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| Beaver Brook LOG |
April 2009
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Wish List
Pressure treated lumber
Gardening tools (hand tools)
2 way radios (at least two mile radius)
Heavy duty door mats
Bat Finder
Cosmetic mirrors
Toaster oven (new-ish)
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Garden Plots Available
A limited number of Garden plots are available at the Maple Hill Farm of Beaver Brook Association.
The fee is $50 for May to November. There is access to water and the plots are 20' by 20'.
Call 603-465-7787 to sign up.
Flower Challenge
For fun, try this activity. After each group of letters, write the name of the flower that can be spelled with those letters.
AYDIS ____________________
SERO ____________________
TIVELO ____________________
GNINOTETE ____________________
AISIWATR ____________________
MASITELC ____________________
LPXHO ____________________
SUTARUB ____________________
LLKHYCOHO ____________________
SUGLALOID ____________________
Answers below.
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Much Thanks to ...
Mr. & Mrs. Hank Bedinger and Christy Gaskill for the camping stoves and refrigerator.
Bob Cormier for the orange traffic cones.
The Mattock's Family for two way radios.
Paul Fletcher and Jane Thibodeau for the hammers and fabric.
John Cox for the garden tools.
Nancy Bell for the fabrics.
materials.
Nan Quintin for the craft materials.
Alan Sauve for the paper products.
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Tip for Healthy Eating
To identify organic produce at grocery stores, look at the numbers on the produce stickers. Organic produce have stickers with five digits and the first digit is nine. Conventionally grown produce have stickers with a four digit number.
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Volunteers Needed!
An organizer who is not afraid of working in old barns and attics. Please help us organize our educational and craft materials!
Someone to plant the Native AMerican 3 sisters garden which consists of 9 mounds of corn, beans and pumpkin seeds = simple!!
People to help at Summer Solstice and Fall Festival with children's crafts, greeting the public, raffle sales.
A group or ambitious person to undertake spring cleaning at the camp cabins and cookhouse.'
Call Cheri Schmidt, Volunteer coordinator at 465-7787.
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Kids Take Advantage of the BBA Bird Blind
Spring is the most active time at the Beaver Brook Association bird blind. Originally built in 2006 by a local Eagle Scout, the bird blind is open to the public for quiet study. The feeders are filled from early December to April (following NH FIsh and Game guidelines to avoid attracting black bear). To access the bird blind, park at Beaver Brook's Brown Lane Barn parking lot and folow the Teepee trail to the bird blind (approximately 200 yards). |
BBA
Mourns First Director
Tudor Richards 1915 - 2009
Tudor Richards, Beaver Brook Association's first
Director, died quietly at his home in Exeter, NH on Friday evening, March 6,
2009. Shortly after the founding of Beaver Brook Association
in 1964, Tudor was brought on board to help guide the young organization in its'
formative years. He stayed in this position until 1968, at which time he was
appointed the first executive director of the Audubon Society of New
Hampshire, a position he held until his retirement in 1982. Tudor was a noted forester, naturalist, conservation
advocate, author and photographer but is perhaps best known and remembered for
his encyclopedic knowledge and love of birds. From 1968 until the present, Tudor
remained associated and active in the affairs of Beaver Brook Association as a
multiple term Trustee, Member of the Corporation and knowledgeable advisor. In 2003, the Self Guided Trail, which was initially
designed by Tudor in the nineteen sixties, was upgraded and the Guide Book revised and
updated by a committee that included Tudor. The result of these efforts was The
Tudor Richards Natural History and Forestry Trail, named in his honor in
"recognition and gratitude for his many and continued contributions to Beaver
Brook Association." Beaver Brook Association, for 45 years was privileged
to have been associated with Tudor. His presence and sage council will be
missed. |
Master Gardener's Restore Wildflower Trail
by Mary Hoppe
UNHCE Master Gardener
A special funding award was received this past summer from the NH Master Gardener Association to increase the number and variety of native plants on the Beaver Brook Wildflower Trail.
The Wildflower Trail was originally established in 1985 by grading and widening a narrow trail off Cow Lane near Maple Hill Farm. With the passage of time, the Wildflower Trail had become neglected and overwhelmed by competition from hardwoods and invasive species. Lorna Lev, a Maple Hill Gardener and Mary Hoppe, a Master Gardener, have been working together with other volunteers for the past eight years to revitalize the trail.
The first years were dedicated to cutting back hardwood sprouts, removing invasive plants and hand-pulling enough poison ivy to make it safe to work in the area. With the assistance of John Spear, several loads of hardwoods and invasive species were removed from the site, using care not to disturb the existing wildflowers. As a result, previously established wildflowers are regaining their vigor, spreading, blooming and setting seed once again.
This year, thanks to special funding received from the NHMGA, some additional species have been planted and we're moving closer to achieving the goal of a comprehensive collection of native plants representative of the flora naturally found in the woodlands of Hillsborough County.
The Wildflower Trail now boasts a collection of more than 45 species of wildflowers in addition to many native ferns, trees, shrubs and vines blooming throughout the seasons. With the continuing support from NHMGA, the UNH Cooperative Extension and the members of Beaver Brook Association, we have an exciting opportunity to provide locally a native collection to expand the educational experience for all the school children, field trips, adult educational courses and the general public who visit Beaver Brook every day of the year. We hope you will visit the trail frequently and, if you see us, please stop and say hello. We love to talk wildflowers!
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Come and Dig in the Maple Hill Gardens!
 The Maple Hill Gardens at Beaver Brook are maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers known as the Maple Hill Gardeners. From April through October, the gardeners meet each Monday morning to work in the gardens from 9:30 AM until noon. This year, the gardeners will be beginning a new season on Monday,
April 13. (Rain date will be Wednesday, April 15.)
The Maple Hill Gardeners welcome volunteers to help out in the gardens, or prepare for events, such as Summer Solstice or Fall Festival, which are held yearly at Beaver Brook. Volunteers do not have to be members of the Maple Hill Gardeners. We are looking for anyone who has one or more hours to donate.
If you are interested in volunteering in the gardens this season, please call the Beaver Brook office at 465-7787, or drop by to meet the Maple Hill Gardeners on Monday, April 13th, opening day. For further information plus photos of the Maple Hill Gardens and the Maple Hill Gardeners, go to www.beaverbrook.org, and click on Maple Hill Gardens.
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Check Out our Spring Programs:
Spring Flings! -- Parent and 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 our curiosities before venturing to the special places of Beaver Brook for first hand investigation. Geared for ages 2 to 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 - 12:30 to 1:30
April 6th, April 13th, April 20th, May 4th, May 11th, May 18th
Tuesdays - Session I - 9:00 to 10:00, Session II - 10:30 to 11:30
April 7th, April 14th, April 21st, May 5th, May 12th , May 19th
Places: Brown Lane Barn and Maple Hill Farm
Instructor: Ellen Roos-Unger
Fee: $50/$45 Friends of BBA ($30 for participating siblings)
Week 1- What a Windy Day!
What makes the wind blow? Can you see evidence of wind in nature? Come play some "windy games" and get blown away with a breezy nature walk. Make a cool wind sock to follow the wind all the way home. Meet at Brown Lane Barn.
Week 2- Spring Sings!
Turn to the sounds of spring as we visit field, forest, and wetlands listening for the choruses of returning birds, bugs, and bull frogs (among others!). Have fun imitating the sounds we hear. Meet at Maple Hill Farm.
Week 3- Buried Treasure
Turn over rocks, logs, and leaf litter to uncover many surprises under our feet. Take a close up look at a leaf bud to see what is hidden within. Make a wormery for an earthworm, or just play around with MUD! Meet at Brown Lane Barn.
Week 4- Great Gardeners
How do flowers grow? Why do flowers bloom in the spring? Visit the beautiful gardens of Beaver Brook and take a hike to discover what else might be blooming this spring. Plant some seeds to nurture into your own home garden. Meet at Maple Hill Farm.
Week 5- Meadow Munchers
Learn about the food chain as we explore the meadow with our eyes and ears and sweep nets. Will we find the bird that swallows the spider that traps the caterpillar as it munches the leaves? Meet at Maple Hill Farm.
Week 6- Pond Pals
Squish! Feel the mud beneath your boots as we explore the edges of some wetlands, spying on frogs and their friends before they dart to safety. Help sort out the variety of life that is found in a bucket of pond water. Meet at Maple Hill Farm.
Herbal Cordials
Thursday, April 23
7:00 to 9:00 PM
Instructor: Rivka Schwartz
Fee: $20/$18 Friends of BBA.
$10 extra materials fee fr those who want to make a gift bottle of hawthorn cordial to take home.
Come learn to make herbal cordials, a pleasant way to take an herbal remedy. We will make a hawthorn cordial, a traditional English evening sipping drink that strengthens the heart. We'll also create a chocolate damiana cordial to calm the nerves and a blackberry cordial for the stomach. Master the basics so you can create your own herbal cordials in the future.
Guided Hike on the Tudor RIchards Natural History Trail
Wed May 6, 2009
Meet at Brown Lane Barn parking lot at 10:00 AM
Free but must call to register 603-465-7787.
Hike with naturalist Celeste Barr along the Tudor Richards Natural History and Forestry Trail at Beaver Brook Association in Hollis NH. Each attendee will receive a guidebook for this trail. Learn to identify many trees and shrubs. Variable topography leads you through many different habitat types in a short distance.
Wildflower Walk
Thursday May 21
Leader: Rivka Schwartz
9:00 to 11:00 AM
Meet at BBA Great Meadow Parking area on West Hollis St.
Free!
Come and join us for a slow-paced walk with lots of stops to enjoy Nature's Spring-time treasures. Suitable for most abilities; however, trails are uneven, so wear supportive footwear. Walks start promptly at 9:00 a.m.! Adults only. No dogs. Rain cancels. Bring insect repellant. This walk is timed to see Lady Slippers!
Boots, Bubbles and Bugs!!!
for Homeschoolers ages 6 to 12
Wednesdays April 15, 22, May 6,13, 20, 27
9:30 AM to noon
Fee: $125/$112 Friends of BBA 10% for siblings.
Grab your boots we have some spring snooping to do!!
We will wander the woods poking, digging and looking for our 6 legged friends. We will cast nets into the water to find who lives there, who is born there and who is ready to fly the coop. Be prepared to get a little wet, a little muddy (it is mud season after all). Lets get outside!! Bring a snack and a drink.
Earth Day Rivier CollegeRace/Walk to Benefit BBA
April 25 9:00 AM
Memorial Hall, Rivier College Campus
To celebrate Earth Day, Rivier College's Biology Club will host a 5K Charitable Road Race/Walk on the Rivier College campus on April 25 at 9:00 AM. Proceeds will benefit Beaver Brook Association in Hollis, N.H. and the Loon Preservation Committee.
Prizes will be awarded to runners in various categories, and walkers will be entered in a raffle. The course will begin and end at the Memorial Hall Parking Lot at the intersection of Clement and South Main Streets, Nashua. Sponsors and environmental organizations will be on-site with educational displays.
This will be the fourth annual race. Last year's event raised more than $1,800 for local charitable organizations.The race is open to the public, and will take place rain or shine. Advance registration fee for both runners and walkers is $10; the fee is $15 the day of the race. To register in advance, download a registration form from the Rivier College website www.rivier.edu. For more information, contact Nina Harrold at (603) 897-8624 or nharrold@rivier.edu.
Directions:
General directions to the Rivier campus can be found at www.rivier.edu/directions. Once you turn off the rotary onto the campus, drive straight until you come to an intersection. Memorial Hall will be on your right and Regina Library will be on your left. Turn right to park next to Memorial Hall.
Summer Youth Program Phone in Registration
Saturday, April 4, 2009
8:00 AM for Friends of Beaver Brook Community Level or greater
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.
Coming up in June and July:
National Trails Day at BBA Saturday June 6
NH Trails Day at BBA Burns Farm, Milford July 18
Free Composting Demonstration, BBA Maple Hill Farm Compost Court Sat June 27.
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Cub Scouts Construct Bat Houses for BBA
 Special Thanks to Hollis Cub Scout Pack 12, Den 2 for the construction and donation of bat houses to Beaver Brook Association. |
Make a Nutritious Herbal Tea
by Rivka Schwartz
Herbal recipes are a wonderful addition to one's kitchen
repertoire. Many herbs are highly
nutritious and help support our health and vitality as well as being
tasty. A number of very useful herbs can
be grown in the garden and the weeds growing around them may be even
better. They grow in our woods, fields and
roadsides. Using these plants can help
bring us closer to nature.
This tea is full of vitamins and minerals in an easily
absorbable form.
Nutritious Herbal TeaPlace equal amounts of each dried herb in a bowl:
Nettles
Dandelion leaves
Oats and oat straw
Chickweed
Horsetail
Then add these based based on personal taste:
Rosehip (only a bit - it has a strong taste)
Peppermint or lemon balm
Mix together and store in a tightly closed jar in a cool,
dark place.
Drink as a tea or infusion. Most teas use a teaspoon of tea to a cup of
water. An infusion is like tea, just stronger. To brew an infusion place two to three teaspoons of herbs in a
cup and let steep steep for at least 20 minutes. Strain.
Instead of a strainer use self-fill tea bags or a French press
coffee pot.
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Answers to "Flowers"
Daisy, Rose, Violet, Mignonette, Wistaria, Clematis, Phlox, Arbutus, Hollyhock, Gladiolus
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Try Composting
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Beaver Brook Association is teaming up with the New Hampshire the Beautiful and the Northeast Resource Recovery Association to distribute Earth Machine Compost Bins. They have been very popular over the past six years with over 450 sold by Beaver Brook alone!
Beaver Brook will offer. these self-contained units, which normally sell for $65, for a special price of only $45. A comprehensive 31-page guide "Home Composting Made Easy" comes with the unit.
Also for sale are attractive kitchen collection pails for $10 and rain barrels for $80.
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Offer Expires: April 6th, 2009
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