GreenDorchester

Boston Natural Areas Network and the Boston Gardeners Council are moving forward on planning this year’s Produce to Pantries program. Last year, gardeners grew over 7,000 pounds of fresh produce for pantries in Mattapan and Dorchester. BNAN is looking for gardens or individual gardeners who can dedicate growing produce to be collected for Produce to Pantries weekly. Additionally, BNAN is hoping to find volunteers who will dedicate time each week in helping collect produce from gardens, transporting food from garden to pantry, and distributing produce at the pantries. The food pantry locations, dates, and times are still TBA (but coming soon!).

Attached you will find a flyer about Produce to Pantries, including volunteer opportunities, that you can pass around, post in your garden, and generate throughout your gardening circles. For more information about Produce to Pantries and how to get involved, please contact Dana Chepulis, Garden Outreach and Engagement Coordinator, at dana@bostonnatural.org or 617-542-7696.

MA Park Serve Day, Neponset River Greenway Saturday, April 20, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Neponset Park, Hilltop Street @ Granite Ave, Dorchester Service projects to improve MA Department of Conservation and Recreation Parks across the Commonwealth will be happening on Park Serve Day. Join Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN) to plant seven new trees at beautiful Neponset Park in Dorchester on the Neponset River. Volunteers will also care for 25 trees planted in the fall of 2012, applying additional mulch, checking stakes and ties, fertilizing and installing gator bags. Gloves, tools, snacks and water provided. Bring friends and family!

Neponset River Greenway Sweet History Stroll along the Neponset River Saturday, February 9 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Meet at the public parking lot at Milton Landing, near 25 Wharf Street, Milton What do chocolate and the Neponset River have in common? Join a DCR Park Ranger on a scenic stroll in Milton and Dorchester Lower Mills to find out. We’ll explore the former Baker Chocolate Factory site and learn about the sweet history of Lower Mills. Then, warm up with hot cocoa. For ages 10 and up. Sponsored by MA DCR.

 With the Boston Gardeners Council, Boston Natural Areas Network is kicking off a three-part series about the importance of compost for all gardens. This first forum features Erika Rumbley, BNAN Garden Educator, introducing the critical role of compost in building healthy and productive soil. Susan Cascino, Director of Recycling at Boston Public Works, oversees yard waste recycling and city composting and will present city plans for 2013. Come with your ideas and questions.

Co-op Power is hiring a Weatherization Crew Leader for its Metro Boston crew! Employee will coordinate activities of Co-op Power’s Boston Energy Efficiency crew members engaged in air sealing and insulation for residential buildings. Download the job posting here or write to jobs@cooppower.coop with “CREW LEADER” in the subject line for more details.

Co-op Power Boston Metro East is finishing up their new home and seeking a few office supplies! They have conference tables and chairs, but are looking for some office furniture and equipment. Contact Wilbert (wseoane@cooppower.coop) if you can donate office equipment that is in good condition. An Open House for the new office (located in Hyde Park) will take place in  January. The staff is growing! Co-op Power is in process of training two local jobs energy efficiency crew leaders, an energy auditor and office management staff – creating local jobs for the green economy. Plenty of programming coming up: a solar hot water training, a House of Worship project at Dorchester’s 2nd Church in Codman Square, and “Neighbor to Neighbor” barnraisings  to support community organizations. Please join the next meeting on January 3rd! (For details, contact Olive Knight, olive@cooppower.coop.

GreenDorchester founder and Dorchester Community Food Co-op board member Rosanne Foley, was recently profiled on WERS and Boston.com. Please read the article, listen to the radio piece, and share this photo online with a few friends. Rosanne, who has for years gone without credit for so much of the work she’s done, deserves a resounding round of applause. Let your friends know about seeds of community Rosanne continues to nurture and grow. Engage with them yourself! Become a member of the food co-op, learn about Dorchester’s history, and Go Local today!

Come support the Diesel Emissions Reduction Ordinance (DERO) at a public hearing in Boston on Tuesday! It’s our last push before the vote! DERO will require the best available retrofit technology and anti-idling enforcement on city-owned and city-contracted diesel vehicles, including major city construction projects. The time is now for Boston to catch up to other major cities and protect children and families from the harmful health effects of diesel pollution. Tuesday, December 18, 2012 Starts at 3:30 p.m., City Hall, 5th Floor Iannella Chamber, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA.