

and the Land Trust's dedicated Pennies for Preservation partners.

Pennies for Preservation businesses raise funds to preserve and protect St. Simons Island.

1) Collecting a voluntary 1% or specific dollar amount donation from

their customers' receipts/invoices.

2) Donating 1% of their companies' proceeds or services.

February 11: Superb Owl Sunday Bird Walk with Coastal Georgia Audubon. 6:15pm. Meet at Guale Preserve main entrance at Middle Road.

February 13: Land Trust Ambassador Cocktails for Conservation. ECHO. 5-6:30pm.

February 17: Coastal WildScapes Annual Symposium - Coastal Native Plants and Their Uses. 9am-3pm. Richmond Hill.

February 17: Fort Frederica National Monument African American History Festival. 10am-3pm.

February 17: The Bridge Run by Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation

February 18: Keep Golden Isles Beautiful Community Jubilee. 5-8pm. The Tree Barn at Bennie's Red Barn.

March 9: Land Trust Property Walk with Bike Walk Golden Isles. 8:30-10am. More info to come!

March 22: Movie Night Under the Oaks. 7:00-9:30pm. SSLT Office Backyard.