Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition

will it ever stop raining?

Everyone is discussing the lack of sunny summer weather in Boston - plants love rain but also need a little sunshine, like people do, to be really happy. The wet weather can cause problems like water in your basement or leaks through the roof. Instead of gnashing my teeth in frustration, I found some information about using (or diffusing back into the ground) rainwater on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website - rain gardens, porous pavements, green roofs, tree planting, and rainwater harvesting for uses such as toilet flushing and landscape irrigation. I decided to use gravel instead of paving for a garden path, and my rain barrel has been full!

Vouchers double value of food stamps at farmers’ markets

Recently in the Globe: A new city program “Boston Bounty Bucks” will expand access to locally grown fruits and vegetables through vouchers that double the value of food stamps at farmers’ markets in Boston. Most of the Dorchester farmers’ markets are participating, see list here.

3d Annual Green Office Conference June 23, at UMass Boston

MassRecycle’s “Building Green Value” conference is taking place tomorrow at UMass-Boston. They don’t want you to miss the best event they have ever put together. Speakers from as far as Florida and Texas are coming to present on ways to make your office greener and to market your organization as green.
One of the conference sponsors has made available 10 scholarships covering 50% of the registration fee for returning attendees those who pre-register today June 22.
The scholarships are available on a first-come-first-served basis, only today and only with online conference registration. You will still be able to come and register onsite, but the scholarship will not be available.
To register with a scholarship, please follow this link:
 https://co.clickandpledge.com/advanced/default.aspx?wid=27882
 
Conference agenda is available at:
http://www.massrecycle.org/greenoffice/
Please feel free to contact Read the rest of this entry »

let it rain, Dorchester grows greener

Not going to let a few drops stop us - starting tomorrow, Saturday June 20, there is lots to do locally to take our minds off the showers. In Mattapan, help green your house and improve indoor air quality at a House Plant Propagation workshop or walk with WalkBoston at the Boston Nature Center. In Grove Hall, visit an Urban Environmental Health Fair. Or check out Ashmont’s CommonBoston activities, as seen in a previous post.

Subscribe to the enviro events calendar to get updates as they happen.

Boston Youth Environmental Network: Summer 2009 Full Time Position available

BYEN is seeking a Field Coordinator to support organizations participating in our summer expansion project. We need to fill this position ASAP. This is a 10 week full time position.
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Summer Environmental Youth Employment Expansion Project -
Position:  BYEN Summer Youth Employment Field Coordinator
Location:  Position encompasses work throughout Boston’s neighborhoods including Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale and Roxbury.
 
The Boston Youth Environmental Network (BYEN) is a group of organizations and professionals in the environmental education, park stewardship, youth development Read the rest of this entry »

Community Advisory Committee on Climate Action - nominations sought

The city of Boston’s Climate Action Leadership Committee needs your help! They are looking for Boston residents to serve on the Climate Action Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that will work alongside the Climate Action Leadership Committee. You don’t have to be a climate expert. You just have to be willing to be an active player on a diverse team that will work together from July 2009 to March 2010.
Nominate yourself or another person.
You can apply on line at http://www.cityofboston.gov/climate/committee.asp.

For more information, contact: Carl Spector at at 617-635-3850 or Carl.Spector@cityofboston.gov.

NOMINATION FORMS DUE BY: Friday June, 26, 2009, 4:00 p.m.

free green business programs at BPL

Two free Green Business programs coming up at the Boston Public Library that may be of interest to Dorchesterites-

Starting A Green Business
Tuesday, June 9
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Mezzanine Conference Room
Copley Square Library
700 Boylston Street
This program will feature a panel of speakers who have green businesses or who have resources to help you start a business that is “green”. We’re defining a “green business” as one that offers its clients a sustainable way to accomplish their goals and which does its work in an environmentally friendly way.

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Greening Your Business
Tuesday, June 16
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Read the rest of this entry »

ashmont = active

On June 20, check out a free exploration of Ashmont, Dorchester with Common Boston Weekend. Neighborhood residents are actively involved in improving Peabody Square. This varied assortment of free activities promises to be a fun way to connect with the various exciting developments in Dorchester. Some of what is happening:
~ A walking tour of Ashmont Hill, and discussion with community residents the challenges and rewards of raising a family in an urban setting,
~ A tour of Mass. Affordable Housing Alliance’s new environmentally progressive headquarters,
~ Food in the City, discussions on bringing fresh, quality food to Dorchester with Chris Douglass, owner of the Ashmont Grill and Tavolo; and Tim Diehl, of the new Peabody Square farmers market,
~ tour Dorchester’s New Red Line Stations,
~ DotBike Tour to JP,
~ take the Mattapan trolley from Ashmont station to Lower Mills for a historical walking tour.

Please visit the Common Boston website for details on the Ashmont activities, and other activities in Boston neighborhoods.

community garden

Now the weather’s better, time to garden! Been noticing many neighbors out greening their space.  What if you don’t have a space? click here to find a Dorchester community garden near you!  Have a flat roof? Maybe a rooftop garden would work for you! Or check around your neighborhood, there might be a small park that needs some weeding help.

learn bike safety

Join officers from Boston Police District C-11, Boston Fire Fighters and local volunteers for a Bike Rodeo and Fire Safety Day.

Saturday May 23, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the parking lot of I.B.E.W Local 103, 256 Freeport Street, Dorchester.

* This event is for children ages 4 - 10 and their parents.
* Bring your bike and helmet and get a complete safety check (as DotBiker Vivian G performed at the 2008 event) , take an agility test and participate in bike games.
* Helmets will be available for sale.
* The Boston Fire Departments Fire Safety Truck and the Vulcan Society Safety Town will be there too.

For more information call the C-11 Community Service Office at 617-343-4524.