The turn out for Saturday’s class, Plan(t) Ahead, was a great! Kids and parents learned that it takes a little planning to grow things. We look forward to seeing pictures of their pumpkins as they grow in these months leading up to Halloween.
A big THANK YOU goes out to Dena Hollowood of the Lafayette Library for coming out for this special storytime and activity.
This Saturday, May 14, you are invited to join us at the garden for a special outdoor storytime with Lafayette Library’s Childrens Librarian, Dena Hollowood from 1PM to 2PM.
While October is still a few months away, you can get a head start on planting pumpkins for the Halloween season. Register now to let us know you are interested in Plan(t)ing ahead.
Growing Tomatoes on May 7 | 3:00 – 4:30PM
WE NEVER LET A LITTLE RAIN STOP US, SO WHY SHOULD YOU?
Do you have questions about your garden? UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County will be offering a plant clinic at the Lafayette Community Garden TODAY from 10:00AM to 11:00AM to answer your gardening questions and help you to troubleshoot your plants FREE OF CHARGE!
And later, from 3:00PM to 4:30, join Helen Erickson, Master Gardener for a presentation about tomato growing best practices. Helen will be demonstrating planting techniques and will be available answer your questions.
We’ll have tents up to keep you as dry as we can. Dress warmly and enjoy the fresh air! You know we will.
Register now for her informative class, Growing Tomatoes.
We just enjoyed an engaging talk by Susan JunFish about pest control and learned some great alternatives that can help us regulate our environment.
She talked about The difference between acute toxicity and chronic toxicity. Acute toxicity involves high levels of adverse health effects and the response to substances of this type are more immediate. Chronic toxicity, however, involves less immediate, but still adverse effects and is generally associated with longer term exposure.
These terms are worth considering when looking at the common chemicals you use in and around your home. Studies have shown that commonly used pesticides can cause negative side effects, including issues with reproductivity.
There are plenty of least toxic alternatives. Learn more at Parents for a Safer Environment.
…our very own Janet Thomas and Kim Overaa. Congratulations and thanks to all the winners for everything that you do to make Lafayette the green community it is.
Presented by Sustainable Lafayette in conjunction with the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, the Lafayette Library & Learning Center, and the City of Lafayette.
Explore this year’s theme of Act Local. Throughout the day, we all have opportunities to make better, more environmentally-friendly decisions. Think about the products you purchase, the transportation options, the lunches we pack for kids, the snacks we carry with us to parks and sporting events. Could you take one more step and bring your reusable shopping bags, walk or ride, carpool once a week or choose fruit that comes in its own organic wrapper (oranges, apples and bananas)? Sustainable Lafayette’s mission has always been to support activities that enhance the quality of life in Lafayette. Making even small changes in your daily decisions can have a huge impact.
Check out our suggestions for more ideas to get started!
The annual Lafayette Awards of Environmental Excellence, more commonly known as the Lafayette Green Awards, recognize outstanding efforts that contribute to a more sustainable community and help the City achieve its environmental goals. More info can be found on the City’s website here.
Ask kids what they see in the recycling bin and most of them will see a bin of potential. The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center will be unleashing this potential at the Lafayette Library with upcyclables generously donated from Republic Services on Saturday, April 16. Bring your children to the Arts & Sciences Room from 1:00PM to 2:00PM and watch them — and help if they want you to — bring new life to…well…”trash.”
Varroa mites on honeybees (Prof Stephen Martin, University of Salford)
In a recent Washington Post article, Darryl Fears reports that “the global spread of a virus that deforms the wings of honeybees and kills them in droves was caused by humans.” and it’s been happening for centuries.
While Asian honeybees that were traded in the former Soviet Union had learned to fight the mite that deformed their wings, their European cousins were less successful at fending off the pests.
Add the increased human trade of bees to the mix and it became a global pandemic.
