NOVEMBER
2021
Welcome!
Two review panels, one each for Historic Resources and Natural Resources, successfully completed their all-day meetings in October. Staff has been busy in the weeks since then, summarizing the review panels observations to share with the Board. The Board met in mid-November to decide which projects will receive grant awards this year. LCHIP staff is contacting the applicants to let them know the outcome. The public announcement will be made in December. Once again, COVID is providing “an opportunity” to do things differently so stand by for another new kind of announcement event. 

Just in time for Thanksgiving, check out Lady Editor by Melanie Kirkpatrick for a fresh look at Sarah Josepha Hale, the Newport NH woman called the “Mother of Thanksgiving” for her work convincing President Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national event. Hale was a leading 19th century “influencer,” shaping emerging American thinking about literature and education for women and many other topics from her position as editor of Godey’s Ladies Book 1837 to 1857.

Wishing you a thankful heart -
Dijit Taylor
Executive Director
Protecting New Hampshire's Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources
Back on Solid Ground
Wentworth Congregational Church Stabilized
A planning study completed a few years ago sounded the alarm: The lovely historic church facing the Common in the picturesque village of Wentworth was in danger of sliding off its foundation! While settling since construction in 1829 may have contributed, the more likely source of the problem was alterations in the late nineteenth century. Critical structural beams holding the building together were cut and removed in order to reconfigure the lower assembly room. LCHIP grants in 2019 and 2020 helped resolve both structural and foundation problems. The building was jacked up, correct framing reinstalled and solid new foundation created ender the building. Now safely back at its historic elevation, resting on secure footings, and structurally reinforced, the Church graces the Wentworth Common as it has for so long.  Project photos can be found on the Wentworth Congregation Church Facebook page.
Wentworth Congregational Church
Long Live the Dairy Farm!
A Dairy Farm Conservation Success Story
The Morrill family has been farming in the Penacook/Boscawen/Concord area since 1925 in a classic “New Hampshire Family Farm” scenario. Rob and Sherri Morrill and their four adult children farm over 1000 acres of land, manage a herd of 500 cows, including 140 milkers, grow corn, hay and other grains, and produce forage sold to other local farmers. Like dairy farmers all over the state (and country) the Morrill’s are concerned about the long-term viability of the dairy industry, including their farm. A 2019 LCHIP grant is helping the Forest Society acquire a conservation easement on 124 acres of the Morrill’s high-quality agricultural land in Boscawen. The land will remain available for future agricultural use and will continue to be open to the public for low impact recreation, including fishing and hunting on the fields, wetlands and pond. To learn more about this project click here.
Signing the conservation easement during a celebratory luncheon hosted by the Morrill Family on the land are: (l to r) Boscawen Conservation Commission Chair Tom Gilmore, NRCA State Conservationist Becky Ross, owners Rob and Sherri Morrill, Forest Society President Jack Savage and LCHIP's Dijit Taylor
Photo: Jeremy J. Fowler, Public Affairs Specialist, NRCS, N.H.
Annual Monitoring Reports due
from past LCHIP Grant Recipients!
Remember! You must submit your annual monitoring reports no later than December 31, 2021 to be in compliance with your legal agreement with LCHIP and to be eligible for the annual monitoring incentive payment. Email your reports to pbellemore@lchip.org (natural resources) or kpowell@lchip.org (historic resources). You can download a report form from LCHIP's website.

Questions? Call 224-4113.
The NH Conservation License Plate (Moose Plate) Program supports the protection of critical resources in our state. You can purchase a Moose Plate at any time - even for a friend! Find out more at mooseplate.com. Income from the Moose Plate Program pays for much of LCHIP's administrative expenses. Thanks Moose Plate holders for your support!
Header photo:  Rob and Sheri Morrill at Morrill Dairy Farm