Sustainable Concord Coffee “Wildlife in Concord” with Peter Alden

Tuesday, February 18, 7:30 - 9 AM Harvey Wheeler Community Center

Peter Alden, a Concord resident, is a nationally renowned birder, naturalist, author, and lecturer. He has led nature tours to more than 100 countries and is the author of many books on North American, Latin American, and African wildlife. Working with his friend and colleague, E.O. Wilson, Peter organized an event called Biodiversity Day, the first of which took place right here in Concord.
How has wildlife in Concord changed since the days of Henry David Thoreau? Is there evidence of a significant loss of biodiversity? If so, what has caused it? What municipal and private wildlife management decisions are being made today that will reduce or enhance the quality of life for us and other life forms that inhabit our town?
Peter Alden is a lively speaker, and we look forward to his presentation. As usual, there will be plenty of time for your questions and lively discussion. Coffee, tea and a variety of local goodies are provided. See you there

Composting Tour Rescheduled to 5/22 @4:30 at Keyes Rd.

The composting tour was rescheduled to Wed. May 22nd. Please see below for more details, thanks!

Kitty

Rod Robison, Department of Public Works Environmental Services Program Administrator for the Town of Concord, agreed to reschedule the Composting Station Tour to Wednesday, May 22, 4:30 PM. So.... we hope that those who signed up will come...and invite others to join us who may have been unable to at the original time. Come on your own, or bring a friend!

If you want to sign up now, please do so before May 20 by emailing: deb01742@comcast.net.

Thanks!

Concord Seed Lending LIbrary now open!

The Concord Seed Lending Library has opened it's doors and is available anytime the Fowler Branch Library is open:

M - 9am - 7pm
Tu - 9am - 6pm
We - 9am - 6pm
Th - 1pm - 6pm
Fr - 9am - 5pm
Sa - 9am - 5pm

How does it work?

1. Come in to Fowler, go downstairs and browse through the seed cabinet to see what we have. Pick out some packages to "borrow" from the Super Easy or Easy seed drawers (if you'll be returning seed) or some packages from the Difficult drawers (but do not return these for now until we've developed seed saving classes for these types of plants). You may see some new varieties you've never grown before!

2. Sign them out on the sign out form. Bring them home and plant them. Grow them out and enjoy your harvest of a few of your plants then let a couple of your best plants go to seed. 

3. At the end of the season when your plants have gone to seed, gather the seeds from those plants and "return" some of your seeds for the library to restock their cabinet, keep the rest of the seeds for yourself for the Spring. Not sure how to save seed, see here. Next year,  come back and borrow some more seeds to start the cycle again! 

Why should you do this?

It's economical, you get to try new varieties that you've never tried before, you are supporting a community effort which is encouraging seed saving and you can feel good about keeping the seeds locally adapted to our Concord environment and weather. Please note that we're supplementing your regular garden plantings, we're not a store as we have only so much donated seed. 

Please come on by and take a look and choose some new varieties that you'd like to try today!

Food System Assessment Report, Thur. June 14th @7:30 @Harvey Wheeler CC

Hello Cousins Field Community Gardeners,

Another invite from our friends at Garden for Life on an important topic: The Food System Assessment Report. Hope you can make it to hear about the results. See below for how to reply.

Thanks,

Kitty

Gardening for Life members and friends

NEXT UP

Thursday, June 14, 7:30 PM, Harvey Wheeler Community Center 

Concord Food System Assessment Report: Building Local Food Connections.

Promote a town wide gardening movement is one of six recommendations!

Community Gardeners and Garden/Life members will gather to review the Concord Food System Assessment Report with Debbie Barr, Debbie Bier and Enid Boasberg, all members of the Concord Community Food Project Steering and Advisory Committee.  Please RSVP by June 12 to deb01742@comcast.net so we can be plan accordingly for handouts etc. 

Packed cover to cover with informative and colorful charts, pictures, graphics and information about our unique and vibrant local food system, the report starts with our agricultural history then quickly moves to current assets and challenges of all facets of the food system in Concord: land use, food production, distribution, processing, storage, manufacturing and waste recovery. 

Will you be part of the conversation? Come on your own, or bring a friend.  Go to: www.concordfood.ning.com for details.

More Local Food Events

Gardeners,

Hope you all find some of these food related events interesting to attend!

COMPOSTING BASICS 10/11 tonight!, 7:30 – 9 PM Mark Hanson, experienced gardener and avid compost fan: Harvey Wheeler Community Center: Sponsored by Garden/ Life. RSVP by 10/10 to deb01742@comcast.net


ROOT CELLARS AND OTHER STORAGE TIPS FOR VEGGIES ALL WINTER: 10/16, 2-3 pm: Leslie Thomas and Katherine Endicott, Sweet Autumn Farm, Carlisle: Sponsored by Garden for Life; RSVP to deb01742@comcast.net:  http://www.carlislemosquito.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1576:sweet-autumn-farm-is-simply-organic-&catid=8:feature-articles&Itemid=12

SUSTAINABLE CONCORD COFFEE: 10/18 from 7:30-9 AM at Harvey Wheeler Community Center:
Facilitated discussion of Town approved Sustainability Principles as they apply to Concord’s Food System-- with special guest Henry David Thoreau! ALL ARE WELCOMED! For details:  hassoewing@comcast.net.

CARLISLE SCHOOL GARDEN TOUR & COMPOSTING PROGRAM: 10/23, 3-4 pm, led by Launa Zimarro. Learn about the 75-student composting crew, drop in garden club, role of parents and teachers in this expanding project: check out www.carlisleschoolgarden.org; RSVP to deb01742@comcast.net

NATIONAL FOOD DAY IS 10/24! Help us grow the list of events to celebrate local/homegrown; share
a recipe, host a potluck. Volunteers are needed to research and promote local participation; follow leads by
phone or internet. Plan and post your activity! Interested? Contact deb01742@comcast.net.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE FOOD FIGHT FILM AND PANEL: 10/ 24 @ 3:00 p.m. Since the 20s and 30s, American agricultural policy has promoted big farms and bigger food processing conglomerates that favor cheap commodities and long shelf life over fresh, healthy, flavorful food. Food Fight offers a look at how this food culture developed, and how the 60s brought values centered on local and healthy meals.

MUSHROOM WALK, 10/30 10:30 am to 1 pm Sudbury Valley Trustees, Memorial Forest, Sudbury; With Doug Brown, Boston Mycological Club; RSVP: http://www.svtweb.org/events-calendar.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: deb01742@comcast.net, or click on the ConcordCAN/League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle Food for Thought website: www.concordfood.ning.com.