Opinion
Op-ed: Celebrate Montana’s open land
Published
8 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Jessie Wiese EBS Contributor
Montana is the stuff dreams are made of; movies for that matter too, and lots of them. People flock here to experience the state’s dramatic beauty and enjoy recreating in its relatively untouched landscape. And they find pristine rivers and creeks, snow-capped mountains and unspoiled nature around every turn.
Those of us lucky enough to call Montana home are well adjusted to the generous backdrop afforded by our state. Easy access to open land is one reason most of us moved or stayed here. There is a single thread running through all aspects of our state and our experiences in it: open land.
As Montana’s population grows, and as more travelers visit from elsewhere, it’s increasingly important to acknowledge and publicize both the social and economic benefits that Montana’s open lands provide us.
With Gallatin County’s growth rate far exceeding any other in the state, and Bozeman recently ranked sixth for growth in micro-cosmopolitan communities nationwide, change is upon us. Neighboring Yellowstone National Park boasts more than 4 million visitors per year.
As Gov. Steve Bullock put it during a recent speech in Big Sky on open lands, “They ain’t coming for our Wal-Marts.”
Land is the most valuable resource we have. It feeds us, filters our air, keeps our water clean, and provides recreation, timber, and habitat for us and other animals.
Here in Big Sky, the economic drivers are clear. Visitors come to our community to enjoy and ultimately appreciate our open lands. From dropping a fly in the Gallatin River or skiing a steep slope on Lone Mountain, to just taking in the view, the Montana lifestyle revolves around protected open space.
Open lands increase our community’s health and emotional wellbeing by providing opportunities for outdoor exercise and recreation. They attract businesses to our communities, augmenting our collective quality of life. The Trust for Public Land found that every dollar invested in land conservation provides an economic return of $4 to $10.
Bozeman’s Headwaters Economics demonstrated that community proximity to open land attracts talent and entrepreneurs to communities like ours across the state. Big Sky is nestled between two large wilderness areas and within 16 miles of Yellowstone’s boundary. If it’s all about location, we’ve got it.
Montana’s land trusts are national leaders in land conservation, and a dozen work across the state. The Montana Land Reliance alone has protected nearly 1 million acres in the state, and is actively working on 48 projects to protect an additional 241,187 acres. This makes MLR among the largest land trusts in the nation.
Open land is something we can all get behind. Montana Open Land Month was established to enable all Montanans—individuals, clubs, businesses, outdoor groups, you name it—to celebrate the state’s way of life and the open land that makes Montana so special. As the old adage goes, “They’re not making any more of it.”
Please join us in the celebration.
Jessie Wiese is based in Big Sky and is the southwest manager of Montana Land Reliance. Visit mtlandreliance.org and openlandmt.org to learn more about land conservation and Montana Open Land Month.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
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april, 2024
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
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March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
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Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
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14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
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Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
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(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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The Waypoint
50 Ousel Falls Rd