Wissahickon Growing Greener
Let's Promote and Educate RESIDENTS about a Sustainable Future for OUR AreaNEWS
Resource: http://www.vegetablegardener.com/
Landscaping for Home Energy Efficiency and Resale
...Here are some ideas and tips you can apply to your home landscape to reduce costs and add to your investment:
- To provide shade and natural cooling, plant shade trees on the south side of your house. Planting trees on the east and west side of the house block morning and afternoon sun
- Plant wind breaks perpendicular to prevailing winds
- If you have an ideal spot for a trellis, arbor or pergola (like a deck, porch or doorway), plant large, deciduous vines on the south and west sides of your home. The slats can be designed to block out the summer sun but let in the winter sun
- If you have a central air conditioning unit, shade it with plants and shrubs, but allow for air flow. Don’t plant closer than two feet around and leave at least five feet above the unit. For a window unit, place the air conditioner in a window on the north facing side of the house to naturally block most of the direct sunlight from hitting it.
- Ground covers and shrubs are good uses near driveways and paved walkways because they help reduce heat from paved surfaces.
- If you’re building a deck or patio, position it on the north side of the home if you can. If not, you will want to plan for natural shade to cast on a deck positioned on the other directional sides.
One note, if you have solar panels or are thinking about solar energy, positioning trees to expose your panels to the sun is a major consideration. Solar energy installers will be able to help you design maximum use of the panels around existing trees or planting of new ones.
Eco-Gowns Now Commencement Standard by Montgomery County Community College |
Having an event and need FREE recycle bins?
The Montgomery County Recycling Office can get you free collapsible bins for your community, school, church or whatever event. Check here to reserve: http://www2.montcopa.org/montco/cwp/view,a,3,q,82636.asp
Check out the trails in Lower Gwynedd!
There are about 25 miles of biking and walking trails in Lower Gwynedd. If you get creative, you can get from the Penllyn Train Station to the 309 movie theatre! Once the 202 trails are in place, you could make it to Doylestown without a car. And, the trails connect to the WVWA Green Ribbon Trail too! Trail maps are available if you call 215-646-5302. http://www.lowergwynedd.org/departments/parks/list-map.aspx
Ambler Food Co-op has a website
Check here for their latest updates: http://amblerfoodcoop.org/
Searching for Green Lawn Care ideas?
While the EPA is being sued for not banning 2,4-D from lawn care products, you might be searching for natural lawn care. Try this resource from Eartheasy.com: http://eartheasy.com/grow_lawn_care.htm
Dirty Secrets: What's Hiding in your cleaning products?
What companies are not telling you is that cleaning products can contain toxic chemicals that may harm your health. Manufacturers often recommend frequent and repeated use of their products, but this also translates to frequent and repeated exposures to potentially harmful chemicals. You may inhale these chemicals by breathing indoor air and some of them can be absorbed through the skin. Long-term exposures to certain chemicals found in household cleaners have been linked to serious health problems like pregnancy complications, breast cancer, birth defects, asthma and allergic reactions.
Read the report: http://www.womensvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Dirty-Secrets.pdf
Then clean safer by making your own: http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm
A fracking video to watch and share. Takes 3 minutes to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/
And if you get inspired to do something about it, please check http://protectingourwaters.wordpress.com/about/ for action items and info.
May 15, Sustainability in Philadelphia, 6pm, Valley Green Inn
May 16, Gardening with Native Plants, 6:30PM. Floral & Hardy of Skippack, 4007 Skippack Pike, Skippack, PA 19474.
Contact: Lowell Steinberg, 610-584-0797 Open to public, please register
May 16, Webinar: Landscaping with Native Plants in Pennsylvania, 1:30-3pm, on-line
In this webinar you will learn about landscaping with native plants in your parks and public places. Topics covered include: edible native plants, native plants for pollinating insects, benefits and maintenance of native plants, deer management and partnerships to assist with planting and maintenance.
For more information go [here] and to register for the webinar please go to This DCNR website
Wednesday, May 16, 2012, Growing With Your Garden-Caring for Chicks and Chickens, 10:30 - 12:00 pm, The Longview Center - Collegeville
$5 members/$7 non-members register
Pre-registration Required.
Come learn the wonderful benefits of keeping a small scale backyard chicken coop for your natural fresh egg supply. Workshop will include slide show, coop designs, breed selection, and chicken care basics.
May 17, Watch A Fierce Green Fire, Gwynedd Meeting, 7pm
Thursday, May 17th, 7 pm, we will be viewing A Fierce Green Fire at Gwynedd Meeting. The documentary is about 5 types of environmental activists over a span of about 50 years accomplishing many things to save our planet against all ods. The film was world premiered at the Sundance festival. Organic local lady finger popcorn grown by the Amish in Lancaster County will be served. Feel free to bring other snacks. Gwynedd Meeting is located at the corner of 202 and Sumneytown Pike in Gwynedd, PA and is on a bus route.
May 19, Montgomery County Master Gardner Plant Sale, 9-2
The Plant Sale is May 19th, starting at 9:00AM until 2:00PM and is held on the grounds of the 4-HCenter. The Plant Sale takes place rain or shine! http://extension.psu.edu/montgomery/news/2012/are-you-ready-for-the-master-gardener-plant-sale
May 19, Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale, 8-3, Greater Plymouth Community CenterMay 17, Herb Infused Jams, 7-8:30
http://www.pennypackfarm.org/Education-Classes/Register-for-Classes/Details/102/categoryId__2/productId__74/
Volunteers needed. Contact Joanna at 610-313-8681 or JRizzuto@plymouthtownship.org for more info.
May 26, 10:00AM Compost Ecology for KidsContact: Kathy Newkirk, 610-489-4703
May 31, 7:00PM Compost Ecology for Kids
Contact: Tegan Connor, 215-643-1320, Ext. 21
May 31, Jam Making 101, 7-8:30
http://www.pennypackfarm.org/Education-Classes/Register-for-Classes/Details/102/categoryId__2/productId__74/
June 2, Mike McGrath talks backyard sustainability, 1pm
Nationally acclaimed radio talk show host Mike McGrath and GwyneddGreen team up to promote backyard sustainability. Lower Gwynedd Township sponsors a hands-on, interactive, educational event to promote sustainability on June 2nd starting at 1 pm on the Ingersoll property behind the Lower Gwynedd Township building on Old Bethlehem Pike. Mike McGrath will discuss “Lawn and Landscape” and answer questions. Other presentations and demonstrations include tree tenders discussing how to identify problems with your garden trees, how to care for them, composting methods and the use of compost in your gardens, Native American Indian gardening methods and more. Therapy dogs entertain young members of the audience. An ice cream social will conclude the event.
In bad weather, the event may be relocated into the township building which lies adjacent to the parking area.
1:00 – 2:30 pm Mike McGrath, “You Bet Your Garden”
2:30 – 3:30 pm PSU experts on “Tree Tending” and on “Composting”, Lenape Indian Gardening, Therapy Dogs
3:30 – 4:00 pm Ice cream social
Check Lower Gwyendd’s website (www.lowergwynedd.org), Mike McGrath’s website (http://www.whyy.org/91FM/
June 3, Learn to identify wild edibles, 1pm
At 1 PM, Sunday, June 3, America's go-to guy for foraging, "Wildman" Steve Brill will lead one of his world-famous foraging tours of the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, a walking tour sponsored by Pennypack Farm.
June 3, National Trails Day Upper Wissahickon Preserve Walk, 1 pm
• Free of charge – Pre-registration requested but not required
June 5, Greens at Every Meal
Location: Resurrection Lutheran Church, 620 Welsh Road, Horsham PA 19044 http://www.pennypackfarm.org/Education-Classes/Register-for-Classes/Details/102/categoryId__2/productId__78/
June 11 OR June 12, Food Preservation Hands- On Workshops, Collegeville
The Class will be held at the Penn State Extension Office, 1015 Bridge Road, Collegeville, PA. There are two dates to choose from. You can take the class on Monday, June 11, 2012 from 6:00pm-9:30pm, or Tuesday, June 12, 2012 from 9:00am-12:30pm.
Class includes a comprehensive canning guide, instructional session and the opportunity to prepare two canned products. Participants will prepare and “can” one fruit and one vegetable during the session. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
Register online at:
For more information contact: Mandel Smith, Nutrition/Food Safety Educator at 610-489-4315 or email- mjs52@psu.edu.
June 11, Single Hauler and Multi-Hauler System Presentation, Upper Merion, 7pm
Upper Merion’s Environmental
Advisory Council and the Economic and Community Development Committee
is presenting the third in a series of programs concerning energy
conservation: Single Hauler and Multi-Hauler System presentation. This
open forum will cover the environmental and
economic pros and cons
of using both the single hauler or multi-hauler system within the
township. This forum will be held on Monday, June 11, 2012 at the Upper Merion Township Building in Freedom Hall. Presentation is from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. You can contact: Janet Serfass Phone: 610-205-8506 Email: jserfass@umtownship.org
June 21, Yoghurt making and Kombucha brewing
Participants will be guided through the ins and outs of yoghurt and kombucha making with David Siller. We will go through the process of set up for the fermentation of each item and how to guide the micro-organisms as they flourish, bringing each food to fruition. We will talk about history, cultural surveys, and faq’s.Participants should bring: notebook, questions
http://www.pennypackfarm.org/Education-Classes/Register-for-Classes/Details/102/categoryId__2/productId__75/
June 23, Montgomery
County Hazardous Waste Disposal Day, Temple University – Ambler
Campus, 9-3
Enter near 1431 E. Butler Pike
Ambler, PA 19002
Upper Dublin Township
June 24, Canning and Pickling with Marisa McClellan
Learn or refresh your knowledge of boiling water bath canning with local canning teacher and cookbook author Marisa McClellan. In this class, you’ll learn the cold pack method of pickling and best practices for homemade chutney. Featured recipes will be Dilly Beans and Peach Chutney.
http://www.pennypackfarm.org/Education-Classes/Register-for-Classes/Details/102/categoryId__2/productId__77/
June 30, Montgomery
County Electronics Collection Day, Wissahickon High School, 9-3
July 20, Montgomery
County Electronics Collection Day, Ursinus College, 9-3
Collegeville, PA 19426 • Collegeville Borough
Aug 10, Montgomery
County Electronics Collection Day, Upper Perkiomen High School, 9-3
Aug 17, Montgomery
County Hazardous Waste Disposal Day,Abington Junior High School, 9-3
970 Highland Ave.
Abington, PA 19001
Oct 20, Montgomery
County Hazardous Waste Disposal Day,Lower Merion Public Works, 9-3
1300 N. Woodbine Ave.
Penn Valley, PA 19072
Lower Merion Township
Oct 27, Montgomery
County Electronics Collection Day, Springfield Township High School, 9-3
Nov 15, Montgomery
County Electronics Collection Day, Montgomery Mall, 9-3
Nov 15, Automotive Tire Collection Day, Montgomery Mall, 9-3
In order to take advantage of our WEEKLY NEWSLETTER with tips and calendar, send an email to WissahickonGrowingGreener@gmail.com .