 News |
Exxon to Invest Millions to Make Fuel From Algae
The oil giant Exxon Mobil, whose chief executive once mocked alternative energy by referring to ethanol as “moonshine,” is about to venture into biofuels. On Tuesday, Exxon plans to announce an investment of $600 million in producing liquid transportation fuels from algae — organisms in water that range from pond scum to seaweed.
Read more here (NYTimes.com - registration required). |
Sustainability Teacher Training |
The UMass Dartmouth Office of Campus and Community Sustainability is hosting a Sustainability Teacher Training from 9-3 on August 18th and 19th at the Ocean Explorium in New Bedford. Sponsored by the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEAL), the institute will pair a training in edible schoolyards with a hands-on, inquiry-based exploration of sustainability principles and practices.
Instructors include Deb Habib from Seeds of Solidarity, Joe Yarmac of Fairhaven High School, and UMass Dartmouth faculty Chad McGuire and Dr. Laurie Robertson-Lorant Increase your sustainability literacy, learn about local sustainability initiatives, design activities for your classroom, and join a growing network of Southcoast teachers involved in sustainability teaching and activities. Participating teachers will receive a $100 stipend as well as 10 PDP’s. For more information, or to register, contact sustainability@umassd.edu or 508-910-6484. |
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This Week in Sustainability
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Operation Clean Sweep: The Great American Clean-Up |
July 18, 8:00-noon, Ward 3, New Bedford
The event, organized locally by Operation Clean Sweep, is part of a nation’s largest cleanup, beautification and community improvement program. Everyone is invited to join in the activities and help make New Bedford a more beautiful and safer place to live. Pre-Register before the clean up. 508.979.1493, www.operationcleansweep.net, volunteer page, info@operationcleansweep.net. Future Clean-ups: August 15 – Ward 1, Sept. 19 – Ward 4. |
Know Your Vegetables: A Monthly Conversation Series Focusing on Small-Scale Vegetable Production. |
We invite you (home gardeners, foodies, farmers, anybody who enjoys vegetables… young and old) to join us in a free discussion series on a range of topics related to vegetable production.
- July 20, 2009: Foliar Fertilizers: Compost Teas, Biodynamic Preparations and Foliar Sprays to Increase Production and Improve Disease Resistance
Discussions are held at Brix Bounty Farm. Usually 3rd Monday of the Month, 6:30 PM
For more information or to RSVP please contact Derek Christianson, Brix Bounty Farm, 858 Tucker Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747 Ph: 508.992.1868
http://brixbounty.blogspot.com/ |
Ocean Voice: We're All People of the Shore- Cultural Responses to Cataclysmic Change |
Tuesday, July 21 7pm. Ocean Explorium, 174 Union Street, New Bedford. Admission $3 adults, $2 children and seniors.
Dr. Patricia Partnow, EchoSpace.org
What can cataclysmic natural events and disasters teach us? How do our diverse cultural traditions affect the way we understand them? And what can schools, museums, science and culture centers do to help people prepare for and deal with them? Dr. Patricia Partnow, an anthropologist from Alaska, will share pertinent stories from Massachusetts, Alaska, Hawaii and Mississippi, states which are partners in the nationally funded consortium ECHO (Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations).
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Save The Date
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Dune Hike at Cherry & Webb |
July 23, 10-noon, Cherry and Webb Beach, Westport
This is one of the most beautiful spots in Southeastern Massachusetts. Join the Westport River Watershed Alliance to enjoy this fabulous view, while also learning about flora and fauna of the dunes. Westport. For more information, www.westportwatershed.org, 508-636-3016. |
Summer Conversations: John Abrams
Thinking Like Cathedral Builders: Affordable Housing, Community Preservation and Business for People and Place |
July 23, 7 pm, The Apponagansett Meeting House, Dartmouth
Sustainable Living icon John Abrams will discuss the philosophy behind the growing Cohousing movement, and a host of other ideas on how to build inspired thinking into communities at every level. |
Roots Down Sustainable Gardening—New Bedford Series |
Aug 4, 4:00 pm, Lawler Branch Public Library, 745 Rockdale Ave., New Bedford
"Growing Nutrient Dense Foods: mid-summer tips and techniques, including foliar sprays and using a refractometer." To help new and experienced gardeners gain a deeper understanding of methods used in healthy food production. To help build local food security for our community. Free. For more information, derekchristianson@gmail.com. 508-992-1868. |
Summer Conversations: Noreen Herzfeld
From 'Manhunt' to 'MySpace':
The Challenges and Perils of Living in a World of Virtual Communities |
August 6, 7 pm, The Apponagansett Meeting House, Dartmouth
Noreen Herzfeld is professor of theology and computer science at St. John's University in Minnesota. Her book publications include two this year: Technology and Religion: Remaining Human in a Co-Created World, and The Limits of Perfection in Technology, Religion, and Science. |
Rehoboth Agricultural Fair |
August 6,7,8 & 9 Rehoboth, the Corner of Almeida Road and Wheaton Ave
The Rehoboth Agricultural Fair has been an operating fair in some form or fashion for over 60 years. Save the dates and have a great time at a "true country fair". Learn more here. |
NOFA Summer Conference |
August 7-9, UMass Amherst main campus.
Northeast Organic Farming Association's 35th annual summer conference features 150 workshops on organic farming, gardening, land care, sustainability and homesteading.
Keynote speakers: Paul Stamets, mushroom expert and author of Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save The World and Will Allen, founder and CEO of Growing Power, an organization that brings knowledge about sustainable food systems to urban areas.
For more information contact the NOFA Summer Conference office at (978) 355-2853 or http://www.nofasummerconference.org or nofa@nofamass.org. |
WRWA Summer Gala |
August 8, Fitton's Farm, 564 River Road, Westport.
WRWA Summer Gala — Beach Boys & Surfer Girls. Tickets: $75-500. Business Sponsorships Available. For more information, www.westportwatershed.org, 508-636-3016. |
Green Jobs Forum |
August 9-12, Providence, RI.
This is not a job fair but an informational session open to the public about what a green job is, how to get training for a green job and how to find a green job. For more information, http://www.govenergy.com/. |
Sustainability Teacher Training |
August 18th and 19th, UMass Dartmouth
Earn 10 PDPs while learning how to incorporate sustainability into your lesson plans. Contact Susan Jennings at sjennings@umassd.edu. |
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Announcements
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Online Sustainability Certificate Open for Registration |
The Application form for our new Online Program has now been posted, although students may take courses (listed here) before applying to the program. The Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability Studies provides students with a vigorous introduction to the growing discourse surrounding "sustainability" and sustainable issues. The Certificate helps establish sustainable thinking as a critical methodology, which students can apply to their professional and personal lives. See http://www.umassd.edu/online/sustainability/ for further information. |
Organic Farming Class Offered in the Fall |
This is the first course of a two-semester course sequence focusing primarily on raising crops and animals organically and is an introduction to the Organic Farming Technician certificate program. The course covers soils, organic fertilizers, organic pest control, companion planting, seed and plant propagation, harvesting, and permaculture. Pre- or co-requisite: SCI 15 or permission of the instructor. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Instructional Support Fee applies.
Learn more at the website for the Organic Agriculture Technician (OAT) program at Bristol Community College. |
Fall Course - Sustainability Education and Public Policy: Connecting for Change |
Sustainability refers to re-evaluating our relationship to the natural world and realizing that ecology, economics and social equity are inextricably linked. This three-credit interdisciplinary course is designed to give candidates for the Master of Public Policy degree an understanding of how institutions such as schools, industries, businesses and local governments are reinventing themselves to meet the interrelated environmental, economic and ethical challenges we face in this era of crisis and change. See our fall course list here. |
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Ongoing
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Local Farmers Markets |
Carver: Sundays 1-4 P.M. June-October, Shurtleff Park, Center Carver
Dartmouth: Fridays 1-6pm at Rex Field, adjacent to St. Peter's Church in Padanaram.
Fairhaven: Sundays 1-4pm, Fairhaven High School.
Fall River: Wednesdays, 9-1pm, Ruggles Park
Fall River: Saturdays, 7-12:30pm, Kennedy Park
Middleboro: Saturdays June 13- October 31, Middleboro Town Hall Lawn, rt 105.
New Bedford: Saturdays, 9-1pm, Clasky Common
New Bedford: Thursdays, 2-7pm, Wings Court (downtown)
New Bedford: Mondays: 2-7pm, Brooklawn Park
Rochester: Saturdays, 8-12pm, Rochester Center, Plumb Corner Market
Rehoboth: Sundays, 10-2pm, Anawan School
Taunton: Thursday, 12-5pm, Parking lot behind City Hall
Westport: Saturday, 8:30-1pm, Westport Grange
Click here for a complete list.
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Know Your Vegetables: A Monthly Conversation Series Focusing on Small-Scale Vegetable Production. |
We invite you (home gardeners, foodies, farmers, anybody who enjoys vegetables… young and old) to join us in a free discussion series on a range of topics related to vegetable production.
- July 20, 2009: Foliar Fertilizers: Compost Teas, Biodynamic Preparations and Foliar Sprays to Increase Production and Improve Disease Resistance
- August 17, 2009: A Celebration of Summer - Know Your Vegetables Community Potluck.
Discussions are held at Brix Bounty Farm. Usually 3rd Monday of the Month, 6:30 PM
For more information or to RSVP please contact Derek Christianson, Brix Bounty Farm, 858 Tucker Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747 Ph: 508.992.1868
http://brixbounty.blogspot.com/ |
Roots Down New Bedford: Gardening Workshops |
1st Tuesday of every month, 4pm, Lawler Branch Public Library, 745 Rockdale (NE Corner of Buttonwood Park). Accessible by SRTA bus routes #6 and #10.
What: A free monthly series focusing on sustainable gardening techniques.
Why: To help new and experienced gardeners gain a deeper understanding of methods used in healthy food production. To help build local food security for our community.
*Neighborhood-based workshops now scheduled! Visit the Farm blog for locations and schedule
Roots Down - New Bedford is part of the Safe Soils for Healthy Food Project presented by Brix Bounty Farm and the Rotch-Jones- Duff House&Garden Museum and is made possible by the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts - SEEAL Fund.
For more information please contact Brix Bounty Farm at 508-992-1868 or visit the farm blog at http://brixbounty.blogspot.com/ |
Volunteers Needed for Friends of Buttonwood Park |
The Friends of Buttonwood Park need enthusiastic volunteers to introduce the Buttonwood Park Arboretum and its unique trees to local K-4 school groups.
The Friends provide all the necessary information about the 13 trees and volunteers take small groups of students and their teacher around the Arboretum while chatting about each tree. Each walk takes approximately 45 minutes and two are scheduled daily from 9 to 11am.
This popular educational program runs for 3 weeks each fall and spring and requires 2 hours of your time several mornings during its duration.
If this sounds like something you might be interested in joining please call for more information - Ann Beaumont: 508-993-8458 or Anne Eades: 508-996-1299 |
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Weekly Green Tip
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Park in the Shade
Tip from thedailygreen.com |
During hot months, try to park your vehicle in a shady spot, which decreases the amount of fuel lost to evaporation and requires less air-conditioning when you get back in. Click here to learn more.
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