Designing Your Garden

Posted on   in Garden

Designing Your Garden

At the onset, some reading up may be required to investigate what plants you most desire to grow. Now, this planning is not to be confused with Landscape Design Planning, another subject for another time. Just the same, there are variations in the many different possibilities one can grow in a garden, and I refer here to food gardening and flower or herb gardening. The plan I am referring to now relates strictly to the garden itself, in any case. Different plants have different eventual heights and different growth patterns. Vines for example, of squashes or watermelons, take up enormous space along the ground. I typically try and advise people to place these around the outer edges of a garden where this unruly and rampant growth can be allowed to roam free. (more…)

Why Manage Your Forest?

Posted on   in Conservation

Sustainable forest stewardship begins with you. You are entrusted with the well-being of a valuable asset – your forested land. You, and other individuals like you, own 9.7 million acres (61 percent) of the productive forestland in Maryland area.

There are many benefits of forest management. Many of these benefits not only accrue to the owner of forested property but to society as well. Some of these benefits include: (more…)

Top Five Energy Efficiency Apps

Posted on   in Blogging

Did you know your smartphone can be a thermostat?

Energy cost is one of the biggest monthly expenses for American households. The first step to lower monthly bills is measuring energy consumption– but in the season of food, family and festivals, who has the time to track how long the lights are on?
Save energy without wasting time by using smartphone apps that not only monitor your energy use, but also help you shop for energy-efficient products and power off your appliances. It’s energy efficiency at your fingertips! (more…)

Maryland Residents Sought for Environmental Education Program

Posted on   in Blogging

Seeking Participants for New LIFE Class that Begins in January 2018 The Legacy Institute for the Environment (LIFE) is seeking Maryland residents who are interested in learning more about environmental education,restoration, protection, and research programs, and who would like to help environmental nonprofit organizations in their stewardship activities.

Our 2018 Institute offers an opportunity for participants to learn more about the Chesapeake Bay’s fragile ecosystem, and then join with others in volunteer service on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (CBEC) in Grasonville.

The Institute provides environmental education and service learning opportunities through engaging and flexible educational sessions and field experiences. Many leading governmental agencies and an array of environmental organizations join us in offering this program that seeks to enhance environmental centers’ efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

Beginning February 2018, we will hold weekly education sessions on Fridays for 9 weeks from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at CBEC. This will be followed by opportunities for hands-on activities at the center and elsewhere over the course of the year. The Institute is both informative and fun, and it offers involvement in stewardship activities that fit the time and talents of older adults.

This program is partly funded through a grant received from the United Way. We are grateful to the United Way for their support and look forward to improving upon an already successful program. If you are interested or have questions, contact Courtney Leigh at 443-262-2032

Maryland Announces Recipients for the Value Added Producer Grant Program

Posted on   in Blogging

Annapolis. The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) announced today the recipients of a total of $195,500 in grant award investments that will help a number of agricultural businesses with implementing value-added projects located in ten counties around Maryland. Out of nineteen project requests that were submitted in a competitive process, thirteen were selected for funding after a thorough review. These grants will assist the recipients in diversifying their businesses to include activities ranging from making cheese and ice cream to enhancing opportunities for agritourism. (more…)

Virginia Conference to Highlight Institutional Purchasing of Local Food

Posted on   in Eating Green

The local food movement that made farmers markets all the rage in recent years is expanding to large institutions in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, as hospitals, colleges and school districts buy increasing amounts of produce and meat from local farmers. The trend has the potential for major positive impacts for the environment and for the survival of small farms in the region. The nature of the trend, its hopeful signs and obstacles, will be the focus of the 13th Annual Conference, of Future Harvest—a Chesapeake Alliance For Sustainable Agriculture, Jan. 13-14, at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, VA. (more…)

Maryland Dog Parks, Historic Sites, Playgrounds and Fishing Spots

Posted on   in EcoTravel

Whether it’s for a quiet hike through the woods, spending quality time with man’s best friend, catching sight of a bald eagle, the momentary thrill of shooting down a slide, (or better yet, a half pipe) we all have our reasons to spend an afternoon at the park. Luckily, no matter what your reason is, there’s a Maryland park for you. While you might think of park visits as a summer activity, it’s a great way to get out of the house and get a little exercise during the winter months and what could be a better way to see the colors of fall or the first buds of spring than a walk in the park? Even during the chillier months, Maryland Parks have the facilities to make your afternoon a little more than just a picnic on the grass. (more…)

Honey Bees find new home on Baltimore Green Roof

Posted on   in Blogging

BALTIMORE, MD. – Tucked into Baltimore’s eastern warehouse district something new is growing. Lead by Green Roof Service and ADI Architecture and Design Inc. the former icehouse of Resource Conservation Technology welcomed one of the regions first Honey Bee oriented green roofs. (more…)

More than 15,000 lbs of trash removed from Deep Run Watershed

Posted on   in Conservation

Jon Merryman

Jon Merryman is a usability engineer, training developer, and “Go Green Coordinator” at Lockheed Martin in Hanover. But when he is not at his day job, you can often find him walking along the banks of Deep Run on the Howard-Anne Arundel county line. Jon is a volunteer stream watcher for the Patapsco Heritage Greenway, a volunteer group that preserves, protects, and cares for the Patapsco River watershed. In 2011, Jon Merryman led the efforts to remove over 15,000 pounds of trash from the Deep Run/Piney Run watershed, proving one person really can make a difference. (more…)

CBF Report Debunks Myth: “Environmental Regulations Cost Jobs, Kill Business”

Posted on   in Conservation

(ANNAPOLIS, MD)—A recent Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) report, titled Debunking the “Job Killer” Myth; How Pollution Limits Encourage Jobs in the Chesapeake Bay Region, examines claims that environmental regulations hurt the economy and finds them to be false. In addition, the report looks at the jobs that have been and will be created as a result of the Bay pollution limits, and finds that, especially during economic downturns, these regulations will stimulate job growth while cleaning the water, restoring fish and shell fish, and creating a healthy environment for our children. (more…)