The BEAT News

May 12, 2011

In the News

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Environmental Monitor
Public Notices Alphabetically by town
The BEAT News Archives

Advocacy News (Includes how to reach your legislators)

DEP Enforcement Actions In The Berkshire

Please send items of interest to kristen@thebeatnews.org
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Comment Period Open for Draft Clean Water Act Guidance

The Army Corps of Engineers has just released their Draft Clean Water Act Guidance. Here is the Request for Comments:http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/reg/11/spn050211.pdf

On May 2, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) jointly published in the Federal Register their proposal to issue clarifying guidance for  determining which waters and wetlands are protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA) programs. The agencies are soliciting comments on the proposed draft guidance from interested parties, and the comment period will be 60 days.

The proposed draft guidance is intended to improve the consistency, predictability, and transparency of jurisdictional determinations and be fully consistent with the CWA, applicable regulations, and Supreme Court decisions.

You may submit comments, identified by docket number EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0409, by any of the following methods:

  • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov at docket ID no. EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0409. Please see the Federal Register notice for instructions on submitting comments.
  • E-mail: owdocket@epa.gov. Include EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0409 in the subject line of the message.
  • Mail: Send the original and three copies of your comments to: Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention: Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0409.
  • Hand Delivery/Courier: Deliver your comments to EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460, Attention: Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0409. Such deliveries are accepted only during the Docket’s normal hours of operation, which are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The telephone number for the Water Docket is (202) 566-2426.

After the comment period has ended, the agencies will thoroughly consider all comments received as they develop final guidance. The 2008 Clean Water Act Guidance will remain in effect until final guidance is published in the Federal Register.

A copy of the proposed draft guidance is available through the USACE webpage at
http://www.usace.army.mil/CECW/Pages/nnpi.aspx, the EPA webpage at http://www.epa.gov, at
www.regulations.gov (docket number EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0409), or the Federal Register at
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=FR.
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MA Clean Energy Plan Unveiled

On Monday, May 23rd David Cash, Undersecretary with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, will explain in a public presentation how the Patrick/Murray Administration proposes to grow the clean energy economy, reduce energy costs, become more energy independent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by the year 2020.  The presentation will be a good opportunity for residents, students, and the business community to get an overall view of energy use and conservation measures across the state.  The presentation will be held in the City Council Chambers in Pittsfield City Hall at 7:00 pm. 

The Mass. Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 describes that several measures, already in place, will get Massachusetts much of the way toward that goal.  Existing policies include the Green Communities Act, which steers funding for energy project towards communities that have achieved Green Communities status.  To date Becket, Lenox, Pittsfield and Williamstown have been designated at Green Communities, and another 5 Berkshire communities are actively working towards designation.

“We welcome Mr. Cash and the team from Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to Pittsfield and the Berkshires, where we are leading in Green Energy,” said Pittsfield Mayor Ruberto.  “ I encourage both residents and business leaders to come out and hear the plans for reducing the state’s carbon footprint and how they can be a part of it.” 

A targeted portfolio of additional policies, chosen because they promise overall cost savings, will allow the Bay State to reach the most ambitious target for GHG reduction of any state in the country.  The plan estimates that 42,000 to 48,000 jobs could result from full implementation of the plan in 2020, in both jobs that fill every niche in the clean energy supply chain and jobs throughout the economy as lower fossil-fuel energy expenses lead to more spending on in-state goods and services. 

The Conservation Law Foundation has said this about the plan: “The vision presented in this report is both bold and well-grounded in the facts and opportunities we face.  It will serve the citizens and economy of Massachusetts, and New England, well.  It took a lot of courage to put this out there.  It will take even more courage, and determination, to make it happen.  We at CLF look forward to helping it become a reality.”

The Clean Energy and Climate Plan 2020, both the full report and the executive summary, can be viewed on the Energy and Environmental Affairs website at http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/eea/energy/2020-clean-energy-plan.pdf
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Mercury from Cement Plant Just West of the Berkshires

About 100 local citizens of Ravena, New York (upwind from the Berkshires), attended a meeting on January 6, 2011, at the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School to hear Michael Bank of the Harvard School of Public Health discuss the results of a study based on testing of mercury levels in 172 people. According to Bank, nearly one person in 10 of those tested had blood levels high enough to warrant a visit to their doctor. The study found that fish consumption was not the source of the mercury. Local citizens have organized Community Advocates for Safe Emissions to push for tougher controls on mercury pollution from the Lafarge cement plant, which uses coal fly ash from power plants and fires its kilns with coal. The plant is New York State’s second-largest emitter of mercury.

Coal fly ash is a fine gray powder residue produced by coal-fired power plants and used to make cement. Modern pollution controls in coal plants capture the fly ash before it becomes airborne. As a result, heavy metals such as mercury are concentrated in what the EPA considers "recycled air pollution control residue."

In New York's Hudson Valley, the Lafarge cement plant releases between 380 and 400 pounds of toxic mercury per year, equivalent to the four largest coal plants in the state.[13]

The EPA reclassified fly ash from waste to a reusable material in the 1980s. The agency adopted rules favoring cement produced with fly ash in 1983. In 1988, it reported that fly ash was not a hazardous material. The agency exempted ash from regulations for hazardous waste beginning in 1993. With new findings of increased toxic mercury levels, states including New York, Virginia, and Maryland are considering stricter rules to regulate mercury emissions from cement plants.[13]

To find out more visit Source Watch's Mercury and Coal

13 "Fly ash: Culprit at Lafarge? Residue of coal-burning is being examined as possible source of mercury pollution," Times Union, October 26, 2008.
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Walking tour highlights river's role in North Adams
- By Jennifer Huberdeau
Wednesday May 11, 2011 North Adams Transcript

 In an effort to raise public awareness of the integral part the Hoosic River plays in the city -- both past and present -- the Hoosic River Revival Coalition has created a self-guided walking tour of the river. The brochure, "Hoosic River History: A Walking Tour Through North Adams," follows the river for about two miles View Full Story
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Massachusetts Coal- and Oil-Fired Power Plant to Close

Dominion will cease operating two of the four units at Salem Harbor Power Station by the end of the year and plans to retire all four units on June 1, 2014, because pending environmental regulations and market conditions are making the power station uneconomical to operate.

Company officials today told ISO-New England, the independent system operator for the region's electric grid, that it will not seek to negotiate an agreement that could keep the station operating beyond existing commitments.

"This was a decision we had to make given the significant costs required to keep the station in compliance with pending environmental regulations and the falling margins for coal stations selling electricity in New England," said David A. Christian, chief executive officer of Dominion Generation.

According to the Conservation Law Foundation, "ISO-NE presented its preferred option for upgrading the transmission system to relieve any need for the polluting, obsolete, and un-economic coal- and oil-fired plant. The solution is simple, cost-effective, and clean.  nstead of propping up the 60-year-old plant with above-market payments to be on call when electricity demand is highest, a transmission solution would upgrade the lines so they can carry more power into the area. The advantages are clear: by upgrading the transmission infrastructure, ratepayers will reap the benefits of a reliable system for years into the future at much lower cost than continuing to operate an out-of-date plant that emits tons of toxic pollution into the air each year."
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“Plan Nord” and Northern Pass: New England needs its own plan
from the Conservation Law Foundation Scoop

As noted in numerous media reports (for example, here and here), the Province of Québec has formally announced its “Plan Nord,” a 25 year, $80 billion plan to develop Québec’s northern region (official “nutshell” here).  Plan Nord reflects major new public investments in mining operations, hydroelectric and wind energy facilities, forestry, and transportation and communications infrastructure.

The scale of Plan Nord is hard to overstate; Premier Jean Charest is proudly proclaiming that Plan Nord is the “project of a generation,” “a sweeping, human adventure,” and “unique both in its scope and its approach.”  The plan adds that “the scope of the Plan Nord will make it in the coming decades what the development of La Manicouagan and James Bay were to the 1960s and 1970s.”  The land area covered by the plan is about twice the size of Texas.

The formal public launch of Plan Nord is an opportunity to think about what Québec’s plans may mean for New England and our regional energy future. A fundamental part of Plan Nord is developing the region’s energy resources, including new hydroelectric generating capacity totaling 3,000 megawatts.  (This amount of power is equivalent to five Vermont Yankees.) While important to the plan’s projections of provincial energy needs, these facilities are also integral to Québec utility Hydro-Québec’s strategy to step up exports of electric power to the northeastern United States, including New England.  The plan itself notes Vermont’s recent renewal of a long-term agreement to import 225 megawatts of power from Hydro-Québec as a key early success.

Although Québec has marketed Plan Nord as at the vanguard of “sustainable development,” any plan this massive and costly should inspire a fair amount of skepticism, especially when its scale is compared to the breathtaking ecological manipulations of Québec’s recent history. Indeed, the plan’s economic focus on new investments in mining suggests less than a total commitment to sustainability. On the other hand, as our colleagues at the Pew Environment Group’s International Boreal Conservation Campaign noted yesterday, the plan commits to protection of 50% of Québec’s northern land area for environmental protection and safeguarding biodiversity. It remains to be seen if this commitment is meaningful; if it is, it would be a historic and farsighted move.

CLF is deeply concerned about what this plan – including its focus on resource extraction and exploitation - means for Québec, New England, and indeed the global environment.  Hydroelectric developments on the scale contemplated by Plan Nord involve inundation of vast land areas, which in turn results in the destruction of wide swathes of Canada’s boreal forest – one of the world’s largest intact carbon sinks - as well as methane and other greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing vegetation and releases of heavy metals from flooded soils. Hydropower reservoirs in Québec already cover an area greater than the size of New Hampshire, and further inundation will be required for Plan Nord projects.   These projects have dramatic impacts on indigenous people and their way of life; at least some indigenous groups appear deeply dissatisfied with the public process that led to the Plan Nord.

With Plan Nord moving forward, the time is now for the U.S. Department of Energy to answer CLF’s call for a regional, comprehensive analysis of the nature and extent of the need for energy imports from Québec.  Québec clearly has a plan for its future, and – laudable environmental “commitments” aside – that plan is all about enriching Québec; New England and the northeastern U.S. need a coherent plan of our own that reflects our energy policies and environmental values.
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Public Hearings on the Use of Recreational Vehicles

WHAT:

The Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) will hold two public meetings on May 11 and May 12 in Boston and Worcester, respectively, on the adoption of new draft regulations governing the use of off-highway recreational and snow vehicles. MEP will accept written public comment on the regulations through Friday, May 13 at 5 p.m. The draft regulations include provisions:

  • Establishing an education requirement for operators under 18 years of age to complete a recreation vehicle safety and responsibility course as approved by the Director of the Office of Law Enforcement;
  • Establishing minimum operating ages and engine sizes for recreation and snow vehicles;
  • Requiring registration of all recreation and snow vehicles operated in the Commonwealth;
  • Requiring new registration numbering size and placement;
  • Prohibiting noxious fumes and excessive noise;
  • Protecting property, wildlife and habitats; and
  • Increasing fines and penalties for violations.

For more information on the proposed regulations, visit http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/323cmr30.pdf.

 

WHO:

MEP Captain Chris Baker
MEP Lt. Merri Walker


WHEN:

May 11, 2011
Massachusetts Environmental Police Headquarters, Atrium, 251 Causeway St., Boston 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

May 12, 2011
Shrewsbury High School, 64 Holden Street, Shrewsbury 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.


OTHER INFORMATION:

The Environmental Police are accepting written comments via email, with the subject line OHV Regulation Comments, to OHV.SafetyCourse@MassMail.State.MA.US, via fax at (617)626-1670 or mail to the address below.

Attn: OHV Regulation Comments, Suzette Pacheco
Massachusetts Environmental Police
251 Causeway St., Suite 100
Boston, MA 02114

*The Environmental Police will accept written comments until 5 p.m. on Friday, May 13, 2011.


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Certificate Program in Sustainable Food and Farming

 
The University of Massachusetts recently approved a new 15-credit Certificate Program in Sustainable Food and Farming.  This is available for college students, high school grads, and students with a GED.   It is possible to complete this degree entirely online, mixed online and on campus, or entirely on campus. 

To learn more see:
http://world.edu/content/online-certificate-sustainable-food-farming-university-massachusetts/

http://www.umassulearn.net/programs/green-programs/sustainable-food-farming
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Get Updated on the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act

Due to positive response from attendees at a presentation given at the MACC Annual Conference this spring, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) has scheduled a series of presentations about the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) across the state. Interested conservationists, property owners, conservation commissioners, planning boards and commissions, other city and town officials, land managers, conservation organizations, and land developers are invited to attend. The presentations will be given by Dr. Eve Schluter, NHESP Endangered Species Review Biologist. Schluter will provide an overview of the Act, an explanation of the 2010 MESA regulation changes, information on Priority and Estimated habitat mapping and NHESP role in reviewing activities and project located in rare species habitats. Presentation dates are:

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 – Lenox Town Hall, 6 Walker Street, Lenox 7 - 9 PM

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 – Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 525 South Pleasant Street, Amherst 7- 9PM

Can’t make the talks? For information on the 2010 revisions, go to the Natural Heritage area of DFW’s website to: www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/regulatory_review/mesa/mesa_proposed_change.htm. For more information, call the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program at (508) 389-6360.
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The 2011 Kodak American Greenways Awards

Do you know an organization that is working to create or improve a greenway, trail or waterway? Apply for a Kodak American Greenways Award grant, and your organization could receive up to $2,500 in grant funds and recognition that comes with selection by this prestigious national program.
 
The Eastman Kodak Company, The Conservation Fund and the National Geographic Society team up each year to present the Kodak American Greenways Awards Program. One major element of the Program involves "seed" grant awards to organizations that are growing our nation's network of greenways, blueways, trails and natural areas. These projects connect Americans to the outdoors and their heritage. 
 
For 2011, the Program anticipates awarding up to fifty percent of the grants to those greenways projects that demonstrate the convergence of economic prosperity and the environment.  The vitality of a community depends not only on its economic prospects but also on the quality of its natural environment and outdoor recreational space.  Previous recipients have undertaken projects that included the design of a water trail and tourism guide in Columbia, NC; the conversion of an abandoned rail line into a multi-use public trail along the historic Mission Zanja irrigation canal; planting flowers along a community trail to brighten an impoverished neighborhood of Los Angeles; and creating a county-wide greenway and tourism plan in Joe Daviess County, IL. 

Please see the application at http://grants.conservationfund.org for full details and to apply for consideration of your greenway project for Kodak American Greenway Award funding.


This year's application deadline is June 15th. Most grants range from $500 to $1,000. The maximum grant is $2,500.

Description: BWLogo240X38

To learn more about the grant awards program, please visit our website or click here to go directly to the grant application.

Questions? E-mail or call at (703) 525-6300.
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Holyoke Landlords Face Fines for Failing to Notify Tenants about Lead Paint
(Boston, Mass. – May 9, 2011) – A property management company and three owners of rental properties in and around Holyoke, Mass., face EPA penalties of up to $16,000 per violation for violating federal lead-based paint disclosure rules at properties in West Springfield and Holyoke.

According to a complaint filed by EPA’s New England office, Atlas Property Management of Holyoke and the three affiliated property owners are charged with 27 counts of violating lead-based paint disclosure requirements between Feb. 2007 and Nov. 2009 when they rented 11 housing units at 10 properties.

Specifically, the parties are charged with failing to give tenants required lead hazard information pamphlets, failing to include lead warning statements in leases, failing to include disclosure statements regarding lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards, and failing to provide records or reports pertaining to lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards.

The allegations are based on documents obtained from Atlas during a Sept. 2007 EPA inspection, as well as from the company’s responses to an Aug. 2009 EPA information request.  Atlas is based in Holyoke and manages more than 250 residential rental units.

The federal lead disclosure rule, a part of the Toxic Substances Control Act, helps ensure that tenants get adequate information about the risks associated with lead paint before they sign any lease obligating them to rent the unit. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to lead paint exposure, which can cause developmental impairment, reading and learning disabilities, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, hyperactivity and behavioral problems. Adults with high lead levels can suffer difficulties during pregnancy, high blood pressure, nerve disorders, memory problems and muscle and joint pain.

Federal law requires that property owners, property managers and real estate agents leasing or selling housing built before 1978 provide certain information to tenants and buyers, including: an EPA-approved lead hazard information pamphlet called “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home;” a Lead Warning Statement; statements disclosing any known lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards; and copies of all available records or reports regarding lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards. This information must be provided to tenants and buyers before they enter into leases or purchase and sales agreements. Property owners, property managers and real estate agents each bear responsibility for providing lead disclosure information and must keep copies of records regarding lead disclosures for at least three years.

More information:
-Lead-based paint health hazards (epa.gov/ne/eco/ne_lead/index.html)
-Lead-based paint disclosure rule (epa.gov/ne/enforcement/leadpaint/index.html)
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New Farmers' Market opens in Williamsburg Center on May 12th!

The Burgy Thursday Market will run every Thursday from May 12th to October 27th, 2:30-7:00 pm on the Meekins Library riverside lawn (closing time may vary seasonally). The market will feature fresh produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, flowers, baked goods, maple products, specialty food products and local crafts from regular vendors Bread Euphoria (Haydenville), Crabapple Farm (Chesterfield), Good Field Farm (Williamsburg), Mockingbird Farm (Easthampton), Paul's Sugar House (Williamsburg), Power of the Petal (Williamsburg), Town Farm (Northampton) and Twin Maples Farm (Williamsburg) and a wide variety of rotational vendors. Come to the market to support local farmers, visit with your neighbors, enjoy the live music, and learn more about what's going on in town. Be a part of the Burgy Thursday bustle!

For more information or to sign up for our e-newsletter, please contact Andrew Huckins at burgymarket@gmail.com
The Burgy Thursday Market is supported in part by Florence Savings Bank.
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Stop the HMA (Hot Mix Asphalt) Plant! in Sheffield and Canaan

No Asphalt! Defense Fund has two public information meetings coming up.  The first is on Thursday May 12th at 7 pm in the Parish Hall of the Trinity Methodist Church in Ashley Falls.  The second is on Saturday May 14th at 5 pm in Dewey Hall in Sheffield.
 

Here is the neighbors’ letter, as well as  updated 4-page information sheet.  Feel free to pass these on to those you think would be interested.  

NADF (for No Asphalt! Defense Fund)

Contributions to the following address are most welcome:
NADF, P. O. Box 7, Sheffield, MA 01257
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Family Fun Day at Pleasant Valley 

Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary welcomes all to Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 4 at 472 W. Mountain Rd., Lenox, from 10 am to 4 pm, rain or shine.  Underwritten by Greylock Federal Credit Union, all events are free of charge.

Dr. Marmalade’s puppets perform “Maggie’s Garden” at 11 am, and musician David Grover entertains at noon.  Naturalist Tom Tyning presents live Fabulous Frogs at 1:30 pm, followed by raptor rehabilitator Tom Ricardi’s Live Birds of Prey at 3 pm.

Fiddler George Wilson will welcome visitors with traditional tunes.  Children may make castings of animal tracks, and—new this year—build a bug to take home.  Berkshire Environmental Action Team will explain how to keep our rivers clean, and Tony Pisano of the Northern Berkshire Beekeepers Association will answer questions about honeybees.  Guided nature walks are offered all day.

Lunches, snacks, and Project Native plants are for sale.  Mass Audubon family memberships will also be available at half-price.

Throughout the day, families are invited to explore the sanctuary’s seven miles of pond, forest, and stream trails.  For more than sixty years, the sanctuary’s daycamp has offered outdoor education and fun for children.  Its birds, wildlife, plants, and natural environment have attracted visitors from around the world. 

For further information: 413-637-0320 or www.massaudubon.org.
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Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom Spring Newsletter, Summer Workshops and Graduate Course

Greetings,

I am sending you a link to the Spring Newsletter of Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom.  I am also sending you the full list of our Summer Workshops on the Farm for Educators and information on Our Three- Credit Summer Graduate Course.

Click here to read the Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom Spring Newsletter. 
http://www.aginclassroom.org/html/Newsletter/Current_Newsletter/newsletter_current.htmlfor

Articles include:

  • Feature article on Massachusetts Agricultural Fairs with a list of fairs
  • Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar: How to Get Involved
  • Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom Update: including Special Award Honoring MAC received on Agriculture Day at the State House from the Massachusetts Agricultural Promotions Board.  Also Volunteer Training in April.
  • New AgriScience Excellence Award Honors Northampton Teacher Mary Cowhey from the Jackson Street School.  The award is sponsored by MAC in collaboration with the Trustees of The Easter States Exhibition
  • Workshops and Conferences
    • 12 Summer Workshops on the Farm  (see list of workshops below)
    • Summer Graduate Course (see details below)
    • Fall Greening the School Conference on Saturday, November 5
    • Scholarships available to new and urban teachers 
  • Calendar of Events and Educational Resources

Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom is Sponsoring 12 Workshops for Educators on Farms This Summer

Join us for one of more of our summer workshops and gain knowledge and resources while you explore local farms. Each workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offers classroom-ready activities and focuses on one unique aspect of agriculture with exploration of the work that takes place at that farm. The fee of $30 includes pdp’s, lunch (unless otherwise indicated in the workshop description) and materials. We hope to see you this summer.

Wednesday, June 29    Dairy Farming in Massachusetts, Our Family Farms in Leyden
As recently as twenty five years ago, dairy farming was one of the major agricultural productions in Massachusetts. The high price of land and the small amount of money that dairy farmer received for their milk has greatly reduced the number of dairy farms in the state. Those that remain have developed innovative techniques and partnerships to bring the milk to the consumer or the consumer to the farm. On Wednesday, June 29, travel to Leyden in the western hills of the Pioneer Valley to learn about a small cooperative of dairy farmers called Our Family Farms who work together to process and market their product. Angie Facey, 2nd generation dairy farmer will introduce us to the herd of Holsteins with ten percent Brown Swiss cows and offer an overview of dairy farming in Massachusetts. Learn about the life cycle of the cow and her young, milk production and processing and about the other crops that the farmer must raise to support the herd. Following a farm lunch we’ll tour the dairy farm and farm fields. Warren Facey will also show us the maple tree and the sugarshack that produce a late winter product. (Lunch is included.)

Wednesday, July 6    Herbs, Gardening for Biodiversity, Nursery and Microgreens Workshop Quansett Nursery, South Dartmouth
Spend Wednesday, July 6, at Quansett Nursery in South Dartmouth, learning about herbs for the classroom and school garden. Debi Hogan will offer an overview of favorite herbs for children. She will tell you how to grow them, offering tips for using them for their herbal benefit and will share a number of herbal activity ideas that are sure to be a hit with students in the classroom or garden. We’ll also take a closer look at plants that you can add to your school garden or schoolyard that will provide the food for wildlife from insects to birds and animals, taking care to have food for all life stages. Following a farm lunch we’ll tour the nursery with owner Fred Dabney learning about the annual, perennials, ground covers and other ornamentals as well as the herbs and vegetable plants that the nursery produces for the wholesale market, and for farmers at their farm stands, farmer’s markets and CSA’s. Then visit the new greenhouse operation that grows microgreens year round, supplying these tiny young greens for the restaurant markets throughout the northeast. (Lunch included.)

Thursday, July 7, 2011 Gardening in Containers & Horticultural Therapy Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown
On Thursday, July 7 travel to Watertown where we’ll learn about the Horticultural Therapy program at the Perkins School for the Blind with Horticultural Therapist, Deborah Krause. We’ll explore the greenhouse and gardens, learning about the educational programming and many therapeutic activities that take place at the school. The workshop will then focus on the variety of container gardens that are used for both flowers and vegetables. We’ll learn how to construct the vertical garden boxes and raised planters and will gain tips for growing and caring for the plants in these containers. Garden accessibility will also be discussed. (Lunch included)

Tuesday, July 12, 2011 Horticulture and Environmental Education at Heritage Museum & Gardens, Sandwich
Tuesday, July 12, takes us to Heritage Museums and Gardens in East Sandwich on Cape Cod. Heritage Museums & Gardens, a 43-year-old not for profit, is the largest cultural organization on Cape Cod and the largest public garden in Southern New England. It is located on 100 acres of gardens and nature trails on the banks of Shawme Pond. In addition to the magnificent grounds, known for their encyclopedic collections of daylilies, hostas and hydrangeas, the estate holds a nationally significant collection of rhododendrons, specialty gardens, water features, and sculpture. Hidden Hollow, a new family-friendly feature, is a place for exploration of the natural world and learning about environmental stewardship. You will work with Heritage’s Education and Horticulture staff thru hands-on activities that will surely engage students of any age. You’ll spend the morning immersed in environmental activities and nature exploration as we explore Hidden Hollow. In the afternoon, we’ll tour the grounds and learn about plants and gardens that grow on this beautiful property. (Lunch included.)

Thursday, July 14 Woods of the World, Sustainable Forestry & Wood Gasification Workshop at the Botanic Garden of Smith College and Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton
Learn about the value of forests and woods to the economy and ecology of the state on Thursday, July 14. We’ll spend the morning at the Botanic Garden of Smith College in Northampton. Explore their amazing Woods of the World Exhibit with arborist Jay Girard. It features more that 187 samples of wood from around the world as well as many of the products made from woods. Kent Lage, Director of Forestry for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation and a local forester will offer an educational presentation on forestry in Massachusetts emphasizing the sustainable practices used by foresters throughout the state. We’ll have lunch by the pond and give you time to explore the Greenhouses and gardens before we leave for Cooley-Dickinson Hospital. You will tour the wood gasification system that has been producing the energy and heat for the hospital for more than twenty-five years.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 Canning and Preserving of Locally Grown Foods Derrick Farm in Oakham and Warren Farm and Sugarhouse, North Brookfield
Meet at Derrick Farm in Oakham on Tuesday, July 19, where we’ll learn about this small pick-your-own Blueberry farm. Then we’ll pick the blueberries we will be using for the jam and you may also choose to pick some to take home. Then drive to the nearby Warren Farm and Sugarhouse in North Brookfield where you’ll discover the lost art of home canning! Using those beautiful hand-picked blueberries and all natural ingredients, you'll make blueberry jam. Learn about creating safe foods, which are naturally shelf-stable with farm host Janice Wentworth. Technical topics include: sterilization, cross-contamination, vacuum sealing, low and high acid fruits, water availability, and lots more. Morning snacks, fruit, jars, and great conversation will be provided. We will also walk the farm while the jam sets. You will take home your own blueberry jam! (Additional Materials Fee of $12 for blueberry jam and jars; bring your own lunch. We will pay for the blueberries that you pick for the jam. You may choose to purchase and pick additional blueberries at $2.20 per pound. Registration Limit 12.)

Thursday, July 21, 2011 Embryology in the Classroom, Raising Chickens and Turkeys at Ouimet Family Farm, Westfield
The fifth grade students at Coburn Elementary School in West Springfield incubate eggs and hatch chicks every year, under the directions of teacher Jessica Ouimet. These activities provide many cross curricular opportunities for teaching reading, writing, math, science and much more that she will share with you. Once the chicks are old enough Jessica takes them home. Spend Thursday, July 21, with Jessica and her husband Alan at their Westfield home and on nearby farm land where they raise the chickens for eggs and meat, raise turkeys and will soon have guinea fowl. They also have a young orchard and vegetable gardens and even tap trees for maple syrup. Learn how they are building their young farm operation and the links Jessica makes to the classroom. We will also take time out during the day to build a mini-chicken coop. (Lunch included.)

Tuesday, July 26 Cranberries, Bogs and Soils Workshop, Garretson’s Cranberry Farm, Marshfield
Travel to Marshfield on Tuesday, July 26 where we’ll spend the early morning investigating hands-on activities for the classroom related to soils including soil texture, structure composition and conservation with classroom educator Ken Oles. Next try out some leadership techniques that focus on consensus building that are a hallmark of the National Outdoor Leadership School with NOLS educator and farm family member Doug Lowry. During the afternoon we’ll tour the cranberry bogs and associated wetlands and uplands at Garretson’s Cranberry Farm with 3rd generation farmers Gib Garretson and Sarah Garretson Lowry. Learn about these unique native fruits, bog construction and maintenance, drainage, irrigation, the wet harvest method, marketing and the history of cranberries in Massachusetts. (Lunch included.)

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 Teaching Sustainability Using the School Garden, Jackson Street School in Northampton
For the past two years teachers at the Jackson Street School in Northampton have engaged in a school-wide garden initiative to promote environmental learning, healthy eating, and an awareness of caring for our earth through recycling and composting. On Wednesday, August 3rd, teachers Mary Bates, Kathy Bredin, Mary Cowhey, Micki Darling, Susan Ebitz, Aaron Piziali and Katharine Walmsley will host an all-day workshop at the Jackson Street School and Garden. Workshop topics will include: organizing a school garden; using the garden as an outdoor classroom for science, nutrition, literacy, social studies and math; the farm to school initiative; and the school-wide garbage reduction program. Learn how these teachers are partnering with faculty, school administration, parents, the school PTO, the Northampton Education Foundation and Northampton city departments to make these efforts sustainable over the long term. Best for Grades K-6. (Lunch included)

Thursday, August 4, 2011 Honeybees, Beekeeping, Nutrition and Composting at the School, Leicester Primary School and Small Bit Farm in Leicester
Thursday, August 4 takes us to the small mill town of Leicester in the hills west of Worcester. Spend the morning learning about pollination, honey bees, beekeeping with Dianna Provencher of Little Bit Farm. Dianna is passionate about tending honey bees and she will explain how she works with her hives at her farm. She will also share the various ways that insects pollinate plants and the many products that can be made from honey and beeswax.

In the afternoon, travel to the Community Garden in Leicester which abuts the playground at the Primary School. Occupational Therapist Michele Connor and Speech and Language Pathologist Sarah Mahoney integrate work in the garden with activities in the classrooms and therapy rooms. Classes have ground corn and investigated seed saving as well as using materials from the garden for art projects. As Special Educators, Michele and Sarah rely on many hands on activities to facilitate retention of concepts being taught. Then Nutritionist and educator Rita Brennan Olson will discuss connections between gardens and good nutrition. (Lunch included.)

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 Oyster Farming and Water Quality at East Dennis Oyster Farm on Cape Cod
On Tuesday, August 9, travel to East Dennis on Cape Cod to learn about oyster farming. We’ll meet and spend the morning at the Jacob Sears Memorial Library studying the science of oyster culture including how they are tended and raised, as well as how they benefit water quality and their role in the marine environment. After lunch we’ll trek on down to the beach and out to the oyster nursery at the East Dennis Oyster Farm, where owners John and Stephanie Lowell will offer an overview of their operation from seed to harvest and market. (Lunch included)

Thursday, August 11, 2011 The Old and the New of Agriculture in Massachusetts Carlson’s Orchard in Harvard and Flintlock Farm in Still River
On Thursday, August 11, we’ll start the day at Carlson’s Orchard in Harvard to learn about growing Apples, Peaches and Nectarines. This second generation farm was started in 1936 and produces 90 acres of apples, 20 acres of peaches and nectarines and a pick-your-own raspberry and blueberry area. Owner Frank Carlson will offer an overview of tree fruit farming in Massachusetts and will highlight techniques for growing and managing, harvesting and storing these crops. A highlight of the tour will be a visit to the new solar farm that covers two acres and helps offset the energy used in storage.

Following a farm lunch we’ll car pool to nearby Captain Pollard’s Flintlock Farm, a 1780's period (post Revolution Farm). Owner Phil Wilson and farm educator Jenna Sweeney will tell you about the lost arts associated with the subsistence farmers who colonized this area. You will learn about the Physic garden, neoclassical landscaping, farming with draft animals, the organic practices of the times as well as the farmer’s class war of the Shay’s Rebellion. This farm is connected to the first local scientific farmer, Isaac Marshall, who is connected to the use of rock phosphates and other soil amendments.


Three Credit Summer Graduate Course for Teachers

Our popular 3 Credit Summer Graduate Course for educators returns for the summer of 2011. Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, collaborating with Fitchburg State College, will offer this three-credit graduate course, titled "Growing Agriculture in the Classroom," using Massachusetts farms as classrooms. Teachers will participate in agricultural-literacy training through fun, hands-on study and investigation of agriculture education resources. It will help enhance curriculum and meet many MCAS requirements.

The course will meet on Tuesdays, June 28 and Tuesday, August 16 at the Brigham Hill Community Farm in North Grafton from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Using Massachusetts Farms as your classroom, learn how agriculture can enhance your curriculum, enthrall your students and meet many of the MCAS requirements. Workshops offer hands-on, open-ended experiences, activities and resources related to a variety of agricultural topics.  Each participant must attend both sessions and also participate in six additional workshops during the summer, selected from the twelve workshops listed above, on a variety of topics in locations across the state.  Participants will also keep a journal of their agricultural journey and developing a classroom project, which they will present to their peers on August 16.

The fee for this eight-day course is $500 and includes all materials; farm workshops; some meals and three graduate credits from Fitchburg State College.

For more information on any of the programs listed above, visit our website at www.aginclassroom.org or contact:

Debi Hogan
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom
P.O. Box 345
Seekonk, MA 02771
debi.hogan@earthlink.net
www.aginclassroom.org
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 2011 Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Revitalization Priority Projects

Upcoming Opportunity: The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) of the Department of Fish and Game will issue a Request for Responses (RFR) in late May seeking nominations for aquatic habitat restoration and revitalization Priority Projects. Selected projects will be eligible to receive technical assistance from DER staff, technical services by qualified contractors, and/or direct funding. These projects will remain on the Priority Projects list and maintain eligibility for support in subsequent years until they are completed or new information warrants a revision of status.

The purpose of issuing a pre-RFR announcement is to give potential Priority Project applicants a chance to freely discuss project ideas with DER staff, with the objective of strengthening the quality of submissions and to help ensure that submitted projects closely fit the DER Priority Project criteria.  Once the RFR is issued, DER staff is no longer free to discuss proposed projects with applicants and can only respond to technical questions (like which forms need to be submitted in response to the RFR).  

So, after you’ve read the pre-RFR announcement, if you have an idea for a project that appears to meet the DER Priority Project criteria, you are encouraged to contact us to discuss before the RFR is issued (expected in mid-to-late May).

To read the pre-RFR announcement on-line, go to http://www.comm-pass.com, click on “Search for Solicitations”, then enter DER 2011-01 into the “Keywords” box.    

The text of the pre-RFR announcement is also provided below.

DER 2011-01
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITY
Fiscal Year 2011 Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Revitalization Priority Projects
Request for Responses to be issued on or about May 18, 2011
TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) of the Department of Fish and Game will issue a Request for Responses (RFR) in early June seeking nominations for aquatic habitat restoration and revitalization Priority Projects.  Selected projects will be eligible to receive technical assistance from DER staff, technical services by qualified contractors paid for by DER, and/or direct grant funding. These projects will remain on the Priority Projects list and maintain eligibility for support in subsequent years until they are completed or new information warrants a revision of status.

A list and description of current Restoration and Revitalization Priority Projects is available at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/der/der_maps/pp_map.htm

Interested applicants are encouraged to discuss potential projects with DER staff prior to the issuance of the RFR, expected on or about May 18, 2011.  Under state procurement regulations, Department of Fish & Game, and other Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), staff will not be able to discuss projects with proponents once the RFR is issued. The RFR will be posted at the Commonwealth’s procurement site, http://www.comm-pass.com under Open Solicitations, Department of Fish and Game.

Please direct all questions to Nick Wildman (617-626-1527; nick.wildman@state.ma.us).

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY
Project proponent: 
The DER invites nominations from both the public and private sectors for projects that protect, revitalize, and restore river and wetland habitats. This includes restoration project site landowners, non-profit and grassroots organizations, regional planning organizations, municipalities, and state and federal agencies.  For-profit firms who are not project site landowners are not eligible.

Project description:
Preference will be given to instream, riparian corridor, and coastal wetland projects that are part of a larger restoration/revitalization plan, address causes of impairment over symptoms, result in on-the-ground implementation, and are sustainable with minimal maintenance including the following:

  • Ecosystem-based river and wetland restoration projects, including (but not limited to):
    • Dam removal
    • Natural channel design
    • Stream daylighting
    • Improved stream crossings for surface hydrology and/or fish and wildlife passage (e.g. culvert replacement)
    • Fill removal / re-grading of wetland surface
    • Other innovative methods to restore the ecological integrity of rivers and wetlands
  • Urban revitalization of streams and stream corridors
    • Creation of natural, vegetated buffers in urban riparian corridors
    • Stream naturalization
    • Stream daylighting
    • Improved connections between communities and their rivers
    • Other innovative methods to restore the ecological integrity and community value of rivers
  • Projects beneficial to a watershed or river system or are a component of a larger restoration/revitalization effort, rather than an individual site
  • Projects that restore aquatic and riparian corridor habitat for multiple native species and multiple life stages of those species
  • Projects that build resiliency to climate change.

Restoration is defined as an action that assists in the recovery of natural aquatic ecosystems that have been degraded, altered, or destroyed.  Restoration activities restore natural processes, reduce or remove ecosystem stressors, increase ecosystem resiliency, and are self-sustaining to the maximum extent possible.

Urban stream revitalization is defined as improving the inter-connection between water quality and quantity, aquatic ecology, physical river structure, and land use, taking into consideration the social, cultural, and economic landscape.  Projects will result in habitat and ecosystem improvement and/or restoration of functions such as flood capacity, water quality, and linkage between the urban corridor and the river, thus improving public access and urban vitality. 

The DER will only support voluntary, proactive restoration projects that have no direct connection to compensatory mitigation and/or have no independent prior obligation to perform restoration/mitigation pursuant to statute, regulation, ordinance, consent decree, judgment, court order, permit condition, contract, enforcement order or other requirement of law.

Project proposals must be accompanied by a letter signed by the landowner(s) demonstrating strong commitment to pursue restoration.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Nominations for Priority Project Status must meet the eligibility requirements and follow the specific format outlined in the RFR.  Nominations will be evaluated by a DER review committee.  DER anticipates Priority Project selections will be made by August 2011.

 

REVIEW CRITERIA

Project proposals will be assessed by DER staff according to 3 main criteria:
1)    Ecological benefit (community benefit for revitalization projects)
2)    Extent of local leadership and its capacity
3)    Likelihood of success    
Other considerations may include, but are not limited to, geographic distribution of projects, opportunities for strategic partnerships, and DER’s overall project support capacity.

 

SELECTION PROCESS FOR PROJECTS AND SUPPORT 

For each application, DER will review the information provided and conduct a two-part assessment. The first part will be a desktop GIS analysis, whereby the project will be reviewed against data from MassGIS and other sources to assess the existing and potential ecological or community value of the proposed project area. Second, if the staff is not already familiar with the project site, a field visit may be conducted to facilitate the subsequent evaluation of project benefits, costs, and preliminary feasibility.

A review team will then evaluate each proposal using materials supplied by the applicant as well as information from the two-part DER assessment. Project selection will be based on consensus of the review team and the availability of DER resources to meet the needs of the project.

Once a project is selected it will be eligible to receive support that may include (1) technical assistance from DER staff (as time and resources will permit), (2) technical services from contractors, and/or (3) grant funding. The type and level of support will be determined annually until project completion or new information warrants a revision of project status. Technical assistance from DER staff may include: planning, project scoping, conceptual design consultation, fundraising support, project planning, site reconnaissance, permitting support, community organizing, GIS assessment, support of community outreach, partnership building, and design review.

Technical services from pre-approved DER contractors (chosen through a competitive process) may include: data collection and assessment, feasibility studies, community-based planning, restoration conceptualization, design, engineering, permitting, construction oversight, and pre- and post-restoration monitoring.

Direct funding may be provided to the project proponents/partners –as applicable- for project implementation.
 
The level of support for selected projects in Fiscal Year 2012, and subsequent years, will be determined based on the following:

  • Demonstrated need
  • Timeframe and readiness of project
  • Estimated cost
  • Level of available contributions/funds from the sponsor and other sources
  • Written agreement from the project Landowner, abutter support, and community support demonstrated
  • Available DER resources: staffing and funding

DER anticipates that this will be the only request for restoration and revitalization Priority Projects in fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011).  Decisions on project selection are expected to be made by August 2011. Decisions regarding technical support or project funding for Fiscal Year 2012 will be determined shortly thereafter.

The maximum value awarded to each project will vary according to the scope and nature of the project. Direct funding, if provided, shall be provided on a reimbursement for services basis.

 

To obtain additional program information, indicative summaries of past  Priority Projects, or a copy of the RFR (once issued), please contact Nick Wildman,  at 617-626-1527; nick.wildman@state.ma.us, or write to Department of Fish and Game, Division of Ecological Restoration , 251 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02114,  Attention:  Nick Wildman.  Hard copies of the RFR will only be mailed if requested.
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Summer Position in South Berkshire County with the Farmington River Watershed Association

One part-time summer staff person is needed to do stream assessments, coordinate volunteers, and conduct public programs in the Farmington headwaters towns of Otis, Becket, and Sandisfield in July and August of 2011, with possible continuation on weekends into September for data entry and reporting.  Position will be based at Tolland State Forest with some meetings in Simsbury, CT.

Duties:

  • Become thoroughly familiar with project objectives and requirements.
  • Attenda training workshop on stream continuity assessments.
  • Recruit and coordinate volunteers to assist with stream continuity study.
  • Work with FRWA full time staff to choose assessment sites.
  • Conduct field assessments, including data recording, data entry, and report preparation.
  • Work with FRWA full time staff to schedule, prepare, and present four local outreach programs and any associated publicity, literature, and website pages.

Qualifications:  Knowledge of river ecology and river stewardship is a plus.  Experience in the following areas is highly desirable:  field assessment of rivers and streams; coordinating volunteers; relating to individuals and groups with varied backgrounds, interests, and ages; leading walks outdoors.  Applicant should have their own reliable transportation, be able to attend a few weekday meetings as needed in Simsbury, CT, and be able to do at least some work on weekends.  Stipend is $2,500 for the season, based on a rate of $15/hour and a work week that averages about 16 hours. 

To apply:  Send cover letter and resume via email or US mail to Eileen Fielding, Executive Director, Farmington River Watershed Association, at efielding@frwa.org or 749 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT,  06070.

Closing date:  When filled.

This position is funded by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust.  The Trust  is supported by purchases of MA environmental license plates.return to list of articles

Exec Director Search for the Boston Harbor Assn.
The Boston Harbor Association (www.tbha.org), the foremost advocacy group working to promote a clean, alive, and accessible Boston Harbor, has just launched a search for an Executive Director. Guided by TBHA’s 2008 Strategic Plan, and in close coordination with TBHA’s Executive Committee, Board of Trustees and President, TBHA’s Executive Director will be responsible for the operating, financial, and programmatic success of the organization and will develop and implement the organization’s annual work plan, budget and fundraising activities.

Vivien Li has served as the Executive Director of the organization since 1991 and was recently promoted to President.   The President and Executive Director are full time positions.and will both report to the Chairman.

The Search Committee of  TBHA Board of Trustee's is actively seeking Candidates for this exciting opportunity.  Please review the attached position profile and forward to anyone you think should know about this position and/or would potentially be a good fit. 

Inquiries and submissions should be sent to this email address: tbhasearch@gmail.com 

ATTACHMENT:  The Boston Harbor Association - Executive Director posting. 

Thank you! 

--
Patricia Duarte, Consultant
508 497 2307
Patricia Duarte, is an independent consultant retained through Third Sector New England (www.tsne.org) to assist The Boston Harbor Association in their search for an Executive Director. Patricia is Founder & Principal Consultant of Decision Insight Inc (www.decisioninsightinc.com).
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Ecologist/Wetland Scientist (compensation commensurate with experience)

Bioengineering Group is a Salem, MA based engineering, consulting and design firm with a strong focus on sustainable design, and engineering based on an ecological foundation. We have an immediate need for an Ecologist to work with our interdisciplinary team of engineers, scientists and landscape architects. We are looking for someone who can develop adaptive management strategies for the ecological restoration of degraded systems, develop wildlife management programs, write specifications for invasive species control and management, and develop sustainable management plans for public open spaces like reservations and golf courses, as well as corporate landscapes. This is an opportunity to get involved in all phases of a project from inventories to remediation/restoration/management plans to permitting to constructing to monitoring. Activities will include ecological field evaluations for biological resources, sensitive species surveys, wetlands delineation, soils evaluation, watershed and groundwater systems, preparation of biological reports, preparation and implementation of mitigation and restoration plans, permitting and preparation of regulatory reports. 


We are looking for someone capable of assuming project management responsibilities including the profitability and quality of work. Candidates should also be capable of performing fieldwork on potentially difficult terrain and during adverse weather conditions if necessary. Good interpersonal skills, verbal and written communication skills, and being a team player are all essential. 


Requirements include:

    • Over 10 years experience and a Bachelors of Science in Biology or Ecology or Botany, with minor or some coursework in chemistry 
    • Masters of Science in Wildlife Management, Zoology, Botany, Environmental Science (need to look at coursework), Aquatic Biology, or Ecology is preferred 
    • Must have experience in conducting ecological field evaluations for wetland, stream, lake estuarine and forested ecosystems 
    • Demonstrated skills and knowledge in Wetland delineation, Wetland soils and hydrology, Plant identification, Hydric soil evaluation/soil science 
    • Solid understanding of watershed and groundwater hydrology 
    • Must be skilled in plant identification and have the ability to quickly identify higher plants to species level - trees, herbs, aquatic macrophytes, grasses and sedges; along with the ability to identify aquatic invertebrates to genus. In particular, should have a strong familiarity with flora and fauna native to New England 
    • Demonstrated Project Management experience
    • Interest and aptitude for Business Development 
    • PWS or comparable certification highly desirable
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Description: Header Logo

Urban Garden News, May 2011

Seeking Garden Coordinator, Urban Garden at First & Melville Streets  
Description: Bee pollinating 
This position is new this season and will really be formed with and for the right person. This position will be approximately 5-7 hours each week during the season (May through October). This position is ideal for someone who doesn't have land for their own growing, as the 'payment' will be a percentage of the garden's yield. (The more we produce, the more you will get!)

The coordinator will first help us design this year's garden layout. We have some ideas of what we want to grow and what has worked and what hasn't in the past, but we also want to try some new types of growing as well. We are also venturing into sales this year, keeping it simple (cut flowers, herbs, and eggs).

The coordinator will then manage the planting and maintenance of the garden (this doesn't mean DO IT ALL, but rather manage it- there will be a number of volunteers). The coordinator will organize and staff the Garden Days each Sunday from 11-2. Garden Days are an opportunity for community members to come in and volunteer and learn about the garden.

  • The coordinator will need to be a representative of Alchemy Initiative, able to speak eloquently about the full organization.
  • He/she will need to be organized, creating charts or task lists for volunteers, maintain a garden journal and create harvest charts to track how much is produced, when, etc.
  • He/she will need to be able to manage a small group of volunteers (some consistent, some one-timers).
  • If he/she is interested, the position could expand to growing the education component. A local publishing company is interested in collaborating on workshops and talks with their authors on-site. There are also independent educators who may be interested in teaching on-site as well.

If you have any questions or would like to apply for the position, please email us at Alchemy.Initiative@gmail.com.
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