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Wish List
Pressure
treated lumber
Gardening tools (hand tools) for adults and children
A camp
cooking stove in good condition (like coleman)
A set of 2-way radios that work well to at
least a 2 mile radius
Heavy duty doormats
An Industrial
Paper Shredder in good working order
A refrigerator - Apartment size would be
perfect - in good working order with a healthy life expectancy. (Speak with BB
to arrange for pick up).
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Kick the Bottled Water Habit!
Americans spent $16 million on bottled water in 2006.
It takes 1.5 million barrels of oil to make water bottles.
Less than 15% of the bottles are recycled.
It takes millions of gallons of fuel to ship bottled water around the world.
Worried about the quality of your tap water or pipes? Install a filter certified by NSF International (www.nsf.org).
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Start Composting!
To encourage composting, BBA will be ordering composters again this year:
Earth Machine Composters (see photo)
$45 (retail $100)
Rain barrels - $65 (retail $120)
Kitchen pails - $10
Call 603-465-7787 to order. |
Snow Shoe Rentals
Beaver Brook
rents snowshoes M-F 8:30-4:30. Friends of Beaver Brook may rent for the weekend on Fridays. There are 30 miles of trails to enjoy at BBA. Call to reserve rentals 603-465-7787.
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Peter Smith, Natural Resource Manager at Beaver Brook Association teaches visitors how to identify sugar maples for tapping and how to tap a tree for collecting sap. Call 603-465-7787 to register. |
Tap Your Trees--Backyard Maple Sugaring
Sunday, March 8, 2009
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Fee: Adults $8, Children $6, Families $30.
The first signs of Spring actually start to appear in
march when the sap begins to flow in the maple trees. Making maple syrup
from the sap is a fun and intersting process that you can do with your family
at home in your own backyard. BBA educator Kap SIddall will teach your
family how to drill holes in your maple trees, tap in a spile, collect the sap
and cook it into maple syrup. Join Kap for 2 hours of fun and
instruction. Taste some maple treats!
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Caring for Ice Damaged Trees This Spring
by Lynn Quinlan
Trees are well adapted to survive the winter despite
numerous and often severe injuries. Rot and insect depredation is slower
during the winter allowing time for healing. The best thing to do is to
wait until early spring to assess tree damage. By waiting there is less chance
of removing a tree that has the potential to recover. Start by removing
only hanging branches and trees that present a safety hazard.
* Follow "natural target" pruning methods.
Remove branches at the branch collar (not flush with the main stem) as this
will result in less decay. Wound dressing does not reduce decay and is not recommended.
* Correct pruning is the best thing you can do for your
trees - both before and after injury
* Young or small trees that are bent or leaning can be
gently straightened by staking with a guy rope:
o A less than 20-degree bend - will recover.
o A less than 60-degree bend - has a good chance of
recovery
o A greater than 60-degree bend- has a poor chance of
recovery
* If there is evidence of uprooting or if the trunk is
cracked it is not likely that the tree will survive.
* Large trees can sustain a loss of up to 50% of their
main branches or canopy without harm to their overall health. Growth may slow
for a few years while the crown is replaced, after which it will resume at its
normal rate.
* Many fallen branches and trees will continue to bud,
creating food for wildlife.
* After limbs break off, the subsequent decay and insect
damage to the trunk will provide cavities for nesting sites. A tree broken well
below the crown will provide a larger cavity, and will be both a source of food
and a desirable nesting location for many, including insect eating birds such
as woodpeckers. Over time the trunk, as it continues to hollow out, will
provide nesting sites and protection for mammals. Eventually it will return to
the forest floor providing nutrients for new growth.
* Many fallen branches and trees will continue to bud,
creating food for wildlife. Woody debris provides ground cover for small
mammals, frogs and salamanders. Loosened bark plates provide roosting
areas for bats.
* Brush piles around the edge of your property will give
shelter and protection to numerous types of birds and other wildlife.
* Recommended rule of thumb for assessing damage:
o Check to see if broken limbs pose an immediate danger
or future hazard.
o What is the species of the tree? Some species of trees
react differently to damage than others.
o Was the tree in good health before the damage occurred?
o How much of the crown has been lost?
o Check to see if the trunk has been damaged or if it has
been uprooted.
o Can a branch in the upper canopy become a leader?
* Is the tree of value to wildlife?
* It is always a good idea to get a professional
opinion. Trees take a long time to grow and are worth saving whenever
possible. You can contact professional arborists, tree services or the
New Hampshire Co-operative Extension with questions or recommendations.
Resources:
University of Ontario Ohio Woodland Steward's
Program
http://woodlandstewards.osu.edu/ice_pdfs/is-fs-02.pdf
USDA Forest Services. NE Area NA-FR-01-95 "How to
Prune Trees"
University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Recovery of
Ice-Storm damaged Trees #9013
USDA Forest Service, Durham, NH Information Sheets - Ice
Storm 1998.
Information Sheets #1, 2 , 4, 5, 8, & 9
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BBA Trail Notes
by Glenn Lloyd
Winter's impact on the trails this season has resulted in
a mixed bag of conditions. December's ice storm was damaging with downed trees,
snapped limbs and debris blocking passage. With an immediate effort from staff
and volunteers cleanup was quickly accomplished. As of this writing all known
trail obstructions have been removed. Judging from the tracks I've seen the
ample snow has been great for snow-shoeing. However, ski tracks were sparse
probably due to intermittent frozen surface crust. More snow is on the way.
John Spear and Pete Smith have been doing a great job keeping parking areas
open and sanded.
BBA's trail maintainers and monitors have officially
reported 743 volunteer work hours on the trails for 2008. Coupled with
volunteer contributions from schools, corporations and scouts we have, once
again, easily exceeded 1000 hours. One major 2008 accomplishment worth
repeating is the installation of approximately 170 feet of new or replacement
bridgework during the course of the year. Passage and safety were positively
improved. Also, we welcome new volunteers Gary Sullivan of Milford who will
maintain our Milford trail network and Jessica Flagler of Nashua who will
monitor the Love/Howe/Kibbys Climb loop.
Approaching winter the over-all trail network was in
excellent condition with all required drainage and bridge improvements
completed. Drainage systems were cleared or newly installed as necessary to
control run-off. As with 2008 we are prepared for the upcoming Spring melt-off
and look forward to another excellent, erosion free season on the trails.
We are currently seeking a volunteer to monitor a network
of trails near Maple Hill Farm and West of Cow Lane. Monitors are frequent
hikers who will take the time to visit the trails and report problems to the
office. Anyone interested in volunteering for this activity should contact the
Beaver Brook office at (603) 465-7787.
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Sustainable Gardener Program
March 6 to May 8, 2009 (ten weeks)
Friday mornings 9:00 AM to Noon
Fee: $175/$153 Friends of Beaver Brook Association
Call 603-465-7787 to sign up before March 1.
Are
you interested in producing more of your own food? Are you interested
in doing this in a natural way? This course is designed for
environmentally concerned gardeners and homeowners. Locally grown food is generally more nutritious because it loses less
nutrients due to travel and lengthy storage. But with locally grown
food, you also can know what goes into the production. Having rich soil
produces more nutritious, organic food, and you can learn all about it
in this course.
Even if you aren't going to grow food, you can
enrich your flowers, herbs, trees, and lawn. This intensive and
interesting course will turn you into "A More Accomplished Gardener."
Topics include:
* Composting
* Introduction to
Botany
* Organic Lawn
Care
* Perennials
* Soils &
Fertilizers
* Vegetable
Gardening & Associated Pests & Diseases
* Fruiting Plants,
Bushes and Trees
* Pruning of
Fruit, Ornamental Shrubs & Trees
* Environmentally
Friendly Landscape Design
* Organic
Gardening -- Fruits, Vegetables & Flowers
* Cultivation of
Medicinal, Fragrance & Culinary Herbs
* Invasive Plant
Species -- How to Identify and Avoid Them |
Winter Fitness Hikes & Snowshoeing (when conditions agree!)
Fridays: March 6 through April
10
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Guide: KC Morgan, BBA Guide
Fee: $30 includes use of snowshoes when conditions
are appropriate
Meet at Maple Hill Farm unless instructed otherwise.
Get outside, breathe some fresh air, get those endorphins
pumping and improve your circulation with a winter trail walk at Beaver
Brook. This moderately fast paced hike will aim to give participants two
hours of activity with different scenery each week. When the snow is
right, we can use snowshoes. Gain some healthy exercise while appreciating
nature up close in winter. Crampons are necessary for many hikes.
Call Celeste to ask about styles that work 603-465-7787.
Spring Flings: Parent & Child Walks and
Discoveries
Take time out with your young children to explore spring.
Each session will include a short story or poems to stir up Your curiosities
before venturing to the special places of Beaver Brook for first hand
investigation. Geared for ages 2-5. Younger siblings are welcome to come along.
Programs will take place rain or shine. Indoor activities on rainy days will be
part of the program. Please bring raingear when necessary.
Mondays: April 6th, April 13th, April 20th, May
4th, May 11th, May 18th
12:30 to 1:30 PM
Tuesdays: April 7th, April 14th, April 21st, May
4th, May 12th, May 19th
Session One: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Session Two: 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Beaver Brook Brown Lane Barn and Maple Hill Farm
Fee: $50/$45 for Friends of Beaver Brook $5 for
participating sibling per class.
Instructor: Ellen Roos-Unger
Weekly themes: What a Windy Day!, Spring Sings, Buried
Treasure, Great Gardeners, Meadow Munchers, Pond Pals
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Save this date! Saturday, April 4, 2009
Summer Youth Program Phone in Registration
8:OO AM for Friends of Beaver Brook
9:30 AM for General Public
Early registration is available for Friends of Beaver
Brook. Families have until April 1st to join at the Community
level: $60 per family. This also provides you discounts on programs
for the entire family for one year.
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Volunteer Highlights...
Check out our new volunteer opportunities:
An organizational expert, who is not afraid of old buildings! We have many areas that need organizing: supply storage atttics, file rooms, craft storage areas and classrooms. If improving organization and making places look more attractive appeals to you, please call us.
Our Maple Hill Gardeners are looking for new faces to work in the beautiful gardens of Beaver Brook. Come by opening day, Monday, April 13th from 9:30 AM to Noon and join this great group of volunteers!
We are in need of volunteers to be on the Fall Festival Committee helping with publicity, requesting raffle donations from area businesses, organizing farmers/artisans market, collecting and hanging art, organizing and staffing educational activities, and folks who can just help out during the festival scheduled for September 19 and 20 and September 26 and 27. First meeting is Wednesday, March 11 at 5:30 PM.
Clean the Campsite Cookhouse with hot water and elbow grease!
Please contact Cheri Schmidt, Volunteer Coordinator, at 465-7787 or email her at cdschmidt@beaverbrook.org.
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To Register for Classes, Call 603 465-7787
Our office address is:
Beaver Brook Association
117 Ridge Road
Hollis, New Hampshire 03049
The 30 miles of trails at Beaver Brook are open to the
public 365 days a year, dawn to dusk, free of charge.
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We Count on You
To fulfill our mission of environmental education and natural resource stewardship, we rely on our wonderful supporters: those who become Friends of Beaver Brook. To learn more call the office 603-465-7787. Thank you. |
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