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Community Corner

Green Gift Ideas from The Trusetes of Reservations

Consider Giving Someone a Gift from their Favorite "Green" Nonprofit...

Green” or “low carb”gift giving continues to be an increasingly popular trend among people looking for meaningful, non-material or socially responsible gifts that can have a high impact and also give back. As you think about gift ideas for family and friends this season, including those who don’t really “need” anything, The Trustees of Reservations, which has been protecting and sharing Massachusetts’ irreplaceable landscapes and landmarks since 1891, offers a few green gift ideas.

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A Gift Membership to The Trustees:A gift membership not only shares the giver’s passion for culture and the great outdoors, but it also helps organizations like The Trustees continue to protect important natural landscapes and cultural landmarks that help define the character of our communities and enhance our lives.

Whether it is through a hike on a crisp day up one of The Trustees’ gorgeous trails, a Nordic ski adventure through scenic woodlands, a day spent volunteering, or an evening out at a lecture or art show, a gift membership can keep on giving throughout the year by encouraging members to spend quality time together while also supporting the important conservation and preservation work of The Trustees in Massachusetts. Starting as low as $47 for individual members ($37 for students and seniors, $67 for families), a gift membership includes benefits such as:

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  • Free/reduced admission to 111 Trustees properties (including popular destinations like Appleton Farms, the Crane Estate, and Crane Beach in Ipswich, Ravenswood Park and the Cape Ann Discovery Center in Gloucester, World’s End in Hingham, the Old Manse in Concord, and many more around the state);
  • Discounted fees for the hundreds of year-round events, programs, lectures and workshop for all ages;
  • Discounts on stays at Trustees’ bed & breakfasts and campgrounds: The Inn at Castle Hill in Ipswich and the Guest House at Field Farm in Williamstown; Dunes Edge campground in Provincetown and Tully Lake Campground in Royalston;
  • The Trustees Property Guide, a 224-page guidebook to the organization’s 111 reservations – available exclusively to members;
  • A year’s subscription to our award-winning, quarterly member magazine, Special Places, which will keep you in- the-know and up-to-date on important conservation, nature, history, cultural news and events;
  • In addition, if you purchase a gift membership for $125 or above, your gift recipient will also receive a special limited edition Trustees gift: a pair of To Go Wear Bamboo utensils perfect for picnics and/or sustainable dining.

Membership to The Trustees is tax deductible. For more details and to ensure holiday delivery, please order gift memberships by December 14 at: 978.921.1944 online at www.thetrustees.org.

A Night of R&R at the Inn at Castle Hill on The Crane Estate, Ipswich: Nestled in the heart of the spectacular 2,100-acre preserve surrounded by pristine dunes, tidal estuaries and an award-winning beach, the Inn at Castle Hill is an unforgettable destination for peace and renewal. Elegant rooms with breathtaking views, a warm and generous staff, and a hearty breakfast await you. A Gift Certificate is the perfect way to treat a loved one to an escape from a hectic world. Call the Inn at 978.922.2555 to make arrangements for a certificate to be prepared in any amount to be used towards a stay at the Inn. For more information about The Inn at Castle Hill visit: www.thetrustees.org/innatcastlehill.

An Appleton Farms Holiday Cheese Sampler: New this holiday season, The Trustees of Reservations announce Appleton Farms in Ipswich now has a Holiday Cheese Sampler for sale featuring four of Appleton Farms’ handcrafted artisan cheeses. The Holiday Cheese Sampler includes half-pound wedges of The Colonel (an asiago-style cheese), Sunset Hill Triple Cream (a brie-style cheese), Pinnacle (a tomme-style cheese) and Blazing Blue (a blue cheese). Hand-packaged with care, presented in rustic boxes crowned with a signature Appleton label, and tied with a lovely ribbon, the Holiday Cheese Sampler makes a perfect holiday present. Have one on hand as a hostess gift or for impromptu festivities at your own house. The cost for the Holiday Cheese Sampler is $50.

To learn more about Appleton Farms’ Holiday Cheese Sampler and to order yours today, visit online: www.thetrustees.org/saycheese or stop by or call the Dairy Store: 978.356.3825, located at 219 County Road, Ipswich (open Monday–Friday, 11AM–6PM, Saturday & Sunday, 10AM–4PM).

The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) “hold in trust” and care for properties, or “reservations,” of scenic, cultural, and natural significance for the general public to enjoy. Founded by open space visionary Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees are the nation’s oldest, statewide land trust and one of Massachusetts’ largest conservation organizations. Supported by more than 100,000 members and donors and thousands of volunteers, The Trustees own and manage 111 spectacular reservations -- including working farms with Community Supported Agriculture programs, historic homesteads and gardens, community parks, barrier beaches and mountain vistas -- located on more than 26,000 acres throughout the Commonwealth. In addition, The Trustees work closely with permanent affiliates including Boston Natural Areas Network and the Hilltown Land Trust as well as hundreds of community partners to preserve and protect special places for current and future generations. Accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, The Trustees are an established leader in the conservation and preservation movement and model for other land trusts nationally and internationally. The organization offers hundreds of outreach programs, workshops, and events annually, designed to engage diverse audiences of all ages in its mission. To find out more and/or to become a member, donor or volunteer, please contact www.thetrustees.org.

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