History

ACRES was founded in 1960 and since then has been producing the Quarterly, a much-loved seasonal publication. This article by William R. Eberly was printed in ACRES 1962 Spring Quarterly. Enjoy this archived article as we reflect back on 60 years of protecting local land. “The lakes of northern Indiana are the brightest gems in …

LAGRANGE, Ind., November 26, 2019 –ACRES Land Trust recently expanded its Quog Lake preserve, part of a priority conservation area south of LaGrange, by 12 acres. The property houses two historic school buildings, one of which serves a congregation that has met on the site since the mid-1800s. ACRES, Indiana’s oldest and largest local land …

“Tom and Jane Dustin built a legacy from this home,” the bold headline at the top of the commemorative panel reads. As you stand among the tall trees, listening to the music of the preserve, you can see that legacy is thriving still today. The Dustins helped launch ACRES Land Trust. Inspired by the budding …

Editor’s note from Carol Roberts, ACRES Quarterly editor and board vice president: Tom was my friend, neighbor, mentor in the natural world. I cared more about nature after seeing it more closely through his eyes. He fought passionately and persevered to protect the Indiana Dunes, Wyoming’s Red Desert…his beloved Cedar Creek. While Tom’s vision was …

What would change if we understood natural lands as more important to us than electricity and cell phones, as crucial to us as clean water and air? Dear Friends, While most people view ACRES’ work positively, they may also consider land preservation as optional. What would change if we understood natural lands as more important …

2017 marks the 50th anniversary of Indiana’s Nature Preserves Act that protects more than 50,000 acres of Hoosier natural heritage in 70 of the state’s 92 counties.  The legislation created the Division of Nature Preserves of the Department of Natural Resources which partners with nonprofits and other agencies. ACRES Land Trust’s founders wrote and helped …

In my recent Letter from the Executive Director, I write about how land can produce a wide variety of products. I make the claim that when compared to nature; we are unimaginative when it comes to deciding what land should produce. To illustrate this point, let’s explore the recent history of Kokiwanee – a 140-acre nature …

by Megan CooperOutreach InternUniversity of Saint Francis You should know ACRES Land Trust is run from a house. Just a residence-designed plot of wooded land. Sure, we call it “office.” What we mean is viewtiful vista in the woods. And to think, it only took a pooling of five bucks from each of the twelve …

By Tom Castaldi Travel east nineteen miles from Fort Wayne into Maumee Township on U.S. 24 heading for the Indiana-Ohio state line, and you’ll pass near Blue Cast Springs. Back in 1901, New Haven resident Henry Schnelker was attracted to an 87-acre plot with a flowing mineral spring, and he decided to purchase the land. …