SELT: Reading Rural Landscapes


On March 25, I attended a presentation at Burley Farm hosted by the Southeast Land Trust, focusing on Reading Rural Landscapes of Northern New England. Rob Sanford, a Professor Emeritus from the University of Southern Maine, referenced influential works such as "Reading the Landscape of America" by May Theilgaard Watts and "Reading the Forested Landscape" by Tom Wessels. He discussed how features like stone walls, trees, and shrubs provide insights into historical land use and past human activities. 




Following the presentation, we visited the stone wall adjacent to the Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature. The stones had been recently repurposed to create the courtyard, illustrating how landscape features can be reinterpreted and reused.


The group was then encouraged to explore the property and interpret the land's stories. Rob frequently mentioned the ice pond, which I intended to check out but forgot. My job requires that I be a morning person and my brain often gets foggy in the evening. Sounds like a perfect reason to bring Mattie for a return visit.









Did you find your way here after a hike where Kate was the volunteer photographer? Perhaps you've enjoyed her images or seen her byline on one of many environmental websites. Kate is a naturalist and largely self-taught photographer with a passion for capturing the beauty and urgency of the natural world. Having photographed hundreds of environmental events for nonprofit organizations—entirely self-funded—she is now asking for your help to upgrade her equipment. Your support will allow her to continue providing high-quality, impactful images that support conservation efforts. Ways you can help:

Share this campaign with friends, family, and nature lovers at GoFundMe. https://gofund.me/4cff87b7e

Follow Kate on social media to see the journey unfold at https://hodgepodgeimages.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-hodgepodge-images-project.html

Connect Kate with organizations that might benefit from my photography. You can check out the HodgePodgeImage Portfolio website at https://HodgePodgeImages.com

Thanks!


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