Mobbs Newsletter - Fall 2022
MOBBS MONTHLY
The Mobbs Farm Committee Newsletter
September / October/ November 2022
WOW! To put it mildly, the past two months featured some of the most fabulous foliage ever witnessed at Mobbs Farm! Fears of a “…meh” foliage season were put to rest when the Green Mountain State became ablaze with some of the most colorful displays ever seen. Based on this past summer’s hot temperatures and spotty rainstorms, the consensus going into September and October was that the foliage season would be unimpressive and short-lived. Neither scenario unfolded and locals were treated to an incredible, long-lasting display of beautiful orange, red, yellow, purple, brown and green. The festive fall foliage at Mobbs Farm provided the perfect backdrop for a special “Thank-you!” event, recognizing four entities that made financial contributions that paid for the establishment of the Vermont Land Trust Conservation Easement of the property, on October 8th. Although pen met paper and all the legal framework for the conservation of Mobbs was established back in May, 2022, the Oct. 8th event was held to thank those groups and individuals who contributed funds to establish the easement. Invited guests included (pictured left to right in the photo below): Bob Heiser of Vermont Land Trust, Tom Baribault, who represented the Jericho Conservation Commission, Livy Strong of the Jericho-Underhill Land Trust, and Town Clerk Jessica Alexander, who represented Jericho Town Hall. Adding to the festivities on the brisk Saturday morning was a brief, but significant, snow squall that blew through, just in time for the brunch-celebration event. Following presentations, each guest was introduced and presented with a special commemorative, framed, photograph of a vibrant, fall foliage display, complete with a rainbow arcing through the dark sky in the photograph. Following the brunch-celebration, a tour of the orchard at Mobbs Farm was held, introducing guests to this unique section of the property. Many thanks to all and special thanks to the generous donors who pitched in to conserve Mobbs Farm, in perpetuity, for future generations.
With the arrival of sub-freezing temperatures in Jericho, the entire meadow section of Mobbs Farm will be brush hogged, to keep the property open for all to enjoy. Mowing was delayed as long as possible, to allow all pollen-dependent species the opportunity to feast on the many native plants found at Mobbs Farm. Please keep an eye out for the mower as it makes its way around the meadow and as always, please keep pets under your control, especially around machinery.
Special thanks to Mobbs Farm Committee member, Terry Hook and his wife Andrea, for their diligent work repairing bridges and boardwalks around the property over the past two months. Also, a special note of recognition to committee member Christine Smith and her husband Dan for all their work with Fellowship of the Wheel, leaf blowing trails and establishing re-routed trails around the 200+ acres of Mobbs Farm!
With the record-breaking heatwave we experienced in November, complete with the all-time highest temperature ever recorded in the month of November (76 degrees Fahrenheit) it’s hard to imagine that in just a few weeks, we should be seeing winter conditions arrive in Vermont. As the snowpack develops, we will once again be grooming trails with the SNOWDOG groomer, laying down a smooth carpet of corduroy for skiers, walkers and fat bikers.
REMINDER: The annual Vermont Deer Hunting Rifle Season is upon us and as you will see posted on all parking area kiosks, Mobbs Farm will be closed to all Mountain Bike and Equestrian use from November 12-27th . As Mobbs prides itself as a true multi-use area, please be respectful of hunters and for the enhanced visibility of yourself and your pets, PLEASE WEAR BLAZE ORANGE when visiting Mobbs during this two- week period.
