Wissahickon Growing Greener
Let's Promote and Educate RESIDENTS about a Sustainable Future for OUR AreaNEWS
The
following classes are being taught by Montgomery County Master Gardener
Volunteers at the Montgomery County Community College. All classes
begin at 7:15PM. For additional information, visit their website at
www.mc3.edu/spring12 or contact Stephanie Bennett at sbennett@mc3.edu
- April 3, 2012 Square Foot Gardening with Wayne Brunt
- April 10, 2012 Native Plants for Every Garden with Marc Radell
- April 17, 2012 Top 10 Things a Home Gardener Can Do to Save the Planet with Karrie Hontz
- April 24, 2012 Pruning Flowering Bushes and Vines with Jane Irvin-Klotz
The Bloom 'n News is out: http://bit.ly/wLGibU
- 2012 March & April Master Gardener Programs
- 2012 Straw Bale Garden Grant Available Now!
- Guidelines for Pruning Conifers
- It’s Time to Prune Tree and Berry Fruits!
- Look Behind You!
- Make Your Own Garden Gazing Ball
- Pennsylvania’s Wild Mushrooms
- The Best Air Cleaning Plants
Shopping for a vehicle?
In addition to highlighting the year's "Greenest," "Meanest," "Greener Choices," and best-in-class lists, the greenercars.org website features informational write-ups on model year 2012 highlights, a consumer primer on vehicles and the environment, and advice on how to buy green when shopping for a new car or truck.
Watch the salt, a tip from Montgomery County EAC
When the inclement weather hits, go green when trying to control ice. They key is to prevent slipping on ice with environmentally-friendly resources. Excess salt and other deicing chemicals can pollute our streams and adversely impact drinking water supplies.
Please remember to:
• Shovel snow before it turns to ice to limit the need for deicing chemicals like rock salt.
• Shovel snow onto permeable surfaces including grass, flower beds, and level landscaping so as the snow melts it will soak into the ground rather than flow directly into a nearby storm drain or stream.
If you must use deicing chemicals, consider the following:
• Avoid over application by controlling the application of chemical deicers.
• Limit chemical applications near environmentally-sensitive areas including springs, streams, ponds, wetlands, and water supply areas and sensitive landscape and vegetation.
• Sand, sawdust and cracked corn can be used as an environmentally-friendly alternative to commonly used salt products.
• Use salt substitutes that are less harmful including Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) and Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA). For Calcium Chloride pellets, a handful for every 3 square yards is adequate.
• For larger areas, apply salt as a brine solution to prevent drift off of paved surfaces.
• After snowmelt, sweep up residues, including sand, to prevent it from washing into storm drains and streams.
Save the dates for Pennypack's Sustainability Movie Series
This season's movies will focus on the core mission of Pennypack Farm - good food that's available to all. Each movie will delve into a different aspect of our food system. Learn how making small changes to what you eat and where you buy it can make a big difference to the world. Tickets are now on sale at www.amblertheater.org/pennypack Single Tickets/$10.00 Series Tickets/$24.00.
All movies will be shown at the Ambler Theater, 108 E. Butler Avenue, Ambler.
Come early to meet and learn more about the sponsors and local organizations. Stay afterwards for an insightful panel discussion. Panelists to be announced soon.
Feb. 14 Queen of the Sun
Mar. 13 What's Organic About Organic?
Apr. 10 PLANEAT
Registration is open for The Home Grown Institute, March 24-25, held at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in NW Philly.
Free Rain Barrel or Worm Farm Compost Bin for All! (one per residence).* Free gifts - rain barrels or composters - for ALL registrants*
* 50+ workshops and activities for adults
* Fun, Engaging and Educational Kids and Teen program
* Storytelling, Seed and Tool Exchanges
* Films, Silent Auction and Awards Reception
* Neighborhood "Community Kitchen" Incubator
Red Earth Farm CSA has a local pick up spot in Ambler
Shares are delivered from June to October.
Check www.redearthfarm.org for info. Here is a sample of pricing, but more options can be found under the"About CSA" section of the website
Donate sheets and towels
Exchange Clothes
Other places to look for gently used clothes include consignment sales/shops, Thrift shops, Freecycle.org, or hold your own clothing swap!
Why bother?
-you might be helping out a local charity
-keep good clothing out of the landfill
-save money (you might even make some)
-conserving resources
-declutter
One COOL Way to Reduce Greenhouse Gasses
Thursday, Feb. 23, Buy Local – Bucks County Locavore event.
The business card networking, and food and beverage sampling affair will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at Superior Woodcraft, 160 N. Hamilton St., Doylestown. The gathering is sponsored by the Doylestown Business and Community Alliance and host Superior Woodcraft. The goal of the event is to raise awareness of local businesses, local farms, and local foods; and to encourage cooperation among businesses throughout the Bucks County community.
Feb 25, 1:00 pm, BERRIES, BRAMBLES, & GRAPES - Anne Myers
whys of growing edible delights in your backyard.
All classes run approximately 1 hour. Space is limited and registration is required. There is a $10
fee per class due at time of registration. You must pay in advance. A $5 Primex Gift
Card
will be issued to each paid registrant that attends the lecture.
Register in the store or by calling 215-887-7500.
Primex Garden Center, 435 W Glenside Ave, Glenside, PA 19038
www.primexgardencenter.com
Feb 28, Garden Soils 101 with Pennypack, 7-8:30pm, $15.00
Healthy soil is needed to produce healthy vegetables. What is soil and what makes it healthy? We will review common garden soil issues and their solutions, and prepare a soil mix for starting seeds indoors.
March 1, Eco Fest 2012, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, 5:30-8:00pm
Colonial School District, The Conshohocken Fellowship House, Plymouth Township , Whitemarsh Township and the Plymouth Meeting Whole Foods Market will team up to present the second-annual Eco Fest to highlight the benefits and advantages of a greener, more environmentally friendly community. The event will run from 5:30pm-8:00pm in the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School cafeteria west and gym west. The event features engaging educational activities and information for the entire family. Learn how you can do your part to preserve the environment.
If you have any questions please contact Joanna at 610-313-8681 orjrizzuto@plymouthtownship.org
March 3, Recycle Day "Anything with a plug," St Helena parking lot, 9-2pm, FREE
March 13, Pennypack Sustainability Movie Series presents What's Organic, Ambler Theatre, 7:30.
With charm and humanity, this film leads viewers to examine how organic farming has evolved from a grassroots movement into a multi-billion dollar international industry. The film reveals what’s at stake in creating and maintaining meaningful standards for organic production to protect citizen interests, heal the environment, and maintain the livelihoods of family farmers. More information at whatsorganicmovie.com.
March 13 2012, Rain Gardens with Karrie Hontz
For more information, please contact the Community Education office at 215-721-1551 or Nora Dilks, Director of Community Education, via e-mail at ndilks@soudertonsd.org.
March 13, 2012 , Container Gardening with Julie Philips
Call 215-393-6900 for additional information.
March 17, 10:00 am, ORGANIC GARDENING – Primex
All classes run approximately 1 hour. Space is limited and registration is required. There is a $10
fee per class due at time of registration. You must pay in advance. A $5 Primex Gift
Card
will be issued to each paid registrant that attends the lecture.
Register in the store or by calling 215-887-7500.
Primex Garden Center, 435 W Glenside Ave, Glenside, PA 19038
www.primexgardencenter.com
March 17, 1pm, COMPANION PLANTING – Ron Kushner, Primex
All classes run approximately 1 hour. Space is limited and registration is required. There is a $10
fee per class due at time of registration. You must pay in advance. A $5 Primex Gift
Card
will be issued to each paid registrant that attends the lecture.
Register in the store or by calling 215-887-7500.
Primex Garden Center, 435 W Glenside Ave, Glenside, PA 19038
www.primexgardencenter.com
March 20, 2012, Garden Tips & Tricks with Kathy Klein
Visit their website - select Activities and Programs to register or call Emily DeVuono at 610-265-1276.
March 20, 2012, Pruning Ornamentals & Spring Garden Prep with Rebecca Boylan
For additional information visit their website at http:// www.whitemarshtwp.org/services/ parks/programs-all.aspx or call
610-825-3535.
March 24-25, Sustsainable -Skills event, Chestnut Hill
The EAC Network is proud to be a Community Partner
with The Home Grown Institute - a local
sustainable-skills event that will be held in Chestnut Hill March 24-25. The
Home Grown Institute will be filled with hands-on activities such
as beekeeping, backyard chickens, and organic gardening techniques (beginner
and advanced). Workshops such as How to Make Healthy Food Habits Stick,
Designing a Rain Garden, Composting and Food Preservation will also be offered.
There will even be nature meditations for a little peace and quiet.
Please take 7 minutes to help us make sure The
Home Grown Institute has something for you! Click here
to help fine-tune the program and to give us feedback about whether an event
like The Home Grown Institute is right for your community.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EACHomeGrown
March 24, 2012, Gifts from the Garden (children) with Julie Philips
1001 Stump Rd, Montgomeryville
Cost $5. Call 215-393-6900 for additional information.
March 29, The Wissahickon: A Creek In Crisis?, 6:30-?, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
Click here to register
Hosted by: Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, Friends of the Wissahickon, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Panelists
Carol R. Collier, Executive Director
Chris Crockett, Deputy Commissioner, Philadelphia Water Department
April 3, 2012, Cooking with the Garden with Julie Philips
1001 Stump Rd, Montgomeryville.
Cost $5. Call 215-393-6900 for additional information.
April 10 - Pennypack Sustainability Movie Series presents PLANEAT, Ambler Theatre, 7:30.
The search for a diet which is good for our health, environment and future of the planet. The film presents a convincing case to re-examine our love affair with meat and dairy. With the help of innovative farmers, chefs and some of the best cooking you have ever seen, PLANEAT advocates eating less meat as a step towards solving some of the problems we face today.
In order to take advantage of our WEEKLY NEWSLETTER with tips and calendar, send an email to WissahickonGrowingGreener@gmail.com .