Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Included in this bulletin:
1) Planning Your Gardening Year on Jan. 16, repeated on Jan. 26
2) Eastside Food Forum on Jan. 20
3) Weatherization Days on Jan. 13, repeated on Jan. 23
4) Mobile Food Pantry on Jan. 16
5) Fenner’s Winter 2010 Program Schedule
6) Lansing Neighborhood Council Volunteer Round Up on Jan. 25
7) UN Decade on Sustainability Speaker, Jan. 27
1) Planning Your Gardening Year – Now is the time, really!
Offered this Saturday, January 16, 2-3:30 pm, and repeated on Jan. 26th, 6:30 to 8 pm, at the Hunter Park GardenHouse.
Did you know that an important part of vegetable gardening happens in the dead of winter? It’s the very necessary planning and perusing, designing and drawing, dreaming and scheming, all done indoors where its warm and snug! At this workshop, led by Linda Anderson, you will learn when different garden tasks should be done throughout the year, how to decide what to plant, and how to lay out your vegetable garden. There will be time at the workshop for you to dig in and get started on your plans, with access to lots of garden catalogs and books as well as experienced gardeners to answer your questions. Come get a jump on the 2010 gardening year!
2) Food Forum
Allen Neighborhood Center invites Eastside eaters, gardeners, cooks, grocers, restaurateurs and other interested parties to join us for the Eastside Food Forum, on Wednesday, January 20 at Foster Community Center, Room 213, from 6:30-8:00 pm. Through a facilitated conversation we’ll look at our food system’s successes and challenges, and figure out where to go from here.
Gather with other Eastside stakeholders for a lively discussion of our neighborhood food system (gardens, greenhouse, farmers market, grocery stores, restaurants, pantries, churches, schools, and more). Bring your thoughts, ideas, questions, and suggestions.
We’ll look at how these systems interact, how to improve them and how to enhance our local network of food resources. Your input is important, and we look forward to seeing you at the Eastside Food Forum. If you have any more questions, please contact the Center at 367-2468. Also, for a brief history of food related work on the Eastside, log onto our website at www.allenneighborhoodcenter.org.
3) Weatherization Days
Is your house cold and drafty? Weatherization assistance is available at Allen Neighborhood Center for households with income below 200% of poverty. Visit us any day between 9 am and 5:30 pm for help, or come to one of our special Weatherization Enrollment Workshops scheduled for January 13 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm and repeated on January 23, from 9 am -1 pm. We will walk you through the enrollment process for Capital Area Community Service’s generous weatherization assistance program, which may cover the cost of increased insulation, furnace and water heather inspection (and possibly replacement), sealing around doors and windows and more. Call 367-2468 today to reserve a spot in one of the two special workshops or to schedule an appointment during our regular business hours.
4) MOBILE FOOD PANTRY
City of Lansing HUMAN RELATIONS & COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
and Mid-Michigan Food Bank announce the distribution of FREE, fresh, non-perishable food items:
When: Saturday, January 16, 2010, 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Where: Pattengill Middle School, 626 Marshall, Lansing, MI 48912
Who can participate?
• The disadvantaged and vulnerable.
• Senior citizens on fixed incomes.
• Families/individuals with limited or low income jobs.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BRING A VALID STATE IDENTIFICATION CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE
If you or someone you know must choose between buying food and filling prescriptions, please tell them about this important program. Participants should bring a box or bag to carry food. For more information, call the City of Lansing Human Relations and Community Services Department at (517) 483-4477
5) 2010 Winter Programs at Fenner Nature Center
Winter Children’s Classes
Nature Trek for Toddlers
(Ages 2-3 w/adult)
$30/Res; $35/Non-Res
Winter is overlooked as a fun time to take your child into the outdoors. Each week covers a different topic and activities, plus a short walk, hopefully in the snow.
Activity #237510A 1/25-2/22; Mon 9 – 10am
Activity #237510B 1/25-2/22; Mon 10:30-11:30 am
Knee High Naturalist –
$5; (Ages 3-5)
There are many story books that excite nature curiosity in children. Jean Bolley of the Capital Area District Library will begin with a story, a staff naturalist will then continue with activities and a discovery walk on the same theme. The afternoon will end with a craft to take home.
Activity #237520A- Winter Birds
1/14 Thu 1-2:30pm
Activity #237520B- Scales and Slime
2/11 Thu 1-2:30pm
Spring Break Nature Explorations
$15 (Kindergarten – 5th Grade)
Sign up for one, two or three days at Fenner Nature Center and explore the park during the changing season. We may experience everything from a snowstorm to balmy temperatures, but we will still go out and investigate the changes occurring in plants and animals in the park. Every day is different. Be ready for hikes, fun activities, and crafts.
Activity #337530A 4/6 Tues 9 am–2:30 pm
Activity #337530B 4/7 Wed 9 am-2:30 pm
Activity #337530C 4/8 Thu 9 am-2:30 pm
* For further information or to register call 483-4224
Winter Family Programs
Winter Campfire (Ages 4–Adult)
Enjoy a winters evening around the campfire. After a guided hike through the woods, warm up around the fire with s’mores, hot chocolate, and songs around the fire.
2/27 Sat 6:30-8:30 pm
Activity #237420C $5 (ages 4-17)
Activity #237420D $5 (Adult)
An Animal Experience with Preuss Pets
Saturday, January 23; 1-3pm
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, tarantulas, bearded dragons, monitors and hedgehogs. Come to Fenner and see and touch some of Preuss’ live animals. A knowledgeable staff member of Preuss will bring several of their critters and tell you all about their habitats; where they live, what they eat, how they survive in their environment.
Fees: $5.00 per person/ $15 per family
For FOFNC members: $4.00 per person/ $12 per family
Winter Adult Programs
Project Learning Tree (PLT) Workshop $30 – (Educators of Preschool- Grade 12)
Join Fenner Naturalists as they take you through the activities of an award-winning environmental educational program designed for both formal and non-formal educators who teach youth from preschool through Grade 12. PLT uses the forest as a “window” on the world to increase young people’s understanding of our environment; stimulate their critical thinking; develop their ability to make informed decisions on environmental issues; and instill within them the commitment to take responsible action on behalf of the environment. Participants of the workshop will receive a copy of the PLT curriculum guide, which includes hundreds of activities you can use in your “classroom”. Lunch included.
Activity #237530B 3/27 Sat 10am-4pm
Visit us on the web at www.fofnc.org
Visit at the Center: 2020E. Mt. Hope Rd., Lansing, MI 48910
6) Lansing Neighborhood Council is hosting a Volunteer Roundup
to recruit volunteers for their spring projects on Monday, January 25th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Hill Center in the Oak Room. Attendees can enter to win gift cards. Please remember to RSVP with Jennifer at lansingneighborhoodcouncil@yahoo.com so there will be plenty of materials.
7) UN Decade of Sustainability Speaker
Note from Terry Link, Greater Lansing Food Bank
We have arranged Sam Pizzigati to be a speaker this January 27th in the UN Decade of Sustainability speaker series. Mr. Pizzigati will speak on the topic, “Sustaining Inequality – How Much Is Too Much?”, which comes out of his work on overcoming inequality as set forth most extensively in his book, Greed and Good: Understanding the Inequality that Limits Our Lives (Apex Press, 2004). The talk will be held Wednesday, January 27 at 4 PM in 103 Erickson Hall.
