Overheard at the Garden Gate July 2021

Condolences

We send our sincere condolences to Erika Reale, whose husband Bill passed away on June 19, 2021. Click here to read Bill’s obituary.

Conservation Innovation Project

Rid-All will enter into a new initiative to research the viability of converting wood waste into palletized fuel and a bio-char product that greatly enhances the quality of compost soil. The process of creating bio-char creates a heating source that this project hopes to use as sources of heat for green houses, thereby making them serviceable for growing throughout the year.

This United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) project is a partnership that includes Rid-All, the Detroit Black Farmers Network, a regional agricultural initiative in partnership with a Navaho Nation in New Mexico, and a community agriculture project based in Silver City, New Mexico.

Rid-All will be the only site of the four to also receive additional technology capacity to explore how wood waste and other materials might be converted to an energy source that could replace or limit the demand for natural gas. This will be a very exciting experiment for Rid-All!

Initial phases of this project will begin this summer.

The Friends of Lower Lake Thanks SLGC

This is a quote from the Friends of Lower Lake Newsletter: “Happy news! The Shaker Lakes Garden Club, which has been taking care of the parklands for 100 years, has awarded Friends of Lower Lake their most generous grant ($5000!) for our work. Learn more about their historic and inspiring involvement at Lower Lake at the above talk!!! We stand on their shoulders in our work.

The funds will be spent on native trees, shrubs, forest floor plants, and outside help removing invasive species. If you’d like to add to our fund, please donate online or send a check made out to Doan Brook Watershed Partnership with FLL in the subject line and mail to the address below.

c/o Doan Brook Watershed Partnership, 12200 Fairhill Boulevard #C238, Cleveland, Ohio 44120, USA”

Greetings from long-time SLGC member Shirley Gibson on her 101st Birthday!

Shirley Gibson, SLGC member since 1968 and mother of members Martha Marsh and Linda Paine, recently celebrated her 101st birthday. Congratulations, Shirley! You put us all to shame!

Doan Brook Watershed Partnership Programs

Click here to read about the offerings for the next few weeks, a history walk of Lower Lake, a consultation opportunity on stormwater management, and information on Friends of Lower Lake workdays.

Save the Date!

The virtual 2021 Zone X Meeting will be open at no charge to every club member in Zone X and key national leaders.

The invitation to register will follow in mid-August.

All functions will be held via Zoom. If this is new technology for you, consider taking a few moments to explore the GCA's new Zoom training videos and materials.

CLICK HERE FOR GCA ZOOM TRAININGS

Meanwhile, explore the Zone X landing page to connect with zone leaders and read about the activities of the 10 clubs in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.

5 Reasons to Switch to LED Bulbs

If you’re looking to make your home more energy efficient and want to save some money along the way, choosing LED light bulbs is a no-brainer.  Here are 5 of the top reasons why you should switch fromtraditional incandescent light bulbs to LEDs:

1. They can help you save a ton of energy. LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

2. LED bulbs last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. LEDs can last anywhere from 10,000 to 50,000 hours—which can add up to several years.

3. LEDs are more affordable than ever with the average bulb costing around $3.

4. LED bulbs emit very little heat especially compared to incandescent bulbs which release 90% of their energy as heat. This helps keep your home cooler during the hot summer months.

5. LEDs are sturdier than incandescents. Since they aren’t made with fragile glass, they are much less prone to breaking than incandescents.

Are Fireflies Disappearing?

From Jane Ellison: I am concerned about all the decorative illumination on the front of houses on our street and the runway lights on people's driveways and front walks. Might that be the reason that fireflies seem to be disappearing? Click here to read an article on the subject.

Congratulations, Ryn!

Ryn Clarke’s image "Baby White Egret" was awarded an Honorable Mention at The Butler Museum of American Art's 85th National Midyear Show. Congratulations, Ryn. We’re eager to see it.