Sustainability =   the capacity to maintain a certain process or state.
by Celeste Philbrick Barr

In an ecological sense, sustainability refers to the ability of an ecosystem (or collection of ecosystems ie. the planet) to maintain ecological processes, functions, biodiversity and productivity into the future.

It is widely accepted knowledge that humans are living unsustainably and that collective effort is needed to be return to the sustainable use of natural resources.

This month's suggestion:

It's summer.  It is important to stay hydrated.  The US EPA estimates that the average American directly uses 100 gallons of water per day.  The U.S water footprint is 2500 cubic meters per year per person.  The is the total amount of freswater that is used to produce the goods an services consumed by an individual each year.  To reduce your consumption, you can install a WaterSense-certificed faucet or inexpensive faucet aerator to reduce your sinks' water flow to 1.5 gallon per minute while still delivering a powerful spray.  Check brands on www.epa.gov/watersense and your local hardware store for sink aerators.
While you are at the store, you can buy a filter for your kitchen sink to remove unwanted tastes, chlorine and other undesirable components.  (You don't want to strip the water of minerals like calcium and magnesium that are important for your health).  Check www.filterforgood.com.  This site can help you determine what filters to buy for your tap water so you can reduce or eliminate the purchase of disposable plastic water bottles. 
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Common NH Plants and their Uses
by Trevor Nozell, young naturalist age 14

Sweet Fern

4 yr. olds Summer Safari  June 15-18 & June 22-25
4 & 5 yr.  Knee-Hi Naturalists hit the Nature Trails Aug 17-21
K-1st  Nature Nuts  July 13-17
1st & 2nd  Backyard Fun  July 13-17
1st & 2nd gr.  Animals & their Habitat  July 27-31
2nd & 3rd  Water Wonders July 20-25 and July 27-31
2nd & 3rd  Farmyard Fun  Aug 10-14
3rd & 4th gr.  Frogs, Toads & Turtles July 6-10
3rd & 4th gr.  Pawtucket Paths  July 27-31
4th & 5th gr.  Farm Fresh July 6-10
4th & 5th gr.  What's Bugging You?  July 20-25
4th & 5th gr.  Rockhounds  July 27-31
4th-6th gr.     Brook to Bay July 13-17
5th & 6th gr.  Woods, Walks & Wildlife July 27-31
6th-9th gr.     Nature Scenes Investigated  July 20-25
Ages 13-16  Leadership Adventures July 6-10

PARENTS!  Don't miss your opportunity to have as much fun as your kids!!
for Parents and Children ages 8 and up:  A Night in Nature at the Beaver Brook Campsite  Weekend of Aug 8-9 with Chick Wetherbee, naturalist trained at the Tom Brown Jr. School.