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May is a time of growth, new beginnings and - for LGN - solutions to climate change and environmental challenges.
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Some of you may have noticed that the “Take Action” button on our Lexington Green Network site has gone live! Learn all about it below as we introduce a local environmental solutions website called Energize Lexington.
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In keeping with Spring we are featuring three plant sales, each a little different: native pollinator plants, vegetable seedlings and the Field and Garden plant sale. May’s great weather also brings a host of conservation related walks and outdoor activities. What better way to get outdoors and enjoy nature in person!
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In This Issue – May 2021:
- Introducing "Energize Lexington"!
- "Energize Lexington" Website Virtual Tour/Tutorial May 7th
- Author Mary Alice Haddad talk on "Effective Advocacy" May 24th
- Spring Celebration at Wright Farm May 1st (soon!)
- "Backyard Birds" talk by conservationist Michele Grzenda May 20th
- Pollinator Plant Kits Going Fast!
- Great Birding and Nature Walks in May
- LexFarm Organic Seedling Sale Has Begun
- Thinking "Less Waste" for Student Lunches
- Lex Field & Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Mid-May
- Lex Farmers' Market Open June 1st in New Location
- Save the Date: Electric Vehicle Presentation June 16th
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This month we would like to introduce you to a new website called “Energize Lexington” a clearinghouse for actions that we can take for the environment and the climate, ranging from big transformations to small steps you can take daily.
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The website offers steps for greening your life in a number of broad areas: Home Energy, Going Solar, Transportation, Waste and Recycling, Food, Activism and Education and Caring for Our Land, Soil and Water.
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In each category there is a tab for “Description”, “Steps to Take”, “Deep Dive” and - our favorite - “Testimonials”. How many things would become easier if we just had a bit of advice and recommendations on reputable partners? “Energize Lexington” hopes to grow the list of testimonials as more people sign up and report back on their experiences.
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While anyone can browse the site to get good ideas, signing up with your email (confidentially) allows you to make a “to do” list, check off actions that you have completed, and leave a testimonial or review for others to learn from. Signing in also allows the Lexington Community to measure how much we have accomplished toward meeting our goal of reducing carbon emissions and encourages other townspeople to join us!
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Go to Energize Lexington today and check it out! If you like what you find, sign in with your email and continue your journey to a more sustainable life. Once you are signed in, you can check off things you have already done, make a “to do” list and leave that testimonial!
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If you want to find a quick link from the Lexington Green Network website, just go to our homepage and click on "TAKE ACTION" in the upper left hand corner!
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Thank you to the teams from LexGWAC, Mothers Out Front and LPS Green Teams who helped get this site off the ground. Additional thanks to LexGWAC for funding the community website that is part of an umbrella organization, MassEnergize.
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Join Us for a Virtual Tour of the "Energize Lexington" Site!
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Virtual Tour & Tutorial on the New "Energize Lexington" Site
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Can you spare 30 minutes to fight climate change? Take a climate coffee break with us!
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Every Friday from 2:00-2:30, we will be hosting a half-hour, virtual “actionar” where you can take immediate action on the climate crisis--while sipping your favorite caffeinated beverage.
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Our first “actionar” will focus on Energize Lexington, the wonderful new climate action site funded by Lexington Global Warming Action Coalition (GWAC). As mentioned above, Energize Lexington is designed to simplify the process of making environmentally powerful changes in the way we live. The site offers advice on actions to take, information on green groups and events in town, testimonials about particular providers, and more!
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Effective Advocacy: Lessons from East Asia's Environmentalists
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Local author and university professor Mary Alice Haddad joins us to share stories from her new book, Effective Advocacy: Lessons from East Asia's Environmentalists, and invites the audience to participate in theme-based breakout rooms to discuss how those lessons can be applied to environmental advocacy in Lexington and beyond.
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Please register to get the Zoom link and password, which will be sent to you via email immediately upon registering and again the day before the event. Both messages will come from [email protected]. Please check your Spam and Junk folders if you do not see the messages in your Inbox.
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Mary Alice Haddad is the John E. Andrus Professor of Government, Chair of the College of East Asian Studies, and Professor of Environmental Studies at Wesleyan University. She is the author of Effective Advocacy: Lessons from East Asia’s Environmentalists (MIT, 2021), Building Democracy in Japan (Cambridge, 2012), Politics and Volunteering in Japan:
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A Global Perspective (Cambridge, 2007), and co-editor of Greening East Asia (University of Washington, forthcoming), and NIMBY is Beautiful (Berghahn Books, 2015).
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There is so much going on in Lexington this spring. Here are a few of our offerings...
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[Questions? Contact Conservation Coordinator Amber Carr at [email protected]. Would you like to see all of the things going on with the conservation department and their allies? Sign up for their newsletter here by choosing Conservation News and Events!]
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Spring Celebration 2021 Wright Farm
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Saturday, May 1, 2021, 12:00-4:00PM
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What can you see? Birds, mammals, insects, plants - and if it's alive, you can record it in iNaturalist!
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The City Nature Challenge uses iNaturalist, a smartphone app, to collect important data on what (besides humans) lives in our environment. iNaturalist has been sponsoring this project for 6 years, to coincide with Earth Day and celebrate biodiversity all over the world.
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Parking is limited; please consider (safe) carpooling, walking or biking. Parking on Carriage Drive is allowed.
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Encyclopedia of Life
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The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) is a on online encyclopedia intending to document all living organisms and providing global access to knowledge regarding those lifeforms on Earth. Check out our Wildlife in Lexington website page to learn all about the various wildlife in town including links to EOL cards for New England Vernal Pools, New England Urban Habitats, and our very own Wright Farm!
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All About Backyard Birds with Michele Grzenda
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Thursday, May 20, 2021, 7:00PM
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Are you fascinated by all the visitors coming to your family's bird feeder? Join conservationist Michele Grzenda to learn skills to identify all those colorful feathered friends you admire. She will teach you common songs and calls of our backyard birds as well as some helpful mnemonic memorization.
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Michele Grzenda is the Conservation Director for the Town of Lincoln where she blends the fields of environmental regulation, open space protection, and land management. However, Michele's real passion is sharing her love of birds with others and has led hundreds of birding programs for Mass Audubon, Appalachian Mountain Club, and several community education organizations. Those early observations sparked an interest that prompted her to study wildlife management and environmental conservation at University of New Hampshire.
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Lexington High School Conservation Club
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Last year, the Lexington High School Conservation Club was founded to protect and preserve nature in and around Lexington, and to foster a greater appreciation for nature in the student body. Since September of 2020, the Conservation Club has gained over 50 members (!), who participate in weekly conservation projects and citizen scientist projects.
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Currently, the club is working with the Conservation Office to certify vernal pools around the town with over 15 students helping out. The club has also led many conservation efforts, such as clearing debris from trails, picking up trash, planting native species and hosting a screening of David Attenborough: A Life on This Planet.
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The club is always willing to help out, and would love to be part of more projects! If you have a project or any questions, please contact Alex Ordentlich (founder and president) at [email protected]!
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Pollinator Plant Kits Going Fast - Only Three Weeks Left!
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The plants are grown at a certified organic native perennial farm in New Hampshire and come in quart size bio-degradable pots. You can purchase a kit of 12 plants (three plants of each species) for $60, or a set of 4 individual plants (one plant per species) for $22.
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Green Landscapers
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Do you want to hire a lawn care company that will use environmentally friendly methods in caring for your property? Lexington Living Landscapes has assembled a list of lawn care firms working in Lexington that offer organic methods and/or avoid polluting gas-powered equipment. If you're looking for a landscaper to maintain your lawn in an environmentally friendly manner, check out our list.
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If you are wondering why these practices are important, or need help convincing a family member, you'll find answers here:
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Come Join Us On Some Great Spring Walks and Activities!
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All walks are free and open to the public. See each event description for specific Covid-19 requirements.
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Birding Walks
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 8:00-10:00AM
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Willard's Woods' mix of open fields and wood lots annually attracts a wide variety of resident and migratory bird species. Catch the peak of spring migration for an opportunity to see which species are passing through on their way to their summer breeding grounds further north. More than light rain will cancel the event. No dogs please. Group limit – 10. Masks and pre-registration required. Send an email to walk leader John Andrews to register and receive confirmation of the meeting point location. Title your message: Registration – Willards Woods Walk.
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Birding Willard's Lower Vine Brook
Saturday, May 15, 2021, 7:30-9:30AM
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Warblers are small, beautiful tropical birds that fly north to breed every year. Over 15 different species stop off in this sheltered area during their spring migration to their nesting grounds in northern New England and Canada. Depending on the weather and the foli- age, you may see a dozen species in a morning. No dogs please. More than light rain will cancel the event. Group limit – 10. Masks and pre-registration required. Send an e-mail to walk leader Harry West to register and receive confirmation of the meeting point location. Title your message: Registration – LVB Walk.
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Nature Walks and Other Activities
Garlic Mustard Pull at Lincoln Park
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 10:00AM-12:00PM
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Garlic mustard seeds can take up to seven years to sprout, which requires repeated efforts to control and eradicate this aggressive invasive species. Come join CLC’s multi-year effort to pull this year’s progeny from along the pathways in Lincoln Park. Bring gardening gloves. Steady rain cancels. Meet at the Fitness Path Trail entrance on Middleby Road across from the entrance to Bridge School where you may park. Masks required. Social distancing will be maintained due to the nature of the activity. All welcome, no pre-registration required.
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Using iNaturalist: A Walk at Whipple Hill
Saturday, May 22, 2021, 10:00AM-12:00PM
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Do you have an interest in using online apps to identify plants, animals and wildlife in general? In this exploratory walk at Whipple Hill we will use iNaturalist to see what can be learned using this handy smart phone resource. Plants will be the focus (since they are easiest to photograph) but we'll look at other organisms as available.
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Prerequisite: Bring your phone with iNaturalist installed and ready to use. Please try it out: take a few sample photos and have your phone enabled for cellular data. The usefulness of iNaturalist depends on taking good photos. The app can be found at: https://www.inaturalist.org. It’s free, but may require registration on the iNaturalist web site.
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Group limit – 10. Masks and pre-registration required. Send an email to walk leader Andrea Golden to register and receive confirmation of the meeting point location. Title your message: Registration – Whipple Hill Walk. Heavy rain cancels.
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LexFarm On-Farm Organic Seedling Sale Has Started!
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Self-serve through the end of May, during daylight hours - please place cash (exact change) or checks in locked box. Staffed the weekend of May 8/9 for CC and EBT customers. Growing instructions and prices are on white tags in each pot.
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On sale now: lettuces, herbs, onion family, kale, sugar snap peas. In 2 - 3 weeks: Tomatoes, squashes, peppers, cukes, eggplant and more. Follow us on Facebook for updates: https://www.facebook.com/lexfarm.
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LPS Students Getting Back to School!
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THANK YOU to the wonderful Diamond Middle School students who met at school on a Friday afternoon in April and collected 10 bags of trash from the school grounds and the abutting conservation land. This event was part of the school’s Earth Day celebration. Time well spent caring for our planet!
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Full Return to School Brings a New Focus on Lunch
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As of April 28 all elementary and middle school students who choose “Full Return” will be in school every day. Instead of eating at their desks, students will be going outside to eat or finding a safe place (with 6 feet of space) indoors.
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The Green Team would like to ask parents packing lunches for their children to consider putting food in reusable containers instead of plastic bags and wrap. Reusable containers (e.g., Tupperware) for sandwiches, cookies and chips save so much trash. Whole fruit (with no plastic packaging) is also a perfect way to reduce trash.
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When we focused on lunch waste reduction and diversion in the Lexington Public Schools three years ago, we reduced the number of trash bags sent to the incinerator by 80%. Let's use the last few weeks to start back on the right track! Thank you for your consideration!
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Saturday & Sunday, May 21-22, 2021
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Lexington Field & Garden Club members are preparing for the club's 88th Plant Sale, rain or shine, the weekend of May 21-22. We’ll have locally grown, proven Lexington perennials for sun and shade dug and potted by some of our best local gardeners. Our dahlias and cannas have already leafed out; our native plants will attract pollinators and birdlife to your property; and our house plants will help you decorate your home.
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We invite you to browse our brochure (published online the weekend before and sent to all garden club members) and do some shopping for your garden! All items are available to purchase on a “First Come, First Serve” basis.
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Emails for your orders will be provided in the brochure. Ordering begins on Monday, May 17 starting at 8 AM until Tuesday, May 18, at 8 PM. Payment only by check made payable to "Lexington Field & Garden Club" when you pick up your order. Pick up days are May 21 (1 PM to 5 PM) or May 22 (9 AM to 4 PM). You will be assigned a time to pick up your plants.
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*** Opening Day June 1st ***
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New Location - Worthen Road by LHS
After months of planning, measuring, meeting, visiting and collaborating, the Lexington Farmers' Market has a terrific new location for the seasonal summer market. The LFM will be moving to the practice field on Worthen Road, between the Lexington High School field house and the baseball diamond. town officials have worked tirelessly to help find the best place possible until the market can return to Fletcher Park, which will be used for equipment and supply storage while the Center Streetscape project is underway. The move promises to be the best of both worlds as the LFM starts its 17th season!
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Meet the New Manager - Alex Flack
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The LFM is excited to introduce the new Market Manager, Alex Flack. In an effort to understand food systems and the issues around healthy and sustainable food access, Alex spent the last three years working with family farms, chefs, farmers’ markets, community food organizations, and food banks. Last summer, he worked on an organic family farm along with staffing the farm’s tent at the Troy NY Farmers’ Market, and as a result knows something about farms and farmers’ markets from the ground up! He joined the LFM on April 5 and will be an integral part of establishing the market at the new location and getting to know LFM farmers, vendors, town officials and community members before opening day on June 1, 2021!
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Save the Date! Electric Vehicle (EV) Presentation on June 16, 2021, 7:00PM
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Electric Vehicles (EVs) are an important way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution. Driving electric vehicles instead of vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE), which run on fossil fuels can drastically reduce the carbon footprint of passenger vehicle trips. Transportation contributes to Lexington's greenhouse gas emissions, which dirties our air and contributes to climate change. Electric vehicles reduce emissions, save you money, and are fun to drive!
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Would you like to submit an environmental event or activity?
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Please forward to your network!
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