Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society

Restoring and promoting the health of all life in the Chesapeake Watershed

through education and action projects organized by volunteers
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July 2014: Rally against fracked gas exports

In This Issue

Thank you, Corona Tools!

Seeking artists for public art display

Calling all yard sale-ers and home bakers!

GCAN: July 13 Rally against fracked gas exports

Watering helpers wanted at the Gardens and Food Forest

[JOB ANNOUNCEMENT] CHEARS and Greenbelt Public Works seeking a 2014-15 Volunteer Maryland Coordinator

Visit the calendar for a full listing of our events.

Did you know...you can update your contact information and CHEARS eNews preferences? Click here!

...or text CHEARS to 22828

Support CHEARS on

Projects by CHEARS

Chestory ~ Chesapeake Environmental Literacy ~ Flows ~ Greenbelt Forest Stewards ~ Greenbelt Climate Action Network (GCAN) ~ Greenbelt Green Man Festival ~ Stone Soup ~ Three Sisters Demonstration Gardens and Food Forest

Thank you, Corona Tools!

Last month, CHEARS received a huge donation of loppers, pruners, hand saws, shears, and other gardening equipment from http://coronatoolsusa.com/! This equipment will help our Three Sisters Demonstration Gardens & Food Forest volunteers and our Greenbelt Forest Stewardship volunteers with bay-friendly gardening and ecological restoration.

Featured Video

Spring 2014: Gardens for All Seasons

Performances by Alight Dance Theater at the

Three Sisters Demonstration Gardens

See us again this fall for another show!

Call for Artists: Alight Dance Theater

Public Art at Three Sisters

Alight and CHEARS, in partnership with the City of Greenbelt, are seeking artists interested in creating public art pieces to be installed at the Three Sisters Demonstration Gardens sites. The goal is to commission one work of art for each of the three sites. An artist may be selected to create work for one, two, or all three sites. Artists may submit applications jointly for a design on which they intend to collaborate.

The addition of the art pieces is intended to beautify the gardens and provide focal points for activities in these spaces. Each work will also incorporate text identifying the garden and its sponsors.

Funding for this project has been provided in part by Alight Dance Theater, CHEARS, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and the Greenbelt Community Foundation, with support from the City of Greenbelt.

To begin the application process, visit the Alight website and read through the full Request for Qualifications. All applications must be submitted by August 1, 2014.

Ode to Chesapeake Bay

So the Chesapeake has felt the hurricanes across its giant back, in their wild screaming boats scattered and sunk, trees uprooted, islands washed away...in that fury the outer seas unleash, born of the world ocean and its invincible demands, moving in with

judgments past undoing.

The mighty Susquehanna, empowered by a hurricane, rising on the flood, once drove the sea back farther than living memory; but the sea returns for its unending conflict and collusion with the river.

The storm is over. The clouds clear off toward that everlasting blue which is the testament of vision, the breeding ground of hopes and dreams; and everything on earth prays to the sun.

"Life is a pure flame, and we live by the invisible sun within us."

-Sir Thomas Browne

Stone Soup Project: Preparing for the Fall

9 Lives Yard Sale

Sunday, September 21, 2014 from 10 am-2 pm

The Fall 9 Lives Yard Sale will be held on Sunday, September 21st. Please set aside items for the sale and contact Richard to arrange pick-up. This year, we are adding a bake sale to the 9 Lives fall event. Pull out your favorite cookie, cake, or other treat recipes and make a batch for CHEARS.

Events help CHEARS support free public gatherings and the continuing efforts to bring together science and the arts in harmony with nature.

Fall Harvest Festival, October 2014

The Fall Harvest Festival will occur during the first weekend in October. The final date decision will be based on the availability of volunteers, musicians, crafters, and groups who can participate. The music committee has formed and is looking for acts now.

Those interested in working on publicity, booth planning, and activities can contact Richard.

Richard McMullin

Stone Soup Project Coordinator, CHEARS

Cell: 202-664-7572

GCAN

Educating residents about climate change,

finding solutions, and taking action

You can find full listings of news and events on our website.

Click here to view the latest news or each heading below for details.

*GROUNDSWELL WIND ENERGY*

Thanks to those of you who joined the Groundswell Clean Energy Spring Group Purchase. The deadline was May 23, 2014. Ninety-four people in Greenbelt signed up. In early July, we are holding a meeting to determine how the money we earned will be distributed.

MEETINGS: Our GCAN Monthly Meetings are on hiatus until September.

GCAN "ACTIVISTS"

We continue to have a broad-spectrum focus at all government levels. Visit the page for complete information.

This summer, we are working with Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) on the Cove Point Campaign to prevent the export of liquid natural gas to other countries through this port. Six GCAN volunteers collected signatures; 13 GCAN volunteers lobbied Senator Mikulski; five GCAN volunteers drove to Lusby, MD to attend a hearing; and three GCAN volunteers picketed in front of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) building in Washington, DC. Thank you all!

GCAN volunteers lobbying Sen. Mikulski about Cove Point

Please mark your calendar for a HUGE Rally in DC on Sunday, Jul 13 starting at 12:30 pm. We hope to get a large GCAN contingent to go! View our event listing on Facebook.

For more info on any of these listings, please contact Lore Rosenthal, 301-345-2234, Greenbelt Climate Action Network. Also visit the CHEARS Facebook page and online calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Three Sisters Demonstration

Gardens and Food Forest

Bay-friendly Gardening ~ Growing food, community, and healthy ecosystems in our watershed

As the weather gets hotter, our garden plants are in need of more water. Want to help out? Contact each garden volunteer below for the garden site that you would like to visit and help water!

Do you have questions about environmentally-friendly, chemical-free gardening? Lucy Duff and Jean Newcomb will happily answer your questions and show you what to do. See us at Schrom Hills Garden and find out how to donate your gently used garden equipment.

Greenbelt Community Center Garden ~ 15 Crescent Road

Let us know if you can be a Water Helper!

Volunteer contact: Ben Fischler

Schrom Hills Park Garden ~ 6915 Hanover Parkway

Let us know if you can be a Water Helper!

Volunteer contact: Lucy Duff, 301-577-2350

[July 19, 9 to 11 am] Mid-Summer Maintenance ~ Main tasks will be moving from summer cover to cooler-season harvest plants, reworking of compost pile, and another bamboo construction. Read more...

Springhill Lake Outdoor Classroom ~ 6101 Cherrywood Lane

Greenbelt Food Forest ~ behind the playground at Springhill Lake

Let us know if you can be a Water Helper!

Volunteer contact: Carolyn Lambright-Davis

Visit our websites above for more information about what

we do at the Gardens and Food Forest. To learn more about Greenbelt's trees and streams, visit our sites! Please contact Alex Palmer, 240-542-2168.

Job Announcement: CHEARS seeking a 2014-15 Volunteer Maryland Coordinator

In partnership with the City of Greenbelt Public Works

Help central Maryland communities, residents, and students improve the quality of life in our watershed by recruiting and mobilizing volunteers to learn permaculture principles, reduce urban and suburban runoff, and instill a sense of environmental stewardship in local students and families in fun, educational outdoor spaces.

Sharpen your leadership skills.

Earn money for college.

Make a difference.

This is an 11-month commitment with AmeriCorps beginning on September 24, 2014 and ending on August 11, 2015. The service year offers professional training, a $13,250 living allowance, a $5,645 post-service education award, and individual health insurance, and other benefits. You may also qualify for a childcare allowance.

Interested in this position?

Please visit www.bit.ly/2014-15VMC for more information.

To apply, please send a cover letter and updated resume to recruitment@chears.org with the title "Volunteer Maryland Coordinator" in the subject line. Please be sure to mention where you found this posting.

Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society

P.O. Box 1841 | Greenbelt, MD 20768

www.chears.org | 301-458-0241