A Sand County Blog

Explore the latest in conservation thinking and practical land stewardship with special insights, stories, and reflections.

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2024 Fellows: Reflections at the Midway Point

For the past six months, my cohort and I have had some unbelievable experiences! Prescribed burns, crane tours, and so much more. In this blog, I am reflecting on my appreciation for my coworkers, the Aldo Leopold Foundation, and the many supporters and friends who have made the first six months of our fellowship so special. I cannot wait to see what the next six months bring!

Transcribed Shack Journals Now Live!

Ever wonder what the Leopold family was up to on this day at the Shack, or what Leopold wrote when lightning struck the Good Oak? Now you can find out by exploring the original Shack Journals in an easy-to-access digital format!

Chainsaw-in-Hand

The essay "Axe-in-Hand" from A Sand County Almanac is perhaps the closest thing the stewardship team has to a guidebook on land management. But deciding which trees to fell―and why―doesn't get any easier just because our tools are faster.

Live out Your Land Ethic with My Wisconsin Woods

In partnership with The Aldo Leopold Foundation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, American Forest Foundation, and the U.S. Forest Service, My Wisconsin Woods is a program designed to assist property owners in their land management, connect landowners, and allow for everyone to build their own land ethic.

Jack's Summer of Monitoring

Wildlife monitoring fellow Jack Lindaas spent his summer in the fields and prairies, gathering data. His surveys will help establish baselines for future prairie restoration projects.

Excerpt from Seventh Generation Earth Ethics

A vignette on Joe Rose of the Bad River Ojibwe and his connection with the land - from the book Seventh Generation Earth Ethics by Patty Loew.

A Voice for Conservation: Metalcore Meets Leopold

Shane Murphy, young conservationist and drummer for metalcore band Vacant Voice, unites his two passions in a new song inspired by Aldo Leopold.

The Restorative Power of Ecosystem Disturbance

Land Stewardship Fellow Cate reflects on the destructive side of conservation work, and why disturbance is critical for ecosystems to thrive.

Benefits of Prescribed Burns

How is fire used as a stewardship tool? And what are the benefits for our land restoration work?

Of Meadowlarks & Men

The author describes a brief tour of his grassland buffalo ranch in South Dakota.

What Will You Give the Next Generation?

The Aldo Leopold Foundation provides many opportunities to leave a lasting mark on conservation and join your legacy with the Leopold family's ongoing good.

Aldo Leopold and Environmental Citizenship

What does it mean to be part of a community? How do ideas of citizenship - of reciprocal rights and obligations - apply in the context of conservation? Revisit Susan Flader's 1999 essay on Leopold's notion of civic environmentalism.

Bumble Bees and VIPs

What's all this buzz about bumble bees? Learn how and why we're working to protect the native bees of the Leopold-Pines Conservation Area in this feature from Land Stewardship Fellow Cate Nelson.

Sketches for the Season

Revel in the beauty of summer birds, bugs, and plants with the winning entries from our phenology-themed Summer Art Contest.

Dancing with Dickcissels

Ecological restoration is a key pillar of our work at the Aldo Leopold Foundation. Wildlife Monitoring Fellow Jack has been helping to restore and maintain beneficial habitats for many species all over the Leopold-Pines Conservation Area this summer and is here to share a story of a special experience with a winged friend.

Lightning's Return: Another Good Oak Meets Its End

Lightning struck and killed an oak tree just fifty feet from the Shack's front door. Much like the immortalized Good Oak, this tree has a story all its own.

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