February 2011 Archives

By ConcordCAN

Can you feel the energy building for "Getting to Green?" This dynamic, inter-generational event is designed to bring kids and adults together to think about, learn, and discover what it means to build sustainable community. You can bring your kids to the event and know that they will be able to participate or have good care while you are participating.

Supervised child care will be provided for up to 25 kids, ages 3-8, from 9-12:30, but only if you contact us and request this in advance, by March 3. (reply to harpplayer@comcast.net or phone Enid at the number at the bottom of this post)

Young people will live with the sustainability decisions we make... and their voices are important to hear! When the doors to Willard open at 8:30 AM on Saturday, the building will be filled with wonderful exhibits created by students from the Concord and Carlisle schools, public and private.   Kids from both towns will meet and interact with other participants of all ages. Exhibitors will be on hand to explain their 'path to green' exhibits from 8:30 to 9:30 AM and again after our speaker at 10:15 AM. Many exhibits will stay up until the event ends at 2 pm.

Expected Exhibits

• "Kids Eat Smart:" lunchbox menus
• CCHS:  green design features planned for the high school renovation
• Earth Science class: infrared thermometers and electric usage meters purchased by the Concord Ed Fund
• Concord Conserves: student demo of their online energy calculator
• Concord Academy: extensive composting project
• Thoreau 4th graders: efforts to save the habitat for Blanding's Turtles
• Alcott Green Monsters: compost and recycle activities
• Willard School: slide show illustrates their green design features
• Fenn School: conversation starter posters and calculators will track your carbon footprint

Shortly after 9 AM all participants, young or old, will be invited to hear a keynote speech by Dr. Halina Brown, a Professor of International Development, Community, and Environment at Clark University, who will speak on the topic "From Consumer Society to Sustainable Consumption." While Dr. Brown is speaking, a trained volunteer from Drumlin Farm in Lincoln will offer to children a visit with "Clucky, the Hen."  The children will then be invited to play "Healthy Chickens, Healthy Pastures," a game about living systems in a farm setting. For more information about this, visit here. 

Other Highlights of the Event

• A delicious lunch provided by several of Concord's local businesses.
• More time to viewing the exhibits and/or network with each other about ways to move forward with building sustainable community.
• Table space for cards, brochures, flyers, and the like.
• An optional guided tour of "Green Willard" at 2 PM, led by Superintendent Diana Rigby

Although this event is a free one, a $5 donation for lunch will be collected at the registration tables when you arrive.  Although no one will be turned away if space allows, please understand that it is important for the organizers of the event to know who is coming, who wants child care, and who expects to stay for lunch.  Please RSVP by Feb. 28 to harpplayer@comcast.net or 978-371-2502 and tell Enid about your special requests.

In honor of March being Women's History Month, join Concord's Old Manse for a series of programs which explore the lives of several remarkable women who lived in, worked in, and visited the Manse during the century encompassing 1770 and 1870. You will also enjoy free light refreshments and obtain 25% off all titles in the Manse specialty bookstore.

Revolution on the Homefront, Friday, March 11, 7 pm. Meet Phebe Emerson Ripley (1741-1825) and hear her tales of Concord life during the Revolutionary War.

Margaret Fuller at the Manse, Friday March 25, 7 pm, and Sunday March 27, 2 pm.  Margaret Fuller (1810-1850, photo at right), author, intellectual, women's rights activist and friend to Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne.  Fuller visited Hawthorne and his wife, Sophia, at the Manse at a pivotal point in her life.   

Reservations are suggested. Call for information and to reserve at 978.369.3909. Trustees of Reservations members: $8. Nonmembers: $12. The Old Manse, located at 269 Monument Street, Concord, MA, is a property of The Trustees of Reservations.

 

Ok, you dream analysts out there: here's your opportunity to see what makes me tick. And the answer may just be "all things Concord."

Last night I had the following dream.  My husband, father-in-law and I were at an Amtrak station somewhere. It was brought to my attention that the really famous "Old Engine #9" (?) was there... the one with a connection to Henry Thoreau's writings (?? no idea what this refers to). It had a sale price posted on it of $19,000.  I decided to buy it because it was an important historic artifact that should be preserved and brought back to Concord.

We hired an engineer who brought it here, and it was parked on a side track off Baker Ave. There is stayed for some years. 

Then Emerson Hospital decided to have a fund-raising auction. I decided to donate it to the auction, and it fetched $100,000! "A five-fold appreciation in value," I said in my dream.  (When I told him this in waking time, my husband was greatly amused by all these numbers, knowing how numerically-impaired I am).

Can you guess who bought famous Old Engine #9? Why, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, of course!  They made a new instrument out of its bell and whistle. 

(continued from a previous post...)

Consult the "Ark of Taste" for New England from the US Slow Food folks.  Plant some of the varieties "boarded" on the Ark to help save a New England agricultural treasure from extinction. http://bit.ly/fbZps8

Plant some RAFT seeds. Renewing America's Food Traditions (RAFT) of the Chef's Collaborative (located in Boston) conducted an annual "grow-out" of around 10 fabulous-but-threatened heirloom veggies.  Try some of last year's varieties (no grow-out this year): http://bit.ly/dA1bCz

Look slightly south. With global warming, plants have to deal with higher temps and longer seasons. Try heirlooms with a long history in, say, the mid-Atlantic states.  Also among similar climates across the world.

Take some chances and try seeds you've never grown (or eaten, or maybe even heard of!) before. They could become future favorites!

Buy from seed companies doing great work. There are some wonderful companies working to save our food and agricultural heritage -- support them! Here are three in our region that grow their own seeds, and focus on preserving heritage seed stock: Fedco, and the just revitalized Comstock, Ferre & Co.  Also Seed Savers Exchange does amazing seed saving work world wide - become a member and get seed through their mind-blowing "yearbook".

Gardening season begins now, with the purchasing of seeds!  Many catalogs are already here, and gardeners are itching to begin.  Here are some important points to consider when selecting seeds for local success and sustainable practices. These are by our editor, Debbie Bier, who often writes and teaches about sustainable backyard farming.

Choose open pollinated seeds. Only open pollinated seeds (OP) can be saved and bred true; many are heirlooms. Seed cannot be saved from hybrids. Get off the treadmill of always buying seeds for everything you plant by opting for OP varieties. Save their seeds and regrow your successes!

Think variety. We don't know what climate change will bring us; don't put all your eggs in one basket! Planting a wide array of types of plants (also, more than one variety of any single veggie) is like an insurance policy. Look at cold and warm, dry or wet tolerances for different plants and go for a broad range of capabilities.

Expand your harvest. Add more cold weather crops so you can plant and harvest during the frosty months. Multi-season planting takes practice; it's vital for food security.

No peat moss. The peat fields of North America sequester more than 50% of the soil carbon pool for our entire planet.  They are a non-renewable resource.  Instead, use a combo of compost, sand and garden soil for indoor seed starting and transplanting.

Focus on New England sourcing. Locally grown seed means the parent plants did well in our area. Ditto for heirlooms originating in New England (climate change aside).

Look to neighbors. What do folks on your block plant that does well? Try the same!

(5  more tips in a couple of days....)

By Bob Andrews, ConcordCAN

Note: Next Monthly Sustainable Concord Coffee is Feb. 15, 7:30-9AM, at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center. Special Guests will be Peter Lowitt, AICP, and Peter Nobile, Senior Architect. Peter Lowitt, is the Executive Director or the Devens Enterprise Commission at the former Ft. Devens, and an authority on sustainable development. The "Sustainable Devens" Project encompasses an outstanding "eco-industrial" center, alongside a larger community of sustainable business and residences. Peter Nobile is an architect who specializes in sustainable and energy efficient design. Peter also serves as Chair of Concord's Comprehensive Sustainable Energy Committee.

The first Sustainable Concord monthly coffee was held on Tuesday, January 18. Although the weather outside was frightful, the meeting was well attended, suggesting a strong community interest in this new venture.

The SC Coffee is an open forum to discuss, learn and develop opportunities for sustainability practices and policies in our communities. All interested stakeholders are invited to participate: organizations, businesses, municipal employees Town Board and committee members, public school staff, and interested citizens. Special Guests with expertise about various aspects of sustainability will make short presentations to lead off roundtable discussions among the participants.

Warren Leon (photo, above right), an Adjunct Professor at Brandeis University and former Director of the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, was one of the Special Guests at our January Coffee. Leon has been active on energy and environmental issues for the past two decades as the Senior Advisor to the National Clean Energy States Alliance and as a consultant to other organizations. At the January coffee he spoke about "the triple bottom line" in business, a new framework for measuring business performance, taking into account financial, environmental and social considerations. Businesses must always be concerned with their net profits, he said, but they can also be socially and environmentally responsible. They can make sound business decisions that are consistent with sustainability principles, and will benefit the environment. More information about Leon can be found here.

Torrey McMillan, an employee at the Walden Woods Project in Concord, was also a Special Guest at the Coffee. She is transitioning from a long-term position as Chair of the Sustainability Studies Department at the White Mountain School in Bethlehem, NH. She is committed to educating young people about sustainability and, in her new job, will be reaching out to our local schools to assist them in incorporating this innovative educational curriculum into their programs. You can read about this outstanding high school-based program here.

On March 5, from 9a-2p the Willard School in Concord will host "Getting to Green: Building Sustainable Community." This free event has been organized by "Sustainable Concord," in collaboration with ConcordCAN and the Concord Public Schools.

It will kick off at 9 AM with a keynote speech by Dr. Halina Brown of Clark University, speaking on the topic "From Consumer Society to Sustainable Consumption." This will be followed by facilitated community-building activities, lunch, and a special networking hour. Superintendent Diana Rigby will offer a tour of "Green Willard" at 2 PM.

Halina Brown, PhD is a Professor of International Development, Community, and Environment at Clark University. She is a dynamic, engaging, authoritative speaker. The focus of her talk is the importance of moving beyond technical approaches to the climate change problem and looking at the cultural, community-building implications. The themes introduced by Dr. Brown will be further explored in group activities designed to stimulate and inspire movement toward sustainability in our local communities.

While exhibits at the event will focus on children, an hour has been set aside from 1-2 PM for adult networking. There will be networking tables for local businesses, civic groups and organizations, where business cards, brochures, and simple handouts will be welcome.

Getting to Green will enable sharing of information about what we are already doing, and actively lay the ground for future collaboration. What will it take to create sustainable community in Concord and Carlisle? How will we "get to green" if we don't share what we are planning and doing already? We won't have all the answers at the end of the day, but this dynamic event will bring us closer to clarity about how to get there. Please bring your unique perspective and your voice. It won't be the same without you.

Debra's Natural Gourmet, Verrill Farm, and Nashoba Bakery will provide lunch for this event. The event is free, with a suggested donation of $5 for the lunch. Please RSVP to Harpplayer@comcast.net by Monday, Feb. 28. The event planners would like to know who is coming and will gladly answer questions about what to expect. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own coffee mug. Slippers or clean, dry shoes will be required for the gym floor. For more information about event details, contact morwen@earthdrum.com. 

Before tonight's rain (?!) came and mucked up all the snow, we noticed that our unusual weather had created some interesting sights along the driveway beside Vanderhoof's Hardware on Main Street.

 
Photos: ©2011 Deborah Bier

By Mark R. Cotreau, Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director, Town of Concord

Editor's Note: To make this as local as possible, there was a partial roof collapse at Concord Lumber in their lumber shed on Wednesday.  Happily, no one was present as they were closed, so were no injuries. More info here.

As you probably know, our area is experiencing a substantial roof collapse hazard as a result of the recent snow activity.  With the potential for more winter weather over the next 5 days or so it is important that we all make ourselves aware of the signs of collapse as well as appropriate preventative measures we can take.
 
I recommend you download and review this important information (Roof Collapse Advisory.pdf) distributed by State emergency preparedness officials.  Both residential and commercial concerns are addressed. If you feel you are experiencing signs of potential roof collapse please have everyone leave the building and call 911.

As Concord prepares for the spring Annual Town Meeting, thoughts turn to town and school budgets. Voters want to know how current economic challenges affect our community and its finances. The League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle (LWVCC) invites all residents to attend an open forum, "Our Town, Our Schools, Our Money: Facing Concord's Financial Challenges," on Wednesday, February 16, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. in the Town House hearing room.

The forum's panel discussion will feature Chris Whelan, Town Manager; Tony Logalbo, Town Finance Director; Diana Rigby, Superintendent of Schools; and John Flaherty, Deputy Superintendent of for Administration and Finance. All members of the public are welcome, and there will be an opportunity for audience questions. Cablecast on CCTV Channel 8.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan, issues-oriented political organization of women and men of all ages and backgrounds. For more information, visit www.lwvcc.org or call 978-254-1598.

The next Gardening for Life meeting will be at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center on Thursday, Feb 10 at 7:30 PM. It will start at 7 with refreshments, time for socializing, preparing the group's display for the Getting to Green event on March 5 at the Willard School, and then to the good stuff: learning about heirlooms and ordering seeds together!

Debbie Bier, an experienced gardener and seed saver (also posts frequently here about gardens and gardening as this blog's publisher and editor), will facilitate the meeting and share her knowledge of heirloom seeds and seed saving/purchasing strategies.  Her talk on heirlooms will cover the definition of heirlooms, why they are important to plant, how they are collected and shared, which are easiest for beginners to save and the best selections... plus where to find heirloom catalogs and seed saving gardeners.

The group will also discuss placing a joint seed order to Fedco... which individually sorts and then sends group orders! It's a great way to save on both seeds and money (by spliting bigger packets and saving on shipping costs).  Their March meeting could then include seed swapping as they break up large packets, and saved seeds from last season.

Feel free to bring a friend as well as your ideas for future field trips/talks, and your list of seeds to be ordered! If you'd like some feedback on your garden plot plan, bring that too. For more info, contact Debbie Barr.

In this unusual winter of deep snow and frequent storms, the Concord Magazine Blog has two safety requests to make of everyone:

Dig Out Your Fire Hydrants -- If everyone in the neighborhood makes sure the hydrant closest to their home is kept dug out, it would be a huge benefit.  The Fire Department has had to in the past respond to fires where they first had to chip away to free up the hydrant before they could fight the fire.  Precious time is lost this way. The Town eventually does come by to dig out hydrants, but there are hundreds if not thousands of them, and it takes time to get to everyone.  Keep yours clear!

Clear Your Furnace Flue/Air Intake Pipe -- Concordian Dottie Sullivan has this sage advice:

"This is a very important warning to issue especially in this very deep snow.  For people that have newer furnaces (ours was installed in 1995), many of them have a 6" 'air intake' pipe on the outside of the home. Although it sits approximately 3.5' off the ground, if that pipe cannot draw fresh air into the system (i.e., if it's covered by snow), the furnace can malfunction and there can be a build-up of Carbon Monoxide in the home.  A few years ago there were problems reported on the news relating to this very occurrence.  So beware of excessive snow around this pipe, especially if by pulling snow off your roof you are piling up the snow near that pipe!  I dug my air intake pipe out yesterday!"

By Mark Cotreau, Fire Chief /  Emergency Management Director
 
I just got off a conference call with the National Weather Service and MEMA, and these are their current storm expectations:
 

• The next storm is the more challenging forecast as a very small temperature deviation in our area will make a large difference in the forecast.
• We are still in the 10-15" of ADDITIONAL snow area (route 2 corridor north to southern NH)
• Concord should see most to all snow beginning at 4AM and the heavy snow ending around mid-afternoon.  Lighter precipitation may last well into the evening.
• Evening will bring very cold temperatures and a chance of a 'flash freeze'
• Wind should not be an issue.

Remember that this is a tough forecast and nothing is etched in stone.  The heavier icing is forecast for just south of the Mass pike.