Daily Archives: September 19, 2011

Saturday, October 1, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Clean Water Action’s 17th Annual Benefit Party

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Come enjoy a buffet of tasty vegetarian treats donated by local restaurants, visit the beautiful Garden in the Woods, and celebrate a year of hard work for the environment, at Clean Water Action’s 17th Annual Benefit Party on Saturday, October 1, from 3 – 5!

They are thrilled to announce the 2011 recipients of the John O’Connor Awards for Grassroots Leadership. This year they are taking the unusual step of recognizing multiple grassroots organizations and community activists with the John O’Connor Grassroots Leadership award. The board felt that this year is a uniquely challenging one, with efforts to roll back clean air, clean water and healthy communities facing us on every front. Please join them in celebrating the unique role these awardees are playing in holding the line and even making progress against the odds. The awardees and all the benefit details are on Clean Water Action’s website, www.cleanwateraction.org.

Please help make the party a success by being a sponsor today. Your sponsorship will enable their continued work to protect our health, environment and democracy. Sponsorships options include:

$75 Sponsor (includes one ticket)
$150 -$299 Advocate (includes two tickets)
$300 – $499 Building for Victory Sponsor (includes four tickets)
$500 – $999 Making It Happen Sponsor (includes six tickets)
$1000+ Leader (let them know how many tickets you need)

Individual tickets are $30 each.

Monday, September 26, 7:00 pm – Growing Vitis Vinifera in New England

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Massachusetts winemaker Kip Kumler, owner of Turtle Creek Winery in Lincoln, will speak at Elm Bank on Growing Vitis Vinifera in New England. The talk, sponsored by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, will be on Monday, September 26 at 7 p.m.  Wine grapes and New England aren’t usually mentioned in the same sentence, but Kumler’s Turtle Creek Winery is proof that excellent wine can be made here given adequate planning and preparation.

“While the comparisons are a bit simplistic, Boston is at the same latitude as Rome and the best Italian wines come from that country’s northern regions,” Kumler says. “We have more degree days (periods when temperatures are above the threshold for grapes to grow) than Burgundy. What we also have,” Kumler acknowledges, “is a shorter growing season, a colder winter, and diseases that can devastate a vineyard.” Kumler’s talk will focus on how he has overcome New England’s problems to produce critically acclaimed wine. For example, his vines are grafted onto rootstock that trade vigorous growth for earlier ripening and higher quality. The issue of cold is addressed in a more high tech manner: by insulating vines against prolonged periods of sub-zero temperatures. Loss from disease is kept to a minimum through a combination of choosing healthier nursery stock and use of new classes of fungicides which are targeted to individual fungi, have short persistence, and are environmentally benign.

There is no charge to attend for Mass Hort members. The cost for non-members is $10. The presentation will be held in Mass Hort’s Education Building. The entrance to Elm Bank is at 900 Washington Street (Route 16) on the Wellesley/Natick town line. For additional information, call 617-933-4995.