Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here are resources, opportunities, and events that you might want to share with friends and neighbors:
1) 2010 Winter Programs at Fenner Nature Center
2) Energy Efficiency for Old Windows Workshop- Conserve and Preserve
3) Mobile Food Pantry on Feb. 20 (Tomorrow!)
4) Youth Gardening Conference on Feb. 20 (Tomorrow!)
5) Urban Gardener Certification Course begins Feb. 24
6) Seed Starting Workshop on Feb. 27
7) Chicken Out with MSU Extension on March 5
8 ) Michigan Good Food Summit on Feb. 25
9) At Everybody Reads in March
1) 2010 Winter Programs at Fenner Nature Center
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
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)
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
Special Events:
MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL
Saturday and Sunday, March 20 & 21, 2010
11 am – 4 pm Free Admission
March means Maple Syrup! Follow us into the maple grove to watch this uniquely North American activity. We will demonstrate how sap was collected and made into syrup throughout the ages. Warm up in the Visitor Center with hot chocolate and purchase some maple syrup and sugar. Then browse among the beautiful nature arts and crafts exhibited by local artists. Stop into the Friends of Fenner Gift Shop to look for unique nature items.
Maple Syrup Tours for groups are scheduled Tuesday through Friday during the day from March 8 through March 19. They are 1.5 hours in length. Several of the social studies and science objectives are covered during the program. Call for a flyer of educational programs.
Please contact us about school tours, scout badges & birthday parties. For further information or to register, call 483-4224. Visit us on the web at www.fofnc.org; Visit us at: 2020E. Mt. Hope Rd., Lansing
2) Energy Efficiency for Old Wood Windows
FREE Window Rehabilitation Workshop for Homeowners Conserve Energy and also Preserve Resources April 9-11th, 2010* and April 16-18th, 2010* – Kalamazoo, Michigan
This great opportunity to learn how to rehab our wonderful old windows submitted/recommended by Eastside Housing Advocate and Restorationist, Dave Muylle.
In Michigan, and throughout the United States, 20% of the housing was built before 1950, and a significant part of that housing stock has traditional wooden double hung windows. This may include your house or a family house or a rental property. Repairing wooden windows is a necessary skill for old house owners. With rehabilitation and a working storm window, old windows can be as energy efficient as new windows.
In an intensive three day workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of repair and rehabilitation of traditional wooden double hung windows. Under the guidance of trained preservation craftspeople, trainees will work with traditional building materials and rehabilitate one complete window.
To request an application, call Sharon Ferraro at 269-337-8804 or email her at ferraros@kalamazoocity.org. The application must be received by: Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 5:00 pm – you will be notified that you have been accepted in the class by Friday, March 12th, 2010.
3) MOBILE FOOD PANTRY
City of Lansing HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT & the Mid-Michigan Food Bank ANNOUNCES the next Mobile Food pantry.
Distribution of FREE, fresh, non-perishable food items
When: Saturday, February 20, 2010
Time: 9am until 11am
Where: Cristo Rey Parish Church, 201 West Miller Road 48911, Lansing, MI 48906
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 (517) 483-4477
4) 3rd Annual Youth Garden Conference
Saturday, February 20, 9-4 pm Southside Community Center (5825 Wise Rd, Lansing).
Register now! Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Youth Garden Conference at www.youthgardeningcoalition.org. If you are involved or would like to be involved with a youth garden, come learn about what is happening with youth gardening in the Lansing area. Gain knowledge and resources to help grow your youth garden and network with others growing school and youth gardens throughout the Lansing area. Both youth and adults are welcome.
5) Urban Gardener Certification Course
Back by popular demand: How to grow food in the shady lots and clay soil of Lansing’s Eastside!
When: Wednesdays, Feb. 24 – March 31, 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Where: Hunter Park GardenHouse
Description: Open enrollment has begun for the Spring 2010 Urban Gardener Certificate Program. The class is comprised of six consecutive sessions, held Wednesdays from 6:30-9pm Feb. 24 through Mar. 31. It is an introduction to basic yard and greenhouse gardening skills appropriate for high density, small lot neighborhoods like those on Lansing’s Eastside.
More information is available at Allen Neighborhood Center, or electronically by request from allisonb@allenneighborhoodcenter.org.
Request and submit an application before this popular class is full!
6) Seed Starting Workshop at Hunter Park GardenHouse
One in a series of workshops offered over the next few months to prepare you for a successful gardening season!
When: Sat, February 27, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Where: Hunter Park GardenHouse
Description: Get a jump start on the growing season! Linda Anderson will facilitate a hands-on workshop in which participants will learn seed starting techniques for maximum productivity in the garden.
For further information or to register, call Allison at 367-2468 or email her at allisonb@allenneighborhoodcenter.org.
7) Chicken Out With MSU Extension!
For happy chickens, happy neighbors, and a better breakfast! Learn how to do it right!
March 5, 2010, 6:00- 9 :00 p.m.,
Location: Safari Room of the Potter Park Zoo, 1301 South Pennsylvania Avenue Lansing
To Register, call 517-676-7207/ Fax: 517-676-7288, or E-mail: cvernon@ingham.org
What’s All the Flap About??
Wouldn’t it be great to have a few chickens in the back yard? Fresh eggs, bug control, rich compost
for the garden, and a chance for the kids to see where food comes from! So you go to the local
farm store and buy some chicks. . . .
Now What??
Just like everything else, there is a lot more to raising chickens than meets the eye. • What should (or can) I feed them at different stages of life? • How do I keep them healthy and productive? • What should I expect from my chickens? • What about raccoons, cats, weasels, coyotes, skunks, opossums….how
do I keep my chickens safe? • How do I manage the manure in a safe way that will not bother neighbors or harm the environment? • Can I get salmonella poisoning from my chickens, their manure, or the eggs? How can I reduce the risk? • What kind of equipment do I need to do this right? • Is it legal to do this in Lansing????
In October of 2009 the Ingham County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution allowing homeowners to the keep “up to five hens on one or two-family residential properties, under certain conditions, unless otherwise prohibited or regulated by local ordinances or private land use restrictions.
For more details about this resolution, visit: http://www.ingham.org/bc/BC/INDEX/2009/09-345.htm
8 ) Michigan Good Food Summit, Thursday, February 25, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Lansing Center
This summit will assemble food system stakeholders from across the state to shape a plan that propels Michigan towards food production, distribution and marketing to support a thriving economy, equity, and sustainability. Good Food is about building on our assets in ways that enable Michigan communities to prosper and our residents to thrive. Focus areas include: Youth Engagement in Community Food, Healthy Food Access for Families & Communities, Farmer Viability & Development, Institutional Food Purchasing, and Food System Infrastructure. To register and for more information visit www.michiganfood.org and contact Kathryn Colasanti at colokat@msu.edu or 517-353-0642.
9) At Everybody Reads in March
HerStories celebrates Women’s History Month on March 6, 13, and 20 with local storytellers and authors at 1:00pm, followed by free writing workshops at 2:30pm. March 27 at 4:00pm is the HerStories Benefit Show and Open-Mike. Everybody Reads, 2019 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, (517) 346-9900.
