Daily Archives: November 19, 2021

Wednesday, December 1 – Deadline for Submission for Annual Botany Story Slam

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Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants, announces an open call for storytellers for its annual signature event, The Botany Story Slam, which will take place on Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is currently planned as an in-person event at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA; however, storytellers from around the world are welcome to submit their tales for the chance to share their stories using video technology.

A story slam is a competition in which each storyteller has minutes to share an experience on a chosen theme, with the audience interacting and voting on their favorite tale. Winning stories may be aired on the radio. We are seeking exciting, well-presented stories 5-10 minutes in length about plant adventures. Storytellers may include botanists, horticulturists, farmers, land managers, plant researchers, environmental educators, rangers, or similar plant-related professionals. For submission instructions, please email education@NativePlantTrust.org by December 1, 2021, with the subject line “Story Slam Submission.” Storytellers will be selected and notified on a rolling basis and must be available to present at the event on February 26, 2022, either in person or virtually. In past years, storytellers have included:

Wambui Ippolito, horticulturist, landscape designer, international speaker, and founder of the BIPOC Hort Group, a multicultural professional horticulture community.

Ted Elliman, botanist and author of Wildflowers of New England and co-author of Grasses, Sedges, Rushes: An Identification Guide.

Kelly D. Norris, award-winning plantsman, author of New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden, and former Director of Horticulture and Education at Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

C.L. Fornari, host of GardenLine on WXTK FM radio, co-host of the award-winning podcast Plantrama and author of eight books, including Sand & Soil: Creating Beautiful Gardens on Cape Cod and the Islands.

Dwayne Estes, Executive Director of Southern Grasslands Initiative, Professor of Biology and Director of the Herbarium at Austin Peay State University, Principal Investigator for the Center of Excellence for Field Biology, and author of Guide to the Vascular Plants of Tennessee.

Sunday, November 28, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm – Beginners Chainsaw Skills Workshop

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Learn to use a chain saw safely! This Berkshire Botanical Garden class on November 28 from 8:30 – 3:30 is taught by arborist Melissa LeVangie Ingersoll. The workshop is designed for the novice-to-beginner chainsaw operator who wishes to gain greater confidence with this powerful tool. The class will combine lecture and hands-on learning, covering topics such as personal protective equipment, the anatomy of a chainsaw, reactive forces, basic chainsaw maintenance and additional tools for use with a chainsaw. Techniques will include holding and starting a saw, hazard ID, escape options, log analysis (binds), planning cuts, overall plan and bucking and limbing. Attendees will cut logs on the ground and/or elevated on sawhorses and will leave with a better understanding of the safety features of a chainsaw and be able to operate a chainsaw based on safety fundamentals. No experience necessary. Note: Equipment will be provided; if you have your own chainsaw or personal protective equipment, please bring it with you. Dress and prepare for the weather including long sleeves, pants and boots. Bring a bag lunch.

Melissa LeVangie Ingersoll is a passionate educator about trees, tree care and tree climbing amongst many other extensive topics.  She holds many professional certifications, including an ISA Certified Arborist, an ISA Tree Climbing Specialist, a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification and TCIA Certified Tree Safety Professional credentials.   She is a Past-President of MA Tree Wardens & Foresters Association and of the New England Chapter of ISA.   

Outside of being a Co-Founder of the WTCW (Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop) a workshop for women taught by women to climb trees with an emphasis on arboriculture; she is the Educational Director and a Business Development Advocate for Shelter Tree/RBI, a premier arborist equipment supplier.  Formerly, Melissa conducted climbing inspections for Asian Longhorned Beetle for the USDA and DCR in Worcester, MA.  

Melissa is an enthusiastic instructor and coach who loves to teach about trees and has been in the industry for over 20 years.

There is currently a wait list for this workshop. Click Here is join.