{"id":359,"date":"2010-01-19T17:33:20","date_gmt":"2010-01-19T22:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pfeiffernaturecenter.org\/nature-blog\/?page_id=359"},"modified":"2011-08-11T14:15:22","modified_gmt":"2011-08-11T18:15:22","slug":"eshelman-property","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pfeiffernaturecenter.org\/nature-blog\/visitor-information-directions\/eshelman-property\/","title":{"rendered":"Eshelman Property"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Pfeiffer Nature Center received a gift of 460 acres from Col. Charles Eshelman, \u00a0a friend of Wendy Pfeiffer Lawrence, founder and original benefactor of the Nature Center.\u00a0 Col. Eshelman followed in Wendy\u2019s footsteps, donating the property in 2002, tripling the Center\u2019s initial holdings.<\/p>\n

Unlike the Nature Center\u2019s original land on Lillibridge<\/a> Road which has a strong preservationist underpinning, upon making the donation Col. Eshelman clarified his desire that an active management style be used and that the property be returned to its farming roots to the extent possible.<\/p>\n

With this as a backdrop, the Nature Center located a young family interested in renovating and moving into the original homestead and establishing a small farm.\u00a0 That family remains on the property, and provides caretaking services in exchange for its use.\u00a0 We actively manage our woodlot, rent our maple trees during sugaring season, and do our best to combat invasive species and maintain our open meadows.<\/p>\n

In 2006 the Nature Center began building trails<\/a> on this property, starting with three miles of loops, all on the east side of Yubadam Road.\u00a0 In 2007 we installed 31 trail markers, made from 100-year old staves from an old silo that was part of the early farming operation.\u00a0 This is one example of how the Nature Center incorporates our historical roots into our current activities.\u00a0 Visitors can pick up a full-color trail map<\/a> to guide them on their hikes as well as view the permanent trail map and current program listings at the kiosk.<\/p>\n

The forests, fields, streams, and ponds on this property are a combination of nature\u2019s handiwork and human influence.\u00a0 The original farmers needed the diversity of landscape for their livelihood, and the Nature Center continues to actively manage the property to retain its character for human and non-human visitors alike.\u00a0 With plenty of transitional zones (the edges of fields and forests, streams and meadows), wildlife abounds.\u00a0 These edge areas are alive with bird populations spring through fall.\u00a0 Quiet visitors are likely to encounter deer, turkey, bears, raccoons, beavers, otters, muskrats, and a wealth of reptiles, amphibians, and insects.<\/p>\n

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