This Land Grows More Than Beauty
Farming has been an essential part of Washington throughout its history. In addition to providing food and forage, farms keep the air and water clean, provide vital wildlife habitat, and preserve the rural character that defines our community.
Yet across Connecticut, productive farmland is being lost at an alarming rate. Coupled with rising land prices ($13,900 per acre), it’s increasingly difficult for farmers to acquire or maintain their land and protect the productive soils that are permanently lost when developed.
At Steep Rock, conserving agricultural soils and farms is just as important as saving our forests and waterways. We proudly protect 2,376 acres of farmland soils, including 1,111 acres on our own preserves. Of these, 138 acres are actively leased to local farm families who manage hayfields, cornfields, and pastureland.
In addition, we protect 1,265 acres of farmland soils under 48 conservation easements. And Judea Garden is a regional leader in providing residents in need with access to healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables. Together with our local farmers, Steep Rock is showing that agriculture and conservation contribute significantly to our thriving community.
For more information on our efforts and partner farms, visit https://steeprockassoc.org/farms/.
See you on our Trails…
Brian Hagenbuch, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Give Local – Thank You!
You Helped Make Something Beautiful Happen. Give Local was a big moment for Steep Rock—and for everyone who loves this land. Our goal was to raise $100,000 in celebration of our 100th year. Thanks to 220 generous souls, we didn’t just meet that goal—we soared past it, raising $158,306 for local conservation!
If you gave, shared, or simply rooted for us—thank you! You helped make trails safer, forests stronger, and this special corner of the planet even more extraordinary.
Get Your Bird On
As warblers return for the summer and others pass through on their way north, we find ourselves serenaded by buzzes, whistles, and chirps while strolling about in the preserves. Now is the time to grab The Birds of Steep Rock Field Checklist and start keeping track of your observations. How many can you spot?
Begin your SRA Bird Life List now with this checklist! A big thanks to our very own Peary Stafford for his expert update of this impressive inventory.
Seniors in Steep Rock Volunteer Day
Event Date: May 9
Learn new skills, meet new friends, get active, and help Steep Rock achieve its goals! Volunteering opens new opportunities while supporting your local community. Join Steep Rock Association at our office for coffee and pastries and learn about the many ways you can volunteer to help the land trust.
Afterwards, you’ll have a chance to contribute to the important work Steep Rock does in Judea Garden, our office, the Camp House Museum, or even on the trails.
Don’t Miss the Rossiter Run 5K on May 18!
Our Fifth Annual Rossiter Run 5K is extra special this year in celebration of our Centennial! The race course follows a scenic route along the Shepaug River with a gradual incline through the stunning Steep Rock Preserve, gifted by our founder, Ehrick Rossiter, in 1925.
Are you up for the challenge?
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Passport to the Trails Launch – June 1
Join us as we launch our brand-new Passport to the Trails Program—designed by students from Shepaug Middle School and Henry Abbott Technical High School! Be among the first to receive a Steep Rock Passport Booklet.
Explore the trails, collect impressions at designated stations, and work toward earning a special prize when your booklet is complete. This program encourages youth and families to get outdoors, learn about nature, and engage with the incredible trail systems throughout Steep Rock’s preserves.
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