Joshua's Trust

10/30/2026

🌳 BIG news for Joshua’s Trust!

Now that the deeds have been filed, we’re thrilled to share some extraordinary news: Joshua’s Trust has completed the largest conservation project in our 60-year history!

Together, we have conserved 329 acres along Upton Road in Ashford, protecting an extraordinary stretch of mature and successional forest, streams, historic features, and nearly a mile of the blue-blazed Nipmuck Trail.

This achievement reflects the power of a community united by a shared commitment to conservation. More than 20 donors from our Board of Trustees and President’s Circle, along with other supporters, helped make the purchases possible. The Shenipsit Striders made a significant financial contribution, the Connecticut Land Conservation Council provided a Transaction Assistance Grant, and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association supported the effort to protect this important stretch of the Nipmuck Trail.

Our Board of Trustees also deserves special recognition for acting with lightning speed when the opportunity arose.

We are grateful to everyone who helped make this possible—and proud of what our Joshua’s Trust community can accomplish together.

🌲 Come celebrate with us! Join us for an open house at the property on Saturday, November 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 93 Upton Road in Ashford. Guided hikes will leave every half hour. We hope to see you there!

10/28/2026

🎃 Creepy: The Spotted Lanternfly 🦗

Looking for a Halloween read that’s a little too real? 👀 George Jacobi is back with a creepy topic in his latest blog post, Creepy, exploring the spotted lanternfly and why this invasive insect deserves our attention.

Curious about this unwelcome visitor? Give George’s latest post a read!
https://joshuastrust.org/category/blog/

I don’t need to invent a scary story for the blog this Halloween. There’s a real one here. “It’s a beautiful bug”, admitted my wife, Kris. In fact, it comes in a costume appropriate for the holid…

10/15/2026

🍂 What can a brook tell us about the land around it?

Join Joshua’s Trust this Saturday, October 17, for a walk along Bebbington Brook at Friedman Forest in Ashford!

Explore the watershed, discover the brook’s ecology, and learn how our land and water resources are connected.

Come explore with us!

Saturday, October 17
Where: Friedman Forest, Bebbington Lane, Ashford, CT
Time: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Parking is available at the small dirt pull-off near 427 Bebbington Road.

A note for our furry friends: We love our four-legged companions, but please leave them at home for this hike.

You can register for this walk on our website or by using the link in the comments.

10/09/2026

**Update our C***r Press is starting one hour earlier at 1pm **

🍁Experience Autumn with Joshua's Trust🍁

This weekend is all about connecting with the natural world. Join us for three unique outdoor experiences.

🌲Saturday, Oct 10 (10am-12pm): Immerse yourself in the early successional habitat of the Two Sisters Tract in Chaplin. This guided Walktober hike focuses on how forest stewardship supports local wildlife.

🌾Sunday, Oct 11 (1pm-5pm): Take a scenic walk along the Fenton River and visit the historic Gurleyville Gristmill for its final open house of the season.

🍎Sunday, Oct 11 (1pm-4pm): Enjoy the crisp autumn air at Atwood Farm while watching our vintage c***r press turn heirloom apples into fresh sweet c***r.

For the Full Weekend: From historic mill tours to c***r pressing, it’s a busy weekend at Joshua's Trust! Comment below with the event you're most excited for—or are you planning to join us for all of them? 👇

10/08/2026

This is the last weekend of the year that our Gurleyville Gristmill will be open.

The Gurleyville Gristmill will be open for tours this Sunday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM!
Come explore this beautifully preserved 19th-century gristmill, check out the original milling equipment, and take a scenic walk along the Fenton River. It is a great spot for families, history buffs, or anyone looking to enjoy a relaxing afternoon outdoors.

Admission is free (donations are welcome).
Location:
Gurleyville Gristmill
Stone Mill Road,
Mansfield, CT
We hope to see you there!

10/08/2026

As part of The Last Green Valley's Walktober this Saturday October 10, 2026 we are hosting walk #129 at our Two Sisters Tract in Chaplin.

Join us for a guided hike at Two Sisters Tract in Chaplin to explore an excellent example of early successional habitat. Along the way, we’ll discuss how active forest management helps create and maintain these important habitats, supporting a wide variety of birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Discover how thoughtful stewardship promotes biodiversity and strengthens the health and resilience of our forests.

While we love dogs and usually welcome them on our trails, this particular outing is a group guided hike. To ensure a smooth, focused experience for all participating humans, we kindly ask that you leave your furry friends at home this time.

Registration is optional but can be found on our website under Events.

When :Saturday October 10, 2026
Time: 10am to 12pm
Where: Two Sisters Preserve in Chaplin, CT on Route 6 , Trailhead starts just past Chaplin Inn & Suites
Parking: Park along side route 6

10/06/2026

🍎🍏 The apples are picked, the vintage press is ready, and the countdown to Sunday is on!

This Sunday October 11, 2026, we are setting up our classic wood-framed press to turn these beautiful, crisp autumn apples into fresh sweet c***r.

Come experience a true fall tradition! Watch the process from start to finish, try your hand at the press and enjoy a taste of pure, unfiltered c***r made from heirloom apples. While you are here take a tour of the historic Atwood Farm!

When: Sunday October 11, 2026
Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm*
Where: 624 Wormwood Hill Rd. Mansfield Center CT 06250
Admission: Free of charge!

*We will be starting (and possibly ending) early in an effort to avoid the rain.

Nothing beats c***r straight from the press. Leave a comment below if we'll see you there!👇

***rpress

10/05/2026

New blog post from George Jacobi. George shares his thoughts on community, conservation, and our connection to the natural world in his latest blog post.

Read "You and Us" on the Joshua's Trust website:

I think a lot about community. Particularly as the world is literally on fire from individual greed and carelessness. By comparison, my thoughts often circle back to the Sixties, when I was growing…

09/25/2026

ORCHARD MYSTERY! Can you hep us identify apple tree #11? 🍏🔎

Check out this fresh harvest from one of our unidentified apple trees at the historic Atwood Farm! You might notice some dark smudges on the skin that's actually sooty blotch, a completely harmless, superficial fungus that pops up because we are 100% no-spray orchard. It sits right on top of the skin and wipes clean off with a quick rub from a kitchen towel, leaving behind amazing, heirloom flavor✨

Want to sample some unique heirloom apples, help us figure out what variety Tree #11 is, and enjoy a great fall evening? Join us for our Harvest and Heritage Celebration!🎉
🗓 Friday October 2 From 4:30 pm to 7:00 om
📍The Atwood Farm 624 Wormwood Hill Rd, Mansfield Center
🎟 Tickets: $25.00 (includes a meal from Hops 44)

Space is limited, so grab your tickets today to save your spot!
Tickets will be available for purchase through Tuesday September 29th at 2pm.
To purchase tickets see the link in comments below or you can go to our website.

09/25/2026

*** UPDATE THIS HAS BEEN CANCELED.***
No power at E O. Smith High School

🌧Don't let the Nor'easter blow away your weekend plans 🌧
Celebrate Mansfield is still on! You can stay warm and dry indoors tomorrow at E.O. Smith High School!
Escape the nasty weather and come visit Joshua's Trust activity booth. We will be inside from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM with an interactive, hands-on activity for you to try.
Bring the family and come say hi. We look forward to seeing you there!