Events and News
KICK-OFF PARTY TO STOP THE SPRAY!
You are cordially invited: To CELEBRATE the 2010 NSTAR Spray Delay And to plan a Permanent End to the Use of Toxic Chemicals Above our Water Supply!
When: Sunday, August 8th
Where: The Dennis Public Library Off Route 28 in Dennisport (www.dennispubliclibrary.org)
Time: 7-8:30 pm
RSVP: info@greencape.org
Join us for the latest NSTAR update and our coalitionıs progress and plans. Meet our energetic green warriors & HELP US STOP THE JOLLY-NOT-SO-GREEN-GIANT! Toxic persistent pesticides are a dangerous way to manage vegetation!
Light refreshments and beverages will be served~ RSVP requested
Hosted by: GreenCAPE, Concerned Citizens Against Herbicide Use on Cape Cod, Toxics Action Center and Green Corps
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GreenCAPE in Spring Issue of CHA
Cape Healing Arts (CHA) magazine contained ut several articles about GreenCAPE and other goodies. We have some extra copies if you would like one. The summer issue has an NSTAR update. We thank them for following this important issue!
Past events:
5th Annual Northeast Organic Farming Association Organic Lawn & Turf Course -- one-day course at UMass, Amherst Friday, August 7th 2009, 8am-5pm will provide information for managing lawns and turf organically and is geared toward land care professionals who are responsible for the establishment and care of grass, as well as anyone interested in learning organic methods. The course will include a special section on Water Management and Conservation. All course participants will receive a copy of the NOFA Organic Lawn & Turf Handbook: Beautiful Grass Naturally, which serves as the course manual. Topics include: Why Organic? Site Analysis, Soil Health, Cultural Practices, Weeds, Insects, Diseases, Obtaining Materials and Equipment, Running a Business, Client Relations and much more. The NOFA Organic Lawn & Turf Course is happening concurrently with the NOFA Summer Conference. The NOFA Organic Lawn & Turf Course costs $150 for the first person from a firm/town and $125 each additional person. Sat/Sun NOFA Summer Conference registrants receive a $30 discount on the combined registration fees. For more information or to register, visit www.organiclandcare.net or www.nofasummerconference.org. With questions, please contact Kathy Litchfield, NOFA/Mass OLC Program Coordinator, at (413) 773-3830 or kathy@nofamass.org.
The Delicious Revolution- Creating a Bountiful Garden
Organically was held Saturday, April 18, 2:30-4:30 P.M.
Warren Hall, Unitarian Church of Barnstable (Corner of Rte 6A and Phinneyıs
Lane, Barnstable Village)
Sponsors: Unitarian Church of Barnstable Green Sanctuary Committee, Cape
Cod Organic Gardeners, GreenCAPE & NOFA/Mass
Speakers: -Kevin Minnigerode~Dash oı Basil Farm~transitioning
to organic -
Gretel Norgeot~Checkerberry Farm~organic nuts & bolts -
Sue Phelan~GreenCAPE~non-toxic pest/disease control -
Marsha Potash~Hyannis Country Garden~container veggies
for more information: contact Lois 508 428-2069 or email ldfournier at
comcast.net
GreenCAPE's
Annual Autumnal Gathering was held on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008 at Whelden
Memorial Library
The agenda included refreshments,
elections and a celebration of 2008 accomplishments-- updates on the Safer
Alternatives Bill, Cape Organic Land Care Initiatives and a special
sneak preview of a new film "The Truth about Cats, Dogs and Lawn
Chemicals." Our guest
speaker, shared with the Cape Cod Organic Gardeners, was DAPHNE JOCHNICK
who spent a year working with organic farmers in Tanzania as a Sustainable
Agriculture Fellow for Global Services Corps.
GreenCAPE participated in Family Farm Day at the Mass Audubonıs Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, off Route 6A in Cummaquid, Saturday, Oct. 25. Activities all day long -- animals, spinning, organic farming demos, bee keeping and a giant huge toilet for children to see where wastewater goes. A freezing cold, windy day, but fun!
Beescaping 101: gardening to save the bees was held on Saturday, June 7 at Dennis Public Library. The audience was enthusiastic and asked many questions.Bees are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food you eat--and they are fast disappearing. Sue Phelan, an award winning bee keeper, spoke about the importantce of bees and the plants they love and how to create a bee-friendly landscape or garden for these Pollinators in Peril.
GreenCAPE was interviewed on Sunday Mar. 9, 2008 on the Organic Thinking Radio Show WOMR 92.1 in Provincetown.
On Tuesday Mar. 18, 2008 we made a presentation on the chemical body burden and how to reduce your exposure to everyday toxins at the Plymouth Public Library, as part of a "Sustainable Future, Sustainable Living" program.
read this carefully!
www.meepi.org/wnv/overkillma.htm
Overkill: Why Pesticide Spraying for West Nile Virus May Cause More Harm Than Good
LOW MAINTENANCE LANDSCAPING, co-sponsored by GreenCAPE and the Friends of the Dennis Public Library was held on March 11 2006 to a very enthusiastic crowd. Don Bishop of Gardens Are (www.gardensare.com)and Rotisha and Maggie Pipkins of Cape Cod Worm Farm (www.capecodwormfarm.com) described how to make easy and safe gardens. GreenCAPE and Rotisha and Maggie donated door prizes, as well as AGWAY on Route 134, which donated a $25 gift certificate.
In Celebration of Rachel Carson's Birthday, MORE LOW MAINTENANCE LANDSCAPING, the followup held on May 20, again sponsored by GreenCAPE and the Friends of the Dennis Public Library featured Jonathan Say of Natural Landscapes of Cape Cod speaking on RAIN GARDENS--their benefits to your home landscape and the water quality of Cape Cod and Don Bishop of Gardens Are speaking on NATURALIZED LANDSCAPES--using native plants to make an easy care yard without chemicals. (website--www.gardensare.com)
And did you hear that the Olmstead Green project in Brookline on the grounds of the former Boston State Hospital will protect and preserve the land and feature rain gardens? There will be no digging of cellars or paving of wetlands. WOW. 'bout time!
Stop Roadside Spraying!
After years of controlling plant growth by simple cutting of vegetation,
NSTAR plans to return to the use of hazardous herbicides to control weeds
on their easements on Cape Cod. Why risk exposure to toxic chemicals
and contamination of our water supply when a safe alternative exists?
Herbicides are not regulated to be “safe” and are intentionally
toxic by design.
A few of many concerns about the chemicals NSTAR plans to spray: both
Arsenal and Escort XP are highly leachable (according
to the U.S.D.A.) and therefore can easily leach through the Cape
sandy soils into our drinking water. The Lymphoma Foundation
has noted that a few studies have found an increased risk of lymphoma
among people exposed to glyphosate (Accord). Krenite’s ingredient
has displayed some mutagenic potential in one out of five tests for chromosome
aberrations and mixed results in avian reproductive studies.
Contact NSTAR at 800-592-2000 or 617-424-2000 (corporate office) and let them know you think it is reckless to permit this unhealthy polluting practice atop our vulnerable aquifer when the safer alternative of selective cutting exists.
In the News
Read a recent Boston Globe editorial about chemicals in the environment and our bodies.
The latest Rachel's Newsletter, A NEW WAY TO INHERIT ENVIRONMENTAL HARM, discusses how toxic effects of chemicals might be inhereted without genetic changes.