GROUNDSWELL CONSERVANCY INC

CONSERVATION, OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: FOUNDED IN 1983, GROUNDSWELL CONSERVANCY CONTINUES TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND LANDOWNERS PROTECT SPECIAL PLACES FOREVER IN SOUTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN.GROUNDSWELL PURCHASED 20 ACRES OF WETLAND IN SOUTHERN COLUMBIA COUNTY. THIS PROPERTY ADDS LAND TO THE ANDERSON WATERFOWL PRODUCTION AREA AND PROVIDES HABITAT FOR DUCKS, GEESE, AND OTHER WILDLIFE. IT'S OPEN FOR ACTIVITIES LIKE HUNTING AND FISHING. VISITORS CAN ALSO ENJOY HIKING, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, AND WILDLIFE OBSERVATION. GROUNDSWELL PLANS TO DONATE THE PROPERTY TO THE US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT. FUNDING FOR THIS PURCHASE CAME FROM THE KNOWLES-NELSON STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, THE NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT, AND OUR GENEROUS GROUNDSWELL SUPPORTERS. WE ALSO THANK DUCKS UNLIMITED FOR THEIR HELP IN SECURING THE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THIS ACQUISITION. GROUNDSWELL HOLDS AND MONITORS MORE THAN 80 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS EVERY YEAR TO ENSURE THEIR CONSERVATION VALUES ARE UPHELD.GROUNDSWELL SUPPORTERS AND THE PUBLIC ENJOYED NATURE EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING A BIRDING FOR FAMILIES OUTING WITH THE BIPOC BIRDING CLUB, A HIKE AT HAUGE HISTORIC DISTRICT PARK, A BONFIRE AND CANDLELIT HIKE AT PATRICK MARSH, A TOUR OF FOUR OAKS FARM, WATERFOWL VIEWING AT CHEROKEE MARSH, AND OUR ANNUAL BLACK HAWK RIDGE TRAIL RUN. WE ALSO HOSTED A 40TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY FOR OUR FOUNDERS PLUS CURRENT AND PAST BOARD MEMBERS, WHOSE INSPIRING LEADERSHIP MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN LOCAL LAND PROTECTION THESE PAST 40 YEARS!AT WESTPORT PRAIRIE, OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS AND WAUNAKEE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ADDED ANOTHER 6.5 ACRES OF PRAIRIE HABITAT. THE SEED HAD BEEN COLLECTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT WESTPORT PRAIRIE BY VOLUNTEERS AND OUR CONTRACTED SEED COLLECTOR, KAYLEE NELSEN. WE ALSO BOUGHT A BRAND-NEW TRACTOR AND MOWER IN THE SUMMER OF 2023 TO HELP US MANAGE OUR EVER-GROWING PRAIRIE. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE JUST OVER TWO DOZEN GROUNDSWELL SUPPORTERS WHO MADE THESE PURCHASES POSSIBLE. AT PATRICK MARSH AND WESTPORT PRAIRIE WE OFFERED MONTHLY OUTDOOR VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP RESTORE AND CARE FOR OUR LOCAL NATURAL LANDSCAPES. VOLUNTEERS CUT BRUSH, COLLECTED PRAIRIE SEEDS, PULLED INVASIVE WEEDS, BURNED BRUSH, AND MORE.OUR 2023 SUMMER ECOLOGY INTERN PROGRAM, CALLED THE PRAIRIE PARTNERS, IMPROVED WILDLIFE HABITAT AT BOTH WESTPORT PRAIRIE AND PATRICK MARSH, GAINING VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE ABOUT MANAGING NATURAL AREAS.GROUNDSWELL OWNS TWO COMMUNITY FARMS THAT PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO LAND FOR NEXT-GENERATION FARMERS: WESTPORT FARM IN WAUNAKEE AND PASLEY'S SWAN CREEK FARM IN FITCHBURG. AT WESTPORT FARM IS OUR LIFTING HEARTS THERAPY GARDEN, A PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN HEALING CENTER. HMOOB (HMONG) ELDERS FIND SOLACE GARDENING HERE. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GARDEN (RAISED BEDS) AND THE FARM ARE THANKS TO MANY GROUNDSWELL SUPPORTERS. AT PASLEY'S SWAN CREEK FARM WE INSTALLED A WELL, TO PROVIDE NON-CHLORINATED WATER, WHICH IS PREFERRED FOR FARMING. WE LEASE THE FARMLAND TO NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD SOLUTIONS, A LOCAL NONPROFIT LED BY ROBERT PIERCE.GROUNDSWELL CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HMOOB (HMONG) FARMERS TO CONNECT THEM WITH USDA PROGRAMS AND OTHER RESOURCES. THIS WORK IS POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND VETERAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS (2501) PROGRAM GRANT, FUNDED BY THE USDA OFFICE OF PARTNERSHIPS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. THE IS A 3-YEAR GRANT RUNNING THROUGH THE FALL OF 2025. THIS GRANT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UW-MADISON DIVISION OF EXTENSION AND FAIRSHARE CSA COALITION.GROUNDSWELL CONSERVANCY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1983 AND HAS PERMANENTLY PROTECTED NEARLY 14,000 ACRES OF IMPORTANT LAND AND WATER IN SOUTH-CENTRAL WI. GROUNDSWELL IS ACCREDITED BY THE LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION COMMISSION.