Amble at the BBG

Saturday, June 2 | 12 p.m.–6 p.m.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) lays out the welcome mat to celebrate the opening of the new Visitor Center and the launch of Urban Garden, the summer exhibit. Enjoy musical strolls, lush roses, and an interactive solar-powered sound installation. Meet BBG staff gardeners and join window-box gardening workshops while kids pot up their very own lemon balm plants. Pause in the Visitor Center’s new Lillian and Amy Goldman Atrium and enjoy tea-inspired cocktails, aromatic drinks, and delicious snacks for all ages. Free admission.

Amble: an Urban Garden Stroll

Saturday, June 2 | 12:00pm - 6:00pm

Celebrate the Urban Garden and the opening of BBG’s new Visitor Center.

Learn More

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a museum of living plants.

900 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
1000 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225
718-623-7200

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

 Learn about BBG's Campaign for the Next Century

What to Do with your Old Bike Helmet????

This is a great, great answer to that age old question:

  What should I do with this old stuff??

(Ask Umbra: http://grist.org/green-living-tips/ask-umbra-what-should-i-do-with-my-old-bike-helmet/)

Q. Dear Umbra,
I bought a new bicycle helmet, and I’m wondering what to do with my old one. I worry that donating it is irresponsible, since I am no longer confident in its noggin-protecting abilities. But sending it to the landfill isn’t a good option either. What is the best thing to do?

Anne D.
Seattle, Wash.

A. Dearest Anne,

You know what you could do with your old bike helmet? Use it as a chafing dish for the beautiful cake you are going to bake for the 10th anniversary of Ask Umbra this month!

Why is This Bird Smiling?

 Oh It Has a Good Reason to Smile!  It's Alive and Recovered in an Amazing Turnaround

I know, I know. Every year I just can't stop from featuring this. But really, could anything be cuter or more inspiring for anyone involved in cleaning up and preserving our earth than these live webcam image?

See photos by Peter Green of Audubon 2011 banding day

There was a time when Peregrines were gone. There was  culprit. Scientists figured out what it was. And someone, many some-ones,  listened.

Here we had  a bird that was teetering on the brink of losing its place on the planet. A bird that was almost beyond saving:

 In the 1960s, scientists discovered that a pesticide called DDT was interfering in the egg shell formation of meat and fish eating birds. Healthy birds were laying eggs so thin they were crushed by the weight of the incubating adult. 

 By 1965, no peregrine falcons were fledged in the eastern or Central United States.
  1968 - the peregrine population was completely eradicated east of the Mississippi River.
  1972 - use of DDT was severely restricted in the United States and worldwide.

  In 1979, the Eastern Peregrine Recovery Plan was developed to restore a peregrine population to the eastern United States.
And here they are! Live!
(But remember, Peregrine falcons are still a threatened species in Rhode Island.)

click to start video stream http://www.asri.org/general-conservation-info/providence-peregrine-falcon-webcam.html  The breeding, known as hacking, took place under the direction of the North American Falconry Association working with federal and state agencies and Cornell University's ornithology lab.  Michael Amaral, who directs raptor study and tracking in New England for the U.S. Fish and  Wildlife Service keeps track of every Peregrine pair in New England, banding hundreds of  them over the past two decades thanks to an army of volunteers including many from  the Audubon Society.

See pictures of this year's banding of the baby falcons at www.facebook.com/AudubonRI

Health in the Garden

Sometimes, just eating fresh vegetables isn't enough.....


When we go into the garden at school, I usually remind the kids to bring a spare change of clothes, gardening shoes, etc.  But even knowing the facts and proof of sun damage to our skin, I still often forget to remind them or ask about sunscreen.

We are mostly on blacktop, full southern exposure and still, almost all the schools are oblivious to the potential harm of our important garden partner, sunlight.

Last season, we were lucky enough to find a sunscreen without harmful chemical, yet offering a broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection.   The first few times, I actually felt odd telling the gardeners to put the face protection on before we started our garden digging. By the third week or so, I just left the lotion on the bench and expected the children to use it.

This season, we will develop a checklist for the kids in the garden.

It will include the following:

Garden Hats
Sunscreen on!
Drinks of water
Garden Shoes
Garden Gloves






I really would not even have listed the sunscreen except for a gift from Tricia at Suntegrity. Her  product "was made in honor of her mom and all those who lost their lives to skin cancer."

Because  our gardeners have little hands, they can't really 'glop' on the amount of sunscreen they should with the other brands.     With this lotion, we can use about 1/3  less for full coverage on their faces.  The sunscreen starts out white, so they can see where you are applying it and then the white disappears.  For ease of use, it really is nice in the garden.

As you know, I don't normally promote products on GardenGreenAngels.com, but  since this subject involves the safety and health of families and students, I am making an exception.  And since it is so close to Mother's Day, what better inspiration for a product than Tricia's own Mom?:

"Suntegrity Skincare was made in memory of my mom and all of those who lost their lives to skin cancer. Using my mom’s experience as a positive catalyst for change, I created a holistic, mineral sun care line to help people avoid skin cancer."

http://www.suntegrityskincare.com

In the following listing from The Environmental Working Group, a  Best and Worst rating was based on cosmetic safety database.  The low scoring , to be avoided listings, are at the very least, disturbing!

The  top-rated sunscreens all contain the minerals zinc or titanium. They are the right choice for people who are looking for the best UVA protection without any sunscreen chemical considered to be a potential hormone disruptor. None of the products contain oxybenzone or vitamin A and none are sprayed or powdered.

If you Design it With Fun, They Will Eat

Healthy Food Project 
Students Say Food Deserts Are Much More Complicated Than They Thought 

DFA Healthy Food Project from Allison Wong on Vimeo

Education about how to prepare healthy, inexpensive meals is key, and making it fun is particularly important when trying to engage and educate youth
The story behind the healthy food project of Brown and RISD's Design for America studio.


."Food deserts" are a controversial term used to describe neighborhoods that lack supermarkets, but where bodegas and cheap fast food restaurants are often plentiful. Many have tried to address this situation by simply looking to increase the number of supermarkets in such areas.

The RISD & Brown DFA team's initial research looked into the issues people face in accessing local foods.

More Complicated Than They Thought.

Let's Make it Fun.
In this video a group of students from the Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University addressed how to encourage healthier food choices using a human-centered design. They discovered that the availability of healthy food does not necessarily cause a shift in eating habits. Education about  preparing  and making meals fun is particularly important when trying to engageyouth.
Based on this finding, the team designed a food container with designated sections to ensure healthy meal portions. The container would include a recipe book, using simple, inexpensive ingredients to prove that it's easy to make healthy meals.

The students plan to continue the project by working with local store owners and other Providence-based food initiatives to better understand barriers to healthy eating through their perspectives.
Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/25005#ixzz1tXG3PIpH

National Parks Weekend and the Living is Free!

PICTURE YOURSELF IN A NATIONAL PARK this April 21 - 29 as America celebrates National Park Week –– a chance to hike, learn, share, and give back in the nation’s 397 national parks. Each year, we take this time to celebrate what we all have inherited as Americans – 84 million acres of the world’s most spectacular scenery, historic landmarks and cultural treasures.

Whether it is your first trip, or the latest of many memorable park experiences, National Park Week is a chance for all Americans to get active while experiencing the amazing places that make up the national park system for FREE. Visit any of America’s national parks and enjoy free admission all week long!

Together, we are owners, protectors and lovers of this land. Whether you are visiting, volunteering or interested in sharing your national park experience with the world, below you will find all the resources you need to make your National Park Week experience a memorable one.

 

The National Park Foundation is proud to once again join with the

National Park Service, to present National Park Week.

VISIT A NATIONAL PARK

National Park Week is the perfect opportunity not only to take an active role in preserving these special places, but to explore and enjoy them — so lace up your boots, pack your bag and set out on a national park adventure uniquely your own!Download your own National Park Week pocket guide here »

http://www.nationalparks.org/national-park-week-2012 for much more information and a guide to the parks near you.

A Week in the Trees

American Forest Foundation works on-the-ground w/ families, teachers, & other leaders to promote conservation stewardship & protect our nation's forest heritage.
The Week in Trees
Each week, the American Forest Foundation (AFF) publishes links to important or quirky tree news from around the world in our Week in Trees blog series.
Family Activities

Forests are places where you can grow family bonds. These activities are designed to help you teach children how to appreciate and learn about the natural world around them. Chances are, you’ll also have fun, watching your child’s face light up with wonderment and curiosity.

These activities are modified from Project Learning Tree's PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide. For over 30 years, Project Learning Tree has used the forest as a 'window' to help young people gain an awareness of the world around them and their place within it. Blending a walk in the forest with a fun and engaging activity creates a powerful lesson and learning experience for children of all ages.

Here is an idea from the concept of forest diversity:

More Family Activities Centered Around the Concept of Forest Diversity:

Get in Touch with Trees www.plt.org

By way of neighborhood trees and a mystery box, children will explore their sense of touch and discover different shapes and textures in nature.  More ideas for family learning?Read More at Forest Foundation.org.

ForestFoundation.org
@AmForestFndn