Photo courtesy of Triple L Farms. | | |
Dear Friend of MCF,
This season marks an important transition for Monmouth Conservation Foundation. After 14 years of leadership, Bill Kastning has left the organization and stepped into his next chapter out of state. We are grateful for Bill’s wisdom and oversight and are committed to carrying MCF’s mission forward.
We are honored to step up as Acting Co-Executive Directors in the interim while we maintain our roles directing MCF’s fundraising and communications activities and land preservation and stewardship efforts, respectively. Bill helped build an amazing team here at MCF, and we are all passionate about our work for our community and inspired by your involvement and support.
We look forward to an exciting year ahead as we continue working together to #KeepMonmouthGreen.
Sincerely,
| | |
Karen Keene and Jena Cosimo
Acting Co-Executive Directors
| | MCF ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP CHANGE | | |
Monmouth Conservation Foundation announces that after 14 years, Executive Director William D. Kastning left the organization on January 30, 2026, as part of a long-planned move out of state. We wish Bill well as he pursues other opportunities near his new home.
“It has been a privilege to lead the organization during a period of growth and evolution,” Kastning said. “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in advancing MCF’s mission and strengthening the organization for the future, and I’m confident in the foundation in place for the next chapter of leadership.”
The MCF Board of Trustees has retained DSG | Koya, an executive recruiting firm that specializes in mission-driven search, to conduct the search for MCF’s next leader.
Click here full details.
Photo by Tina Colella Photography.
| | Photo courtesy of Industry Magazine. | | |
“The Board of Trustees is thankful for Bill’s leadership during a meaningful period for the organization,” said MCF President Matthew Cohen. “We appreciate his service and look ahead with confidence as the organization enters its next phase.”
During his tenure at MCF, Kastning hired and mentored an outstanding staff and guided the organization through major milestones. Under Kastning’s leadership, MCF worked alongside federal, state, county, local community, and landowner partners to support the creation and revitalization of multiple community parks and preserve open space, farmland, and critical wildlife habitats. The organization engaged in local advocacy efforts for the statewide Keep it Green Campaign, expanding recreational access and funding for open space, farmland, and historic preservation throughout the state. Additionally, funds were raised for the acquisition, restoration, and stewardship of the historic 90-acre Scudder Preserve, the organization’s first permanent land holding featuring conservation education and community outreach as a strategic anchor to be incorporated into MCF’s next chapter.
| | MCF Preservation Pipeline | | | | MCF’s core focus remains permanently preserving open space and farmland, working in concert with private landowners and government partners. Each preservation project takes intensive negotiation, analysis, and, of course, process – which, many times, can mean months, years, or even decades to come to fruition. The wheels are always turning as we converse across partners, assess conservation values, obtain surveys, or secure funding, but things may seem quiet outwardly as we await our final conservation outcome and the delightful announcement of another farm or green space preserved. Currently, MCF has 13 properties in our preservation pipeline, each at various stages in the process and its own set of circumstances. | | At the same time, we continue our efforts on land stewardship – managing and caring for already protected lands. | | Winter on the Farm:
A Season of Care and Preparation | | |
Winter may look quiet across Monmouth County’s farms, but it is one of the most important seasons of the year for local farmers. From winter markets to behind-the-scenes preparation, stewardship of the land continues even in the coldest months. While fields rest, farmers stay busy repairing equipment, planning crops, caring for livestock, and tending to the land through practices that protect soil health and ensure robust future harvests. Winter offers farmers a time to regroup and plan for the year ahead, while reaffirming their deep, year-round commitment to the land and local food system. MCF is proud to work together with Monmouth County farmers to preserve farmland and keep our agricultural heritage thriving in every season.
Click to read the full story
| | Getting to the Root of New Jersey’s Invasive Species Problem | | English ivy is a common invasive plant in New Jersey. Photo by Jena Cosimo. | | |
In January, then-Governor Phil Murphy signed the Invasive Species Management Act into law, marking a significant step forward for the protection of New Jersey’s natural landscapes. As invasive plants continue to threaten forests, waterways, wildlife habitat, and agricultural productivity across the state (while also driving up economic and environmental costs) this legislation strengthens New Jersey’s ability to respond.
The new law restricts the sale of certain invasive plants, like English ivy and wisteria, and restores the New Jersey Invasive Species Council to guide science-based policy within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It also directs the DEP to develop an online resource hub to help the public identify invasive species, manage them effectively, and choose native alternatives.
| | NJ Expands Farmland Preservation to Protect Private Woodlands | Woodland area on recently preserved Spinella Farm in Colts Neck. Photo by Harriet Honigfeld. | | New Jersey has taken a major step forward in land conservation with the signing of Bill S699, legislation that expands the State Agriculture Development Committee’s (SADC) farmland preservation efforts to include actively managed woodlands. Under this new law, landowners with at least 20 acres managed through a forest stewardship plan will be eligible to sell development rights and place permanent conservation easements or restrictions on their land, protecting it from future development. Until now, the program largely excluded properties that were not at least 50 percent tillable, despite the state already recognizing managed forests as an agricultural product through farmland tax assessments. | | A chestnut grove on Spinella Farm in Colts Neck. Photo by Harriet Honigfeld. | | This shift formally acknowledges the critical role private woodlands play within New Jersey’s agricultural landscape and opens the door to preservation funding for forested lands that were previously ineligible. Ultimately, the legislation strengthens protections for New Jersey’s private woodlands while supporting landowners who steward forests for long-term environmental and agricultural value and broadens MCF’s abilities to preserve eligible lands with the support of our partners and private funding. | | THANK YOU to everyone who generously donated to our year-end fundraising drive! Your gifts were doubled during our drive, thanks to a loyal anonymous donor and tripled on Giving Tuesday, thanks to an additional matching gift from another donor. We are INCREDIBLY grateful to each of you for your gifts of every level, which pooled together drive our work to #KeepMonmouthGreen as illustrated in our 2025 Year in Review. The MCF Board of Trustees and staff appreciate you being the foundation of our work. | | MCF Awarded Four-Star Charity Navigator Rating | | |
MCF is proud to announce that its strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned the nonprofit a Four-Star Charity Navigator Rating in 2026. This rating designates MCF as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that our organization is using its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria. Charity Navigator is America’s largest and most-utilized independent charity evaluator. Since 2001, it has been an unbiased and trusted source of information for more than 11 million donors, who are aiming to be fully informed in identifying the top charities and very best nonprofits for their personal, philanthropic goals.
“Our work is driven by our supporters, and we take great care in managing their generous donations. We are honored to receive this rating and hope it instills confidence in our work for current and new donors,” said Karen Keene, MCF Acting Co-Executive Director and Director of Development & Communications.
Click to read more
| | Protect What You Love as a Land Steward | | |
Small, consistent gifts make a big difference. By joining MCF’s Land Stewards program, your monthly donation, no matter the size, provides critical funding that allows us to protect open space, teach environmental sustainability, and preserve the natural places we all love. Your recurring support ensures this work continues today, tomorrow, and forever.
When you give monthly, you become part of MCF's inner circle of dedicated supporters. Land Stewards receive exclusive updates, special recognition, and an anniversary gift, but most importantly, your recurring donation gives MCF the dependable resources community-based organizations like ours rely on to do meaningful, long-term conservation work across Monmouth County. Become a Land Steward today!
| | EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH NEWS | | MCF’s Conservation Wagon Brings Environmental Education to You! | | |
Warmer weather is coming, and with it will be opportunities to take learning outside. Book MCF’s Conservation Wagon for your class or outdoor event! The Conservation Wagon is a mobile education unit ready to engage students and community members in hands-on activities highlighting local environmental issues and sustainability.
For booking information, contact Doug Caum, MCF’s Director of Educational Outreach, or call 732.333.7995.
| | Upcoming Events at Scudder Preserve | | | | |
From full moon walks to guided hikes and birdwatching, there is always something exciting happening at Scudder Preserve! In March, there will be opportunities to explore the preserve and engage in peaceful outdoor art. Scudder Preserve events are free for the community, but you don’t have to wait for a program to visit! See what’s coming up and register today!
MCF’s Scudder Preserve is open to the public to enjoy our trails, abundant wildlife, and beautiful scenery from dawn to dusk. Park at 85 Browns Dock Road in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. Note, the site is a work in progress undergoing habitat restoration and improvements to public access.
With questions, contact Doug Caum, MCF’s Director of Educational Outreach, or call 732.333.7995.
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Signs in the Snow: Identifying Animal Tracks at Scudder Preserve
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With snow on the ground, winter can be a great time to look for the tracks of all kinds of creatures. MCF’s Scudder Preserve provides habitat for a wide variety of animal species. Around the pond and in the upper meadows are great locations to see who’s visiting the preserve.
Birds who forage on the ground can leave tracks, such as the hopping tracks of a sparrow. Sometimes, the deep snow requires the sparrows to flutter as they hop, which leaves beautiful wing prints.
| | If you have heard rumors of coyotes, but have yet to see them, look for their tracks in the snow. Look for what resembles dog tracks unaccompanied by human tracks. Coyote prints tend to be pointier than dog prints, meaning that the middle toes stick out more. Tiny prints resembling a dog’s are probably from a fox. | | | | | Another common year-round visitor at Scudder Preserve is the white-tailed deer. Their tracks are generally heart-shaped with the narrow end pointing in the direction of travel. Also look for the pattern of their stride, or the length between tracks, which is typically 18 inches for a walking deer. Happy tracking! | | Preparing for Our Nation’s 250th Anniversary | | Logo courtesy of monmouthnj250.org | | As Monmouth County prepares to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, the MonmouthNJ 250 initiative invites residents to rediscover the people, places, and pivotal events that have shaped our region’s unique story over the past two-and-a-half centuries. Organized by the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee under the County Board of Commissioners, the program promotes community engagement with county history through events, contests, and multimedia features that highlight Monmouth’s central role in the fight for independence and its evolution since the Revolution. | | |
A standout offering is the “History with Hanlon & Arnone” video series, where hosts County Clerk Christine Hanlon and Commissioner Director Tom Arnone take viewers to iconic historic sites, from distilleries once frequented by George Washington to legendary racetracks and farms, bringing local heritage to life.
MCF’s conservation work helps ensure that many of the historic places that define who we are endure for future generations. Through strategic land preservation, advocacy, and partnerships, MCF protects properties like Historic Walnford, Old Yellow Meeting House & Cemetary, and other culturally significant landscapes that reflect Monmouth’s agricultural, industrial, and community heritage; protecting the physical touchstones of county history.
Photo courtesy of monmouthnj250.org
| | Registration is Open for the Monmouth County Farm Summit | | The Monmouth County Division of Planning, together with the Monmouth County Agriculture Development Board, invites landholders, farmers, and agricultural resource providers to this year’s Monmouth County Farm Summit on March 25, 2026. And don’t miss the Farm Summit Webinar Series, taking place on March 11, 2026. Monmouth County’s identity is linked closely to its agriculture, and MCF proudly supports opportunities for farmers. Click for registration information and more. | | Do you bank with OceanFirst? | | MCF is now part of the OceanFirst CommUNITYFirst program and gets a quarterly donation from the bank for any existing or new accounts that are linked to us as the preferred nonprofit partner. This costs nothing to you as the account holder but is an added incentive paid by OceanFirst. Click here for full details. |
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Mark your calendar for MCF’s signature events in 2026!
| | Your donations and attendance at our events support Monmouth Conservation Foundation’s mission of acquiring and preserving open space and farmland and conserving natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability. | |
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