News & Updates
Emilee’s Send Off
Is there any month that changes our Midwest landscapes as dramatically as May? When I look at photos I took just four weeks ago, the trees were still bare and the understory plants were just tiny sprouts. Today, leaves are rustling in the wind, the grass is knee-high, flowers bloom everywhere, and the whole world is green and lush. It feels...
Build Deeper Connections with Nature this Earth Month
Shinrin-yoku, the practice translated as Forest Bathing, is an activity that invites us to slow down and really connect with nature, the experience that connects us all. It became popular in Japan in the 1980’s during the technology boom. With people working in buildings and cities, the Japanese noticed that people were not healthy and becoming...
Energized and Rejuvinated: Ellyn Satter
Ellyn Satter was DALC’s first-ever Legacy Society member, kicking off a special group of supporters who include DALC in their will or estate plans. We are deeply honored by every individual who chooses to entrust DALC with their legacy. Your trust is not just a responsibility but a privilege we cherish wholeheartedly. Every story, every dream,...
Driftless Area Land Conservancy: A 25-Year Story
Once upon a time, in the picturesque Driftless Area, a vision was born—a vision to protect and preserve the unique landscapes and ecosystems of this treasured region. It all began in the year 2000, when a group of dedicated individuals gathered at Jordahl Farm in Richland County. Their discussions planted the seeds for what would become the...
In the Business of Forever
“How are you doing… with all this… you know… everything, government, stuff like that?” This is a question I get a lot these days - my friends and colleagues are checking in with me, and with DALC. Since he took office just two months ago, President Trump has issued an unprecedented number of executive orders and administrative actions that touch...
The First 15
I have always been drawn to the first 15 minutes of a movie. That is when everything starts to unfold — you meet the characters, get a glimpse of the world they’re in, and start to feel the excitement of what’s to come. There is a sense of possibility, surprise, and discovery in those moments. Starting a new job is a lot like that opening scene...
How We Consider Conservation Opportunities.
January is a month for introspection and planning. If you are a gardener like me, you spend the depths of winter perusing seed catalogs dreaming of the smell of green and growing things to come. At the Driftless Area Land Conservancy, we also spend time in January planning our work in the year to come. Including the recently announced...
Possibility
In early August, 2024 we welcomed a brand-new Nature Preserve: Dragon Woods! This beautiful oak woodland in New Glarus is a cooperative project of DALC and the BadgerLand Foundation, which jointly co-manage the nearby Wild Oaks Preserve. We are grateful to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and Dane County’s Conservation Fund Grant Program...