Entries by Jerry Nissley

FMN CE: Turkey Run Wildflower Walk

What: FMN CE Turkey Run Wildflower Walk for Fairfax Master Naturalists When: Saturday, 30 March 2024, 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Where: Turkey Run in McLean, Va. How long: Approximately 4 hours. Group limit: 15 individuals Margaret Chatham, storyteller, nature enthusiast, and founder of Voices in the Glen, will lead a hike along Zig-Zag trial […]

FMN CE: South Run Herp Hike

What: FMN CE Herp Hike for Fairfax Master Naturalists When: Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 @ 1:30 pm Where: South Run Park and Rec Center in Springfield How long: Approximately 2 hours. Group limit: 10 individuals Caroline Seitz from Virginia Herpetology Society (VHS) will lead a walk to discover reptiles and amphibians. The parking is plentiful […]

River Farm Blue Bird Boxes and a Ha-Ha.

January 13, 2024 – FMN was able to kick-off the stewardship activity to replace and monitor the Blue Bird Boxes at River Farm. Susan Farmer is the FMN coordinator for service and citizen science activities at River Farm. When the American Horticultural Society (AHS) notified her that the donated boxes were in, she organized FMN […]

MVHS Science Fair – Judges Wanted

Our friends at Mount Vernon HS are asking for volunteers to judge their science fair. E152: Science Fair Judge at Fairfax County Science Fairs — FCPS Several FMN have supported them in past so their request was sent to previous judges but it is not limited to previous judges. Read on… “Good morning, My name […]

AHS Blue Bird Trail – Building Team FMN

Washington’s River Farm, the headquarters of the American Horticulture Society (AHS) is renovating their Bluebird Trail and FMN is building a team to help. The Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, once as common as the robin, saw a drastic decline in population for many reasons including loss of habitat, pesticide use, snag removal, an influx of […]

Grasses for the Masses – PSA

The FMN stewardship code for Grasses for the Masses has been inactivated. Habitat Creation and Restoration – S015: Grasses for the Masses — Chesapeake Bay Foundation. This project is no longer sponsored by CBF and the code has been inactivated. However, DCR (Virginia State Parks) is a sponsoring organization for this program and Mason Neck is […]

Elly Doyle Awards – 2023

Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Commission announced their 2023 Elly Doyle awards presented annually to deserving volunteers or organizations. For 2023, two FMN volunteers received “Outstanding Volunteer” Awards via parks they support. Jo Doumbia received an award via Hidden Oaks Nature Center (HONC) in Annandale and Celia Boertlein via Huntley Meadows […]

Vermiculture Part I – the Set-up

Vermiculture is the intentional cultivation of worms. In gardens and farms, worms are raised and used to break down organic materials as part of a composting process called vermicomposting. Vermicomposting is the natural aerobic (oxygen-required) process of the decomposition of organic matter into soil using worms. Worms breakdown organic material into bioavailable components. These components […]