The Village of Yellow Springs Public Arts & Culture Commission invites the community to join us on Saturday, April 11 at 7:00 PM at the Yellow Springs Senior Center Great Room for the next installment of its America 250 Speaker Series.

This program welcomes Jeremy Turner, Vice President of Caesar's Ford Theatre,  cultural educator and storyteller whose work calls us to look more closely at the ground beneath our feet—and to ask who has known it longest. Turner was also featured in Ohio Country on WYSO, where he contributed to conversations about place, memory, and the layered history of our region.

In this talk, Turner will speak to the enduring relationship between the Little Miami River and the Shawnee people, a relationship not confined to the past, but alive and insistent. Long before roads and property lines, the river carried life, language, and story. It shaped our movement and sustained communities. It witnessed histories that are too often forgotten, or worse, overwritten.

This event is part of Yellow Springs’ participation in America 250, a national commemoration marking 250 years of American history. Through this speaker series, the Village seeks not just to celebrate, but to add depth to the story so that it begins to resemble the truth. The program will conclude with a screening of "Stomping Freedom" a production by Kane Stratton, Caesar's Ford Theater resident playwright and project manager.

Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts is offering a cover crop training for western OH. Free t-shirt and lunch are included if you stay all day. Registration is required.

This is the fifth part of a 6-part webinar series provided by CSU Extension.Learn how involving partner organizations, businesses and community members is an important step in the farmland commons process.

Are you passionate about protecting land and leaving a legacy that lasts? Come join us for an evening of inspiration, conversation, and sweet treats at Plan Your Gift, Grow Your Impact, a FREE event hosted by Beaver Creek Wetlands Association and Tecumseh Land Trust!

Why attend?
Discover how planned giving can help you support the land you love — not just today, but for generations to come. Learn practical tips from local advisors and find out how your thoughtful planning can amplify your impact while potentially benefiting your own legacy goals.

What’s in store?
Delicious dessert and great company
Friendly experts to walk you through giving options
Ideas for how your gift can grow real-world conservation in Greene County
Connect with fellow nature-lovers and community stewards

This is a relaxed, friendly, and informative evening — whether you’re just curious about planned giving or ready to explore your options, everyone is welcome!

Free to attend — but seats are limited!
Register now and secure your spot: https://beavercreekwetlands.org/.../plan-your-gift-grow.../

Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts is offering a cover crop training for eastern OH. Free t-shirt and lunch are included if you stay all day. Registration is required.

This is the fourth part of a 6-part webinar series provided by CSU Extension. Learn about the search and selection process of finding the next generation steward of a farmland commons.

Join us for an afternoon in the sugar shack and learn the sticky business of maple sugaring. Explore the enchanting woods at Flying Mouse Farms and discover the time-honored techniques that go into producing maple syrup.

Tours start at 2:00 pm, run every 20-30 min.

Family fun activities

Maple treats & hot cocoa

Maple syrup for purchase

Join OCVN Bethany Gray for a lunchtime birding walk at the Glass Farm Conservation Area. We will share our birding data with the annual Great Backyard Bird Count hosted by the Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology (www.birdcount.org). Meet at the parking area off of King Street next to the bike rack. We have some limited pairs of binoculars for attendees. Dress for the weather, however, this event will be cancelled in the event of a snow emergency or extreme rain or cold.

Hiking and history enthusiasts are invited to participate in the annual Clifton Gorge Winter Hike which is a “hike at your own pace” event. Interested hikers are asked to park at John Bryan State Park’s Orton Lot and hike 3 miles to Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve.ODNR staff will be stationed along the trail to answer questions about the natural features of the gorge, which is a National Natural Landmark. The hike also features historical reenactors who will share stories about the cultural history of the Clifton Gorge region. Additional exhibitors will set up at the John Bryan Day Lodge.

Upon reaching the Clifton Gorge Exploration Center, visitors can warm up with hot beverages and snacks and visit the indoor exhibit area. For hikers who do not want to hike back to John Bryan State Park, shuttle service from the preserve’s main parking lot will return hikers to the Orton Lot beginning at 10 a.m.

Event will be held rain or shine. Portions of this hike are moderately strenuous. Hikers are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather, wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of drinking water.

This is an ODNR America 250 event and also part of the official ODNR Winter Hike Series - commemorative stickers will be available while supplies last.

Agri Business Finance is hosting a workshop “Farm Finance 101 Everything a Beginning Farmer needs to know to meet with their Ag Lender”. FSA Farm Loan Officer Kim Knight will be there. Free dinner offered.

Start the new year hearing from local farmers who are having successes with new agricultural practices, including new crops, crop rotations, cover crops & other conservation practices. Presenters include Mike Beam, Roger Wright & the Ohio Hemp Company. NRCS & FSA staff will also talk about available programs through their agencies. Bring your questions and ideas because there will be plenty of time for discussion. And bring your appetite for the Young's breakfast buffet. Registration is 10$ and is required. Spots are limited so register early! Email michele@tecumsehlandtrust.org to register

This is the third part of a 6-part webinar series provided by CSU Extension. Learn about the process to create the legal structure of a farmland commons.

This is the second part of a 6-part webinar series provided by CSU Extension. Get to know The Farmland Commons Model. Consider the pros and cons of this innovation land tenure model.

Poets bios at tecumsehlandtrust.org/solsticepoetry

Your Professional Team: Real Estate Agent, Lender, Attorney 

How do you choose a real estate agent, a lender, and a real estate attorney to guide you through the farmland purchase process? How do you work effectively with them? To answer those questions, this webinar will feature a real estate agent very familiar with farmland searching and purchasing (Nathan Gudmunson of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group), a representative of one of the Farm Credit institutions (Sarah Hoerner of Compeer Financial), and an attorney with extensive experience with farmland real estate transactions (Ed Cox of Cox Law Firm, LLP). Each will also share their tips and insights about buying a farm, based on the experiences they have had with many clients.  

This will be a full-day program at the Antioch Farm, a hub of sustainability and hands-on learning at Antioch College. This event is designed for farmers from all backgrounds, practitioners, researchers, and community leaders who are passionate about soil health, sustainable agriculture, and collaborative project development. Registrants will connect onsite to participate in generally applicable soil health training/education; to learn about the Antioch College Micro Farm’s sustainable agriculture practices; to brainstorm innovative, fundable, and mutually beneficial projects; and to socialize with like-minded agriculturalists and environmentalists.

For Sale By Owner, Seller Financing & Other Alternative Options

Finding land through listings through a realtor and with traditional lending is not the only way farmers find land and purchase it. In fact, other approaches can offer the possibility of less expensive farmland ownership. In this webinar, Mike Ghia and Kathy Ruhf of Land For Good will detail some of the alternative options out there, including FSBO and seller financing. Harold Wilken of Janie’s Farm and Rachael & Jesse Smedberg of Tulip Tree Gardens will share their experiences.  

Join The Nature Conservancy for a Soil Health and Grain Quality Webinar. The speaker is Dr. Patrick Freeze, Western Region Outreach Scientist and Applied Research Lead from Ward Laboratories, Inc.

The Foodbank Inc. will offer guided tours of its urban garden, showcasing regenerative practices such as composting, biodiversity, interplanting, and the complete avoidance of pesticides and fertilizers. Guests will also explore our hydroponic lettuce greenhouse, which features beneficial insect integration, a custom nutrient blend tailored to Dayton’s water, a recycled water system, and sustainable growing techniques.

An event for 2025 Ohio Soil Health Week. Join Great Council State Park for an interactive presentation learning all about how soils form under prairie landscapes, why midwestern soils are considered “prime” for agricultural use, how we can implement more sustainable agriculture practices, and rediscover how native cultures farmed in sync with nature. The presentation will be followed by a short hike through the prairie down to the Little Miami River and back. There will be a guided tour of Great Council State Park, the museum dedicated to learning about the Shawnee Indians who once lived in the area.

The Search, The Purchase Process & Farmer Success Stories

Mike Ghia of Land For Good and Nathan Aaberg of Illinois FarmLink will share useful information about the farm search and purchase process. Marykate Glenn of Mustard Seed Farm and Chris & March Prchal of Trogg’s Hollow Farm will share their successful farm buying experiences. 

This EcoTalk will focus on a large constructed wetland complex constructed in 2022 near Williamsburg, Ohio.

This is the first part of a 6-part webinar series provided by CSU Extension. Marvel at the Blue Rock Station background story. Learn how the Blue Rock Station farmers decided to pursue farmland commons as a pathway to farmland transition

Join Greene County SWCD for a Forestry Walk at Wilmington College’s Academic Farm! Agronomy professor Jason Parrish will be joining to discuss a variety of topics including common plant identification, management strategies for controlling invasives, effects invasives have on the local ecosystem, the benefit of removal, and voluntary government conservation programs.

Learn from Jeremy Turner about the Shawnee tribe's history with the trade of hunting followed by a walk and talk at Clifton Gorge.

Join the Tecumseh Land Trust, Caesar’s Ford Theatre, Springfield Museum of Art & the Springfield Foundation in a remembrance of Tecumseh Memorial Day. Several activities are planned for this free event.

“Come Find Art” - The Springfield Museum of Art “Come Find Art” features artist meet & greets, hands-on activities and gallery explorations.

History Program - 2pm - Jeremy Turner ( Shawnee Tribe) and Kane Stratton offer a presentation that marks Springfield as the birthplace of Tecumseh.

Panel Discussion - 3 pm - Guests of Honor Brittany Hall, Eric Wensman & Aubree Wensman, all members of the Shawnee Tribe and direct decedents of Tecumseh, will discuss the impact of their ancestor’s legacy and his effort to serve his community.

This is a free event. A food truck will be on site.

For additional information about Caesar’s Ford Theatre, please visit cftohio.org.