MassWoods

Jassy Bratko is committed to conservation. A 10 year member of Hubbardston's Open Space Committee, one of a handful of remaining founding members, she has been instrumental in a number of the committee's key achievements. Though originally from England, Jassy settled with her husband, who was born nearby, in Hubbardston 25 years ago, and considers it her home. Her desire to be sure the town retains the rural character to which she was first attracted has led Jassy to dedicate a significant amount of time and energy to protecting and managing its open space, both in her capacity as Chairperson of the Open Space Committee  and as a landowner.

In 2005, Jassy completed the Keystone Program, which is designed to train community leaders in a variety of subjects including land protection, sustainable resource management, and ecology.  Those that have gone through the program, called Keystone cooperators, then use what they have learned to promote conservation in their communities.  As a Keystone Cooperator, Jassy has been able to apply much of what she learned to her conservation efforts.

Hubbardston is on the front line of development spreading from Boston. "We have the dubious distinction of being the fastest growing town in Worcester County," says Jassy. While many towns have yielded to development pressure-whether from a lack of resources, ineffective planning, or an absence of community members able to make the time commitment needed to affect the course of development-Jassy and other members of the Open Space Committee are passionate about protecting their community's woods and farms. "I know development is inevitable," explains Jassy, "but it's important that it be well planned so it can be done right. The goal of the committee is to keep Hubbardston as rural as possible while allowing for some development."

One important achievement of the Open Space Committee was done in tandem with the town's planning board. In a move that will likely have ongoing significant impacts in the future, the Open Space Committee worked with the planning board to write up an open space residential bylaw for Hubbardston's planning rules. This bylaw requires that when a subdivision is being built housing units must be laid out in a higher density in order to keep more space open. Bylaws such as this one, which allow for development but do so in a carefully planned manner, can mean the difference between exurban sprawl and a still mostly rural community.

Jassy was also instrumental in helping preserve an important piece of Hubbardston, what is now the Mt. Jefferson Conservation Area. When the Open Space Committee formed, they set out to prioritize which parcels of land should be the focus of their conservation efforts. Using maps, site visits, and local knowledge, they were able to determine which parcels were important greenways between habitats, were part of the Ware River watershed-an important water supply area, had special aesthetic or historic value, or were important farmland.  

Mt. Jefferson stood out as an area of highest priority, so the committee set out to protect it. After much hard work, in 2002 the committee was able to help the town acquire a 250 acre parcel that abuts Hubbardston and Templeton state forests, Metropolitan District Commission land (Quabbin watershed protection land), and other town-owned land, and which serves as an important corridor for wildlife. The Open Space Committee continues to be heavily involved in the management of that property. More recently, the committee added another 67 acres of land abutting Mt. Jefferson to their list of conservation successes, expanding the important greenway.

Jassy has enjoyed many other important victories with the committee as well. "It's been so rewarding," she says, "and I see no end in sight, because as soon as we finish one project we've got 20 other things lined up that we want to do. It's a really great group of people on the committee." Along with other interested groups, the Open Space Committee was able to pass a ballot measure to get a Community Preservation Act passed, which helps the town raise revenue for conservation, historic preservation, and affordable housing. And this past fall the committee completed the first timber harvest at Mt. Jefferson with the help of consulting forester Roger Plourde, which not only is the first step in bringing the benefits of good forest management to the area but also generated additional revenue, which will be circulated back to the Open Space Committee for future conservation efforts. They also recognize the value of public enjoyment of open space and have enlisted the help of everyone from committee members to Boy Scouts to build trails on town properties and to make improvements to ball fields and the town center.

Conservation efforts don't stop at her front door. Jassy and her husband, Tom, have bought about 80 acres of land-part farm, part woods-near their home, which they have in Chapter 61A, the Massachusetts current use tax program for agricultural land. Jassy is using her skill as an organic farmer (she works for the Massachusetts chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association) to experiment with growing organic apples, a particular challenge she says, alongside the peaches, plums, and vegetables growing in their organic orchard and garden. Their woods are being managed for wildlife and recreation and has a stewardship plan to help them do so. Jassy's leadership in land conservation is evident in her tireless efforts on her land and off; the future of Hubbardston looks brighter because of it.