Photo Credit
McCall, Idaho
2012 Winner - Under 3,000 Population Category




Gardening and Its Health, Mental & Financial Benefits

Gardening is a great way to meet the recommended daily 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity. And an added bonus: It's easy on your wallet! There's more than just that, though. Find out ways that gardening makes you happier, increases your activity level, and improves your overall health.
 


AIB City Finalist in "America's Coolest Small Towns" Contest

Estes Park, Colorado, an AIB participating community, is one of the 15 finalists in Budget Travel magazine's "America's Coolest Small Towns" contest. Congratulations to all the nominees, but we are pulling for Estes Park! Cast your vote by February 25.

 


Volunteers Bring Best Tools to Fight Blight

Urban blight is a problem as old as cities themselves, but in the wake of the foreclosure crisis, it has become a national epidemic. The US Census Bureau estimates that there are more than 10 million vacant housing units across the country, which negatively affect communities nationwide. We are impressed with how Flint, Michigan is fighting blight through volunteerism, and the results to-date demonstrate that citizen service can be a uniquely effective tool in making positive and lasting changes.

Click here to read more.

Wildlife in the City: Urban Biodiversity Takes Flight

It's not enough for cities to plant a million trees, preach the gospel of backyard gardens, or build green roofs and smart streets. The trees, shrubs, and flowers in that ostensibly green infrastructure also need to benefit birds, butterflies, and other animals. They need to provide habitat for breeding, shelter, and food. Where possible, the habitat needs to be arranged in corridors where wildlife can safely travel.

 

Click here to read more.





Oldest Trees are Growing Faster, Storing More Carbon as They Age

In a finding that overturns the conventional view that large old trees are unproductive, scientists have determined that for most species, the biggest trees increase their growth rates and sequester more carbon as they age. An international research group reports that 97 percent of 403 tropical and temperate species grow more quickly the older they get. The researchers reviewed records from studies on six continents. Their conclusions are based on repeated measurements of 673,046 individual trees, some going back more than 80 years.


Click here to read more.

"And You Shall Teach Them to Your Children"
By Dr. Marvin Miller, AIB President 

My first recollections of gardening were those of a first-grader. I distinctly remember helping my father plant and care for a row of tomato plants along the side of the house we rented. The plants were staked and tied with strips of old bed sheets. And as the plants got pollinated and tomatoes grew, I was there alongside my dad, helping to harvest the ripe, juicy fruits. Running that first big red tomato into the house to see my mother's reaction was also quite the experience. I could say, "We grew this!" as if we had handled the bees, watered, and fertilized the plants and watched the fruit size up and ripen with 24-hour surveillance.

Click here to read more.


Last Chance! Get in on the Excitement & Community-Building Momentum

Last chance to register for this year's AIB program is February 28th. Bonus: if you recruit another AIB participant, you can save 25 percent on your registration costs.

Register now.


To learn more about the program, the benefits of participation, and how to make the most of your experience, click here


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Have a story to share? We would love to hear from you! Tell us about AIB activities in your community, or let us know about a community you have visited that should get involved with AIB. E-mail your story to Laura Kunkle, [email protected]