Hidden Oaks Nature Center has many opportunities for volunteers. Here are a few: Full Moon Hike and Campfire 2 March, 7-8.45 pm Help the resident naturalist with an outdoor hike and campfire prep and clean up. You have the option to lead part of the program at campfire, including story telling. Flying Squirrels Gliding in […]
Reviewed by Wendy Cohen Climate of Hope (2017, 277 pp) avoids the usual gloom-and-doom discussion around climate change by offering up two premises: First, if we shift the focus from international treaties to projects in local municipalities, much work can be done to mitigate climate change. Second, rather than view the multiple causes of climate […]
Reviewed by Ann DiFiore A square meter of Tennessee forest can give us insights into all forests. This is the premise of The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in Nature (2012, 288 pp). Haskell, Professor of Biology at Sewanee, the University of the South, visits a corner of old growth forest every few days over […]
Green Spring Gardens Park, 4601 Green Spring Road, Alexandria 25 February 2018, 1.30-2.30 pm Water harvesting involves strategies to manage and enhance the water resources on your land, leading to healthier plants and lower water bills. Understanding and implementing just a few simple water harvesting techniques, such as swales, hugelkultur beds, and rain gardens can […]
Do you need fresh ideas on where to find meaningful volunteer work? The Fairfax County volunteer website has a special section listing volunteer opportunities for people who are interested in the environment, parks, recreation, or sports. You will need to register, but it only takes 10-15 minutes to complete the application. Dozens of opportunities qualify for FMN service […]
Reviewed by Sarah Glassco Lab Girl (2016, 512 pp) recounts the life and career of a research scientist in the field of geobiology. Because her roots are relevant to her present, Jahren writes about her childhood in Minnesota, where she was raised in an unemotional, uncommunicative family. She spent her days with her mother, who […]
Enjoy observing local birds? You can make your observations count. The Great Backyard Bird Count, running from February 16-19 is a fun, free, family-friendly event that asks us to observe and count the birds in our backyards, building balconies, parks, schools–anywhere we may find them. Learn how to sign up and get started counting here. […]
Reviewed by Tami Sheiffer I’d taken a lot of Coursera classes for fun and personal edification before I was a Fairfax Master Naturalist and could get continuing education credit for them. Act on Climate, taught by Michaela Zint of the University of Michigan, is the Coursera class I would recommend to the broadest audience because […]
Reviewed by Becky Strode Plant Science: An Introduction to Botany (The Great Courses, 2017) is an informative and engaging course that you can watch on DVD or via digital download. Best of all: no homework and no tests! Plant Science comprises 24 half-hour lessons, and a 214-pp. course guide. The instructor—Catherine Kleier, Professor of Biology […]
Reviewed by Ann Di Fiore As a Fairfax Master Naturalist and Audubon at Home Ambassador, I am always on the lookout for books on native plant and wildlife gardening. The Humane Gardener (2017, 224 pp) offers insights on both topics, but what sets Lawson’s book apart from others is her emphasis on creating habitats that nurture all […]