Welcome to the Gardener’s Conservation Year 2012-2013!

The Conservation Committee has lots in store and there has been a great deal of news on the Environmental front over the summer. Please read the Current Status Chart put out by Martha Phillips at the GCA who does a terrific job of keeping up with all the legislation and explaining why its important. You can find it on the GCA Website (haven’t logged in yet? Munro at the GCA in New York will send you your password) under NAL Committee Page under current information (Or use the link sent by Betsy and subscribe to the updates). You can read about drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, The Frack Act, (which hits close to home) EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Regulations and more. In addition, also on the NAL and Conservation pages, you will find the National Vice Chair reports on a variety of topics that are of interest. These are all intensively researched reports by members of GCA clubs across America and are well worth reading. If you read one article about Climate Change this year, please read the fact filled and frightening piece by Bill McKibben in the July 19, 2012 Rolling Stone, “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math” . Bill McKibben spoke to us at the NAL meeting in Washington two years ago, and has become, with James Hansen of NASA, the climate change conscience of America with his group 350.org.

Local Scene

On the local scene, the Gardeners have been participating in a number of projects, big and small, to do our part for conservation. One of the projects we began last year was a cosmetics packaging recycling project through Terracyle. (the corks are on hold until we get off the Terracycle cork brigade wait list- but you can still keep drinking wine in the meantime!) Each piece we recycle through them brings a small amount back to our treasury to be used for the student conservation scholarship. Alice Amsterdam noticed that many members were not sure what exactly they were supposed to bring in, so her daughter Julia very kindly made the poster attached to give some examples of what you can bring to each meeting. Thanks to Alice and Julia for doing this!

New Projects

This Fall we have two new Projects: one is another partnering with Willistown Conservancy, at their Rushton Farms on Delchester Rd., Newtown Square PA. We will be propagating native plants for their wildflower garden, and helping with the community garden. A kick-off meeting is planned for September, date TBA. You do not have to be on the Conservation Committee to attend and participate in this interesting project.

We will also be working with underprivileged girls at a church in Norristown doing some planting and winter indoor gardening activities.

We will be continuing to partner with Wayne Presbyterian Church to help with their church sponsored community garden in an underserved area of Philadelphia. Keep your eye out for vegetable seeds on sale, to be turned into seedlings in the spring. If you are able to start an extra few 6 packs of vegetables early next spring, they are always happy to have the seedlings we give them. Last year we gave them tomato and pepper seedlings that I grew, seeds from PHS, and other plants, which were greatly appreciated. This is the third year we have worked with them. Remember, we are a 501.C3 organization and as such need to give back to our community in the form of volunteering, to retain our tax -exempt status. What a nice way to give back to our community!

On Thursday September 20th we will be visiting historic Stenton House, where the GCA was founded, for a conservation Field Trip. The Curator Dennis Pickeral will be giving us a tour of their centennial garden restoration and the archeological and conservation aspects of this very interesting house. Anyone is welcome to attend, please sign up or email me at Barbara@geltosky.com to let me know if you are coming. Once I have a list of attendees, we will send it out and people can arrange their own carpools.

Finally, don’t forget native plants as arboretums and nurseries begin their fall sales! They provide a wildlife habitat, and if you are thinking of ripping out something that didn’t perform too well in this summers scorching weather (AKA it’s more dead than alive) give a native species a try!

Barbara Geltosky
The Gardeners