Greening the Older Home, Feb. 11
Historic preservation meets energy efficiency—learn how to weatherize your older home without damaging its historic fabric. Join Rebecca Harris of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Christopher Skelly of the Massachusetts Historical Commission, and Sally Zimmerman of Historic New England as they present information on insulation, windows, lighting, and renewable energy options. Speaking portion takes places at the Adams Street Branch Library (Adams Street Branch Library, 690 Adams Street, Dorchester, MA). Afterwards, take an optional tour of the weatherization project at Historic New England’s 1683 Pierce House (24 Oakton Avenue
Dorchester, Mass. 02122). Registration is required. optional tour of Pierce House weatherization project limited to the first fifteen people to register. Please call 617-994-6644 for more information.
Saturday, February 11, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Adams Street Branch Library, 690 Adams Street, Dorchester, MA. Free!
DotRox Cooperative Gardening Center Planning Mtg., Jan. 7
Are you ready to help grow a community-owned garden center? The first planning meeting of the DotRox Cooperative Gardening Center has been set. It’s time to make it a reality. The meeting will be held
Have Your Tree Count! Increase Boston’s Urban Forest Canopy!
Have you planted a tree recently in the city of Boston? If so make sure it gets counted towards the Grow Boston Greener program goal of 100,000 trees by 2020. All you have to do is go to: www.growbostongreener.org/gbg/
GreenDorchester is a member of the Boston Urban Forest Coalition.
Dealing with a Chilly Environment: Resources
As a September Bay State Banner article noted, many programs previously offering Heat Assistance (i.e. utility subsidies for low-income residents) programs may be inactive due to changes in federal funding. Luckily, there are many resources available online to learn more about the options available to your family, friends, neighbors, patients or clients, etc. The U.S. Office of Housing and Urban Development lists several Massachusetts specific resources here. Mass Resources lists a variety of energy and heating assistance programs here. The most well known of these are probably Massachusetts’ Low-Income Heating Assistance Program (MA LIHEAP) and Citizens’ Energy (Joe 4 Oil). Check online for a convenient eligibility guidefor LIHEAP. You can also try sources such as the Good Neighbor Energy Fund or look into local assistance programs. Regarding the last point, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a fairly large index of local programs. Continue Reading »
“Moscow to Mongolia” Presentation and Bike Fundraiser, Dec. 20
From ”Moscow to Mongolia”: a bike in a suitcase, the Trans-Siberian railroad and a 1,000 kilometer cycling adventure. Sage Cohen of Dot Bike will present an account of her Summer 2011 bike journey. More than just beautiful landscape and intimate portraits–come learn about adventure cycling, how to ride the Russian rails, and why you might want full suspension and a GPS in Mongolia. Suggested donation of $10 benefits Boston neighborhood bicycle groups (including BU Bikes, DotBike, JP Bikes and RozzieBikes). Snack on refreshments and and enjoy varied door prizes!
This event will take place Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. (presentation at 7 p.m.) in the 2nd floor auditorium of George Sherman Student Union at Boston University, 775 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. Short background on the presenter follows. Continue Reading »
Testimony Sought for Dec. 20 Hearing on Diesel Emissions
After months of building support for more diesel emissions reduction action in Boston via cleaning up city-owned/ leased / operated diesels and contracted construction vehicles and equipment, there will be a public hearing on Tuesday, December 20th, 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Iannella Chambers on the 5th Floor of Boston City Hall (1 Cambridge Street, Boston 02108).
Clean Water Action and the Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project (REEP – a program that develops the environmental awareness, social justice and community organizing skills of young people) of Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE) are working in partnership with Boston City Councilors Felix G. Arroyo and Stephen Murphy to discuss the need for this city-wide solution to harmful and abundant diesel exhaust in Boston, particularly in low-income communities of color overburdened with environmental health risks. Following the hearing, Councilors Arroyo and Murphy intend to file a diesel emissions reduction ordinance in early 2012 (fact sheet on current draft language attached).
Please consider whether you are able to attend simply to support those who testify and/or to present oral or written testimony yourself about the need to reduce health and climate impacts of diesel emissions (through retrofit technologies/options, use of ultra low sulfur diesel, and zero non-essential idling) from construction equipment and city-owned, leased and operated vehicles. Reminder: You need not represent a Boston-based group/org to have a relevant voice here! If you plan to attend and/or would like to testify, please contact Vanessa Green at 617.338.8131 x211 or vgreen@cleanwater.org as soon as possible, and plan to arrive 5 minutes early to sign up to testify. Continue Reading »
2011 Massachusetts Trails Conference Resources Now Available
Presentations, session notes and more from the 2011 Massachusetts Trails Conference are now available free of charge online, courtesy of MA DCR. View them at
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/greenway/publications.htm (scroll down to the bottom). Great information on how to protect, preserve, fund and expand public trails!
Dorchester-Wide Zoning Change Permits Urban Agr!
From the Boston Redevelopment Authority: Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced the adoption of a progressive text and map amendment to the city’s zoning code, passed at the Zoning Board Association meeting this morning The amendment will allow the city to move forward with an Urban Agriculture Pilot project, making use of two vacant city owned parcels in Dorchester at 23-29 Tucker Street and 131 Glenway Street. The update zoning code will allow the land be farmed to provide fresh and healthy food for sale to local neighborhood residents and businesses.
“Boston is at the forefront of the urban agriculture movement and with this zoning amendment we are taking a proactive approach that will allow us to further explore the benefits of urban farming,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino said. “This project is an opportunity to take underutilized city land and put it to productive use. Community gardening brings neighbors together and it creates a new way to get healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables into neighborhood stores.” Read more at the BRA’s website.
Urban Agriculture Overlay Hearing, Nov. 16
Update: Read more about this hearing and the proposed lots at YourTown Dorchester. The Boston Zoning Commission will be conducting a public hearing on a proposal to adopt a text and map amendment to the Zoning Code that would establish the Urban Agriculture Overlay District (UAOD) in the Greater Mattapan Neighborhood District and apply the UAOD to two properties in South Dorchester. The public hearing will take place on Wednesday, November 16th at 9:00 a.m. on the 9th floor of City Hall in the BRA Board Room. Further details about the public hearing are provided in the announcement, which is attached.
Please help spread the word! To review the text of the proposed UAOD, as well as to learn more information about the Pilot Urban Agriculture Project, go to: http://tinyURL.com/BRARezoneUrbanAgriculture. For more information on the urban agriculture project go to: www.bostonfood.org/resources/grow-food.
For further information about this upcoming meeting, please contact:
John (Tad) Read, Senior Planner
john.read.BRA@cityofboston.gov
617.918.4264
Master Urban Gardener Program: Apply Now!
We wrote about BNAN’s Master Urban Gardener program on November 3. Since that time, Erika Rumbley at BNAN has sent GreenDorchester this lovely letter to local community gardeners which gives a better framework for the garden trainings. PLEASE NOTE: the sign-up deadline this year is December 1st. Read Erika’s note below, view a flyer, download the MUG Application, and continue after the break for the original program description.
Boston Community Gardeners,
As many of you know, the Master Urban Gardener (MUG) program is a 6-session training program for Boston’s community gardeners.
The MUG program is perfect for community gardeners who are ready to dig-in, build their gardening skills & share their knowledge with others. Whether you’re just getting started or have been gardening for decades, MUG covers everything you need to know to thrive in one of Boston’s community gardens- from vegetable gardening and composting to community organizing. Rather than paying a fee, Master Urban Gardeners give volunteer service to Boston’s gardening community.
Applications for the 2012 MUG program are due December 1st. Please encourage people from your garden to apply! Attached, you will find a complete program description and the application. Questions? Hosting an upcoming community garden event where we can spread the word about the MUG program? Call 617-542-7696 or write mug@bostonnatural.org.
