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.  

Red Earth Farm CSA has a local pick up spot in Ambler

Donate sheets and towels

Exchange Clothes 

One COOL Way to Reduce Greenhouse Gasses

Pennypack Sustainability Series

Pennypack Farm and Education Center presents three nights at the movies followed by discussion groups led by panels of experts. Each movie delves into a different aspect of sustainability - bees, organic eating, and our love of meat and dairy. Learn how your small changes can make a big difference to the world.

Events are held the second Tuesday of the month in Feb (Queen of the Sun), March (What's Organic?), and April(PlanEat). Doors open at 6:00pm for the Sponsor Expo in the lobby. Films begin at 7:30pm.

Tickets $10 each. More details and ticket sales coming soon.

Here's a link to the series: http://www.amblertheater.org/pennypack.php

Watch: A vegetable garden can do more than save you money -- it can save the world. At TEDxDirigo Roger Doiron shows how gardens can re-localize our food and feed our growing population.  

Recycling Christmas Trees

Christmas Trees will be recycled in Whitpain Township Jan 25.  Christmas trees must be free of any ornaments, including tree bags, lights, tinsel and or they will not be collected. Please have your items out at the curb Tuesday night for Wednesday's pick up.

Check Earth911.com for a tree recycling program in your area.

Recycling Plastic Bags

It seems that even though we take the reusable bags to the store, we still end up with plastic bags from bread loaves and toilet paper.  This clean and dry plastic can be recycled.  Check here for info.  Most grocery stores collect the plastic.

Grocery bags Retail bags (hard plastic and string handles removed) Paper towel and toilet paper plastic wrap Plastic newspaper bags Plastic dry cleaning bags All clean, clear bags labeled with a #2 or #4 Note: Please recycle only plastic bags that are clean and dry. Please remove receipts. Do NOT include the following. The following are considered contaminants and could jeopardize recycling programs: NO food or cling wrap NO prepackaged food bags including frozen food bags (e.g., prewashed salad bags) NO film that has been painted or has excessive glue NO other bags or films NO bio-based or compostable plastic bags

Recycle Greeting Cards (all occasions)

You can recycle the cards you get in the mail as well as support St. Jude's Hospital.  

Recycled Card Program
Send your used cards (Christmas, birthday, any type!) to the children at St. Jude’s Ranch. The kids there will cut the fronts off of the old cards and affix new backs, creating new cards! The cards can be purchased on their website.

Who does this program benefit? It benefits all of US by encouraging us to “go green” and recycle. It benefits the children at St. Jude’s Ranch by teaching them about recycling and earning some spending money!

St. Jude’s Ranch is accepting used, all-occasion cards YEAR ROUND!

You can mail your donations to:
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street – Boulder City, NV 89005
877-977-SJRC (7572)

Some card donating tips:

• All types of greeting cards, including Christmas are used.
• Only the card front can be used (please check to be sure the back side is clear of any writing, etc.)
• They can not accept Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards.
• 5″ x 7″ size or smaller is preferred.

Winter share CSAs available

Where are the PA Shale wells being drilled?

NPR's StateImpact Pennsylvania has created a website for tracking deep gas drilling in Pennsylvania. The application lets you track where the drillers are drilling (by county and municipality), who owns the well, how much gas it is producing, and any violations at the well cited by the Department of Environmental Protection. Each well has its own URL, so you can share it via social media. The information will be updated each month as DEP releases new data.  Thanks for the tip, PennFuture.

Five Household Toxins you should banish from your home

OrganicGardening.com had a article to save money and protect your health.  On the list was:

EVENTS

Jan 25, Ambler Food Co-Op Informational Meeting, 7pm, Montgomery County Senior Adult Activities Center

All members of the community are invited to attend this public meeting to learn what a food cooperative can do for Ambler and the surrounding area, and how they can get involved and make it happen.  Representatives from Mount Airy's Weavers Way Food Co-op will present the process and milestones of starting up a new co-op that may lead to a community-owned cooperative grocery in Ambler. This will be the first of many community meetings that will inform and update the public on the progress of this initiative.

Jan 28, Weed/Pest Management and Lawn Alternative Landscaping for the Real World, 9-12noon,  Springfield Township Building, 50 Powell Road, Springfield, PA 19064 (Delaware County)

This is FREE and presented by the Springfield Township, PA Environmental Advisory Committee.  http://www.steacdelco.org/Pest_Mgmt_and_Lawn_alternatives_2012.pdf

For more info, contact Ann Jackson ajackson61@verizon.net  610-585-5038; or Ken Rapp: ken@steacdelco.org

JAN 28, 10:00 am, COMPOSTING - Mia Mengucci, PCH

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

Jan 28th, 1:00 pm STARTING SPRING TURF & RENOVATION – Mia Mengucci, PCH

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 4, 10:00 am, BACKYARD CHICKENS - Jesse Howe, Primex Garden Center

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 11, 10:00 am, ATTRACTING BIRDS AND BACKYARD FEEDING, Primex

Feb 14, Pennypack Sustainability Movie Series presents Queen of the Sun, Ambler Theatre, 7:30.

On a pilgrimage around the world, the film unveils 10,000 years of beekeeping highlighting how our historic and sacred relationship with bees has been lost. This engaging, alarming and ultimately uplifting film uncovers the problems and solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature. More information at queenofthesun.com.

Feb 18 10:00 am,  RAINWATER AS A RESOURCE: REDUCE RUNOFF & FLOODING - Dottie Baumgarten, Primex Garden Center

Feb 18, 1:00 pm, BACKYARD FRUITS - Anne Myers, 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

Feb 18, 1:00 pm, RAIN BARRELS - Sally McCabe, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

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 18, Design in Harmony with Nature, 11-1pm, Yardley - Makefield Meeting Room, FREE

Feb 25, 1:00 pm, BERRIES, BRAMBLES, & GRAPES - Anne Myers

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 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 17, 10:00 am, ORGANIC GARDENING – Primex

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 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

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.