by Ari Herzog on April 10, 2009
The Massachusetts chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association presents their 2nd Annual Statewide Spring Organic Gardening Day on April 18, 2009.
The New Eden Collaborative of First Parish Church Organic Community Gardens is hosting a NOFA organic gardening workshop taught by Rita Wollmering and Brooke Finn, owners of The HERB FARMacy in Salisbury, where they grow vegetables and herbs.
The workshop will occur Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in the organic community gardens behind the First Parish Church of Newbury, at 20 High Road.
Statewide, these workshops are all led by experienced gardening educators and intend to meet the tremendous resurgence of energy and action for backyard and community gardening. In addition to explaining and demonstrating some key steps that can empower to you start your own garden, the workshops provide a great opportunity for you to come forth with your questions about beginning the process of gardening.
The workshop costs $25, with a $5 late fee after April 11. It is possible to register on-site.
Please click here for more information and to register online. You may also contact Ben Grosscup by email or at (413) 230-3092.
by Ari Herzog on April 7, 2009
We’ve received additional data about the farmers participating in the open-air market on Saturday, April 18 (with a rain date of April 19).
You may recall there are numerous events occurring on the Mall, including a public mural painting, an Eco Collaborative information center, live music, finger painting with the Girl Scouts, and a new addition of a green architecture tour.
You can mark your calendars to see the following flower growers and farmers, and purchase their products:
- ARROWHEAD FARM: traditional farmstay vacation rentals
- BEACHPLUM FARMS: garden plants and seeds
- CSA AT ARROWHEAD: fruit, vegetable, flower, herb and livestock shares
- COLBY FARM: vegetables, hay, hogs, and baby pigs
- FERRY LANDING FARM: fresh seasonal vegetables and vegetable transplants
- HERB FARMACY: herbs, herb plants, and herb products
- J. GIL ORGANIC LANDSCAPING: compost tea brewer, red worms, organic products
- MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES: farm, food, and environmental programs
- MOULTON FARMS: dried and fresh herbs and flowers, heirloom fruits, roses and garden plants
- NEWBURYPORT FARMERS’ MARKET: information about the pending market at The Tannery
- NUNAN FLORIST AND GREENHOUSES: flowers, plants, trees and shrubs; everything for the garden
- PETTENGILL FARMS: assorted flowers
by Ari Herzog on April 6, 2009
The Greater Newburyport Clergy Association presents the 3rd annual Interfaith Blessing of the Earth Ceremony and Bonfire on Sunday, April 19 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Live music performances include The Goodhues, Don Sineti, and the Sacred Harp Singers.
Simultaneous to the ceremony, children are invited to participate in a healing blanket workshop led by Deb Cinamon Whalen.
Bring a picnic and stay after the ceremony for a bonfire and community-wide celebration of the earth.
The ceremony will occur on the grounds behind the First Parish Church at 20 High Road in Newbury. For more information, please call (978)465-5597.
by Ari Herzog on April 2, 2009
If you care about the blue-green waters of the Merrimack River, the Merrimack River Watershed Council is pleased to sponsor and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Center’s Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is pleased to host the 3rd annual State of the Merrimack address.
While speakers are being finalized, please mark your calendars to arrive at the refuge’s visitor center at 6 Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport on Saturday, April 25 at 11 a.m.
For more details and to RSVP, you may visit the MRWC’s website here.
Simultaneously occurring at the visitor center will be a scavenger hunt for children and their families.
Also occuring on the 25th, the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Joppa Flats Education Center across the street offers a watercolor illustration workshop in the afternoon; and the 4th annual Newburyport Literary Festival occurs all day.
Additionally, the Route 1 traffic circle holds its annual fundraiser in the front parking lot of Kelly Hardware; and Jewett Farms Studio sponsors an organic brunch and dinner at select locations in the city.
Details on these and other events on the calendar.
by Ari Herzog on March 31, 2009
On Wednesday, April 22 at 7 p.m., Transition Newburyport presents an introduction to the Transition Town Initiative, entitled, Peak Oil, Climate Change, and the Global Transition Movement: Transitioning Communities From Oil Dependency to Resiliency and Self Reliance.
What is a Transition Town?
It started with a small group of motivated individuals who came together with a shared concern to answer the following question:
For all those aspects of life that this community needs in order to sustain itself and thrive, how do we significantly increase resilience (to mitigate the effects of peak oil) and drastically reduce carbon emissions (to mitigate the effects of climate change)?
Processes involve:
- awareness raising around peak oil, climate change and the need to undertake a community lead process to rebuild resilience and reduce carbon
- connecting with existing groups in the community
- building bridges to local government
- connecting with other transition initiatives
- forming groups to look at all the key areas of life (food, energy, transport, health, heart & soul, economics & livelihoods, etc)
- kicking off projects aimed at building people’s understanding of resilience and carbon issues and community engagement
- eventually launching a community defined, community implemented “Energy Descent Action Plan” over a 15 to 20 year timescale
The community also recognized two crucial points:
- We used immense amounts of creativity, ingenuity and adaptability on the way up the energy upslope, and that there’s no reason for us not to do the same on the downslope;
- If we collectively plan and act early enough, there’s every likelihood that we can create a way of living that’s significantly more connected, more vibrant and more in touch with our environment than the oil-addicted treadmill that we find ourselves on today.
To weave the climate change and peak oil situations together, it is important to note that climate change makes the carbon reduction transition essential, peak oil makes it inevitable, and transition initiatives make it feasible, viable and attractive.
If you would like to learn more about Transition Newburyport and how you can join the conversation, the dialogue will occur Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day) at 7 p.m. at the Newburyport Public Library.
by Ari Herzog on March 23, 2009
by Ari Herzog on March 19, 2009
The farmers are back! Come one, come all to Bartlet Mall on Saturday, April 18 for the 2nd annual flower market!
It’s like a farmers’ market, but devoted to flowers and herbs. I shot this picture last year, and if this year’s crowds are anything like last year’s, it will be a fun time for all!
Organized by Arrowhead Farm owner Dick Chase, about a dozen local farms will display and sell their crops of flowers and herbs.
Hark! Is that music in the air? Yes, farmers won’t be the only celebrities parading around the city park, for musicians will also stroll around, weaving yarns of tapestry with their songs of lore.
But that’s not all. Don’t forget the first annual painting of the largest mural to ever grace your sights. It must be kept a surprise for now, but children and adults of all ages will enjoy a collaborative painting excursion, the likes of which you’ve probably never seen before! Wear your old clothes and bring your cameras!
The farmers, musicians, and mural painting will occur at Bartlett Mall on April 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a rain date of April 19.
by Ari Herzog on March 19, 2009
If you are a Newburyport student (or know someone who is), try to stay healthy on Friday, April 17 because this is one day in the school year you do not want to be sick.
Why, you ask? Because Earth Day is coming to you!
- Bresnahan School students will have an assembly on farming.
- Brown School and Immaculate Conception students will have assemblies on the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.
- Molin School students will have field trips to the biomass furnace and new wind turbine at Mark Richey Woodworking, and to Joppa Flats.
- Nock Middle School students will be treated to be a guest speaker talking about science.
- and Newburyport High Schoolers will be presented a showcase on wave energy and aquaculture.
Works are also underway to hold similar events at other schools in Amesbury, Newbury, Salisbury, and West Newbury.
by Ari Herzog on March 19, 2009
Remember to wear long pants and pack insect repellent for back-to-back hiking explorations in picturesque Newbury.
The fun begins on Saturday, April 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. when the Old Town Hill Stewardship Committee sponsors an outdoor walk through Old Town Hill Reservation. Enjoy the varied landscapes at Old Town Hill by hiking over the hill and returning along the salt marsh.
You are asked to meet at the TTOR parking lot off Newman Road.
On Sunday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the Coffin’s Island Stewardship Committee sponsors a morning of exploration and trail maintenance, when you can learn up-close about the conservation land jointly owned by the City of Newburyport and the Town of Newbury.
Please bring clippers and loppers, if you have them, to help brush back and improve the trails. Suggested parking is along the south side of Scotland Road in Newbury–off the pavement, if possible–opposite the Coffin’s Island gate located several hundred yards east of the school bus garage.
by Ari Herzog on March 15, 2009
With six weeks until the 1st annual Earth Expo debuts on the grounds of Maudslay State Park–inside the Maudslay Arts Center barn–additional vendors are sought to sell, sample, or educate the public about their products and services.
The Earth Expo runs Sunday, April 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., concurrent to the trail running and off-road biking of the Dirty DuEarthlon outside. Round tables and lighting will be provided, in addition to electricity accessibility.
Many vendors have already signed up, including:
- Ecoquette with their unique Puerto Rican-inspired eco-friendly skirts
- Pins With a Past, featuring brooches, bolas, and lavalieres crafted from recycled metal and gems
- Julia Spinella sells her designed Mermaid organic t-shirts, as shown in this photo from last year
- Karen Dardinski displays and sells recycled vintage clothing and accessories
- Ingrid Regina and her “magical painted furniture”–you have to see it to believe it!
- Jo Tyler with educational displays on factory farming and dietary changes
- Flavrz Beverage Corporation with a new organic energy drink concentrate
- Revitalive Health & Wellness, a raw food wellness center, selling wheatgrass, sprouts, smoothies, and juices
- and more!
Are you a vendor interested in selling or offering samples of an ecological-friendly product? Or are you an organization or individual who wants to make a difference with materials on a table?
If the answer is yes, please fill out the contact form with your information so we can follow-up and determine if there is additional room. We will require pre-payment for $20, and a copy of your certificate of insurance or food permit, if you have one.
Photo credit: Ari Herzog
While in the area for Earth Day activities, please consider attending free author readings and lectures of the 4th annual