Boston Flora

Category: Volunteer Opportunity

  • Thursday, April 3, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm – SKYWARN

    A SKYWARN® Spotter training session will be held on Thursday April 3, 2014 from 7-10PM at the Petersham Center School located at 31 Spring Street in Petersham, MA.

    SKYWARN® spotters are an important resource to the National Weather Service as they provide ground truth information in high impact weather events. These ground truth observations help aid in decisions in issuing watches, warnings and advisories. Not only will spotters learn how to observe the weather, they will also learn about valuable preparedness and safety tips. Trained spotters have been invaluable during weather events such as Post Tropical Storm Sandy, the February Blizzard of 2013, as well as during the Springfield Tornado. We are looking to attract as much interest as possible so we can expand our network and offer more extensive support to a greater area.  Image below from www.obnoxiousbostonfan.com.

    http://www.obnoxiousbostonfan.com//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/kaboom.jpg

    The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

    Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

    Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

    SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives.  For more information visit www.skywarn.org.

  • Boston Children’s Hospital Plant Sale – Volunteers and Donations Needed

    The 5th annual charity plant sale, benefiting Boston Children’s Hospital via Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, will be held this May 2014. This year the committee hopes to raise $12,000. The plants are donated by volunteer gardening enthusiasts and by wholesale and retail greenhouse partners. The $12,000 goal will require a lot of plants. They ask for your support through donations of:
    * Trays of herbs and blooming plants each week in May
    * Any plant material, or propagation supplies (seeds, trays, plug cells, starting mix, potting mix, plant tags, fertilizer, etc.)
    * Volunteers to spend a few hours sharing their knowledge of plants at the sale. (Volunteers will get a one day shopping pass to Costco Avon as
    well as a free meal from the Costco food court)

    Costco Wholesale not only provides the venue for the sale, but will also provide one extra large conspicuously posted Children’s Miracle Network sponsorship balloon/poster displaying your information for any donation worth $500 at retail. Your contributions are tax deductible.

    To make a donation of money, material or time, or to learn more about the fundraiser, contact Aaron Tarver (atarver@crazyplantlady.org or 774-273-0018).

    Partner References:
    Jenn Kaczenski, Director, Children’s Hospital Trust – 857-218-3100
    Lori Packard, Owner, Packard Farm, 543 Pearl St, Brockton, MA – 508-587-3556
    Eric Desatnick or Carlos Martinez, Costco Wholesale, 120 Stockwell Dr, Avon, MA – 508-232-4000

    http://blogs.roanoke.com/fridgemagnet/files/2009/02/childrens-miracle-network.jpg

  • Thursday, February 20, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – New England Wild Flower Society Volunteer Fair

    The New England Wild Flower Society will host a Volunteer Fair on Thursday, February 20, from 10 – noon at Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham.  At the Fair, NEWFS staff will describe opportunities to work with the program staff,  the conservation department, and the philanthropy department.  Volunteers may choose from a wide variety of options, and will receive valuable training.  Enjoy the company of like-minded people and work with one of the nation’s premier botanic gardens.  Free, and refreshments will be served.  If you have questions, call 508-877-7630.

    http://www.newfs.org/images/volunteers/Volunteerpotting_Lisa_Mattei.JPG/image_preview

  • Sunday, November 2 – Saturday, November 8 – Volunteer Gardening Trip to Ecuador

    Volunteer in a native tree nursery, work with kids in a school garden, and experience the culture and biome of highland Ecuador with the Tandana Foundation.

    When: Arrive in Quito on the night of Saturday, November 2; Leave Ecuador on the night of Saturday, November 8, and arrive back in the U.S. on Sunday, November 9, 2014.

    Where: In the Andean highlands outside of Otavalo, Ecuador. Lodging will be at La Posada del Quinde in Otavalo; a lovely inn with great food, free wi-fi service and friendly staff. Ecuador is a beautiful country on the equator in South America that is on the Eastern time zone and uses U.S. dollars. Spanish is the major language. Tandana will provide group coordinators who are fluent in Spanish. The weather should be in the 70’s during the day and quite cool at night.

    Why: To help 23 communities who have joined together and created an operating nursery to raise native trees to plant in their watersheds and protect their water supplies. We will be collecting seedlings, weeding, planting trees, etc. The nursery is run by a dedicated plant-lover, Matias Perugachi. You can see a video of him on the Tandana Foundation blog. We will also help children with their school garden and teach them a garden-related lesson. And, we will learn about another culture and biome.

    Cost: $1,200 double occupancy, $100 additional for single occupancy. Plus: airfare and personal expenses. The trip fee covers all the basic expenses (food, lodging, transportation, activities) from when you land at the Quito airport until we drop you off there.

    How to sign up: Please register by filling out our online registration form: http://www.tandanafoundation.org/registration_form.html.  Send a check made out to the Tandana Foundation for $1200 (double occupancy) or $1300 (single occupancy).  The mailing address is 2933 Lower Bellbrook Road, Spring Valley, OH 45370.

    Tentative itinerary:

    Saturday: arrive in the evening.
    Sunday: orientation and visit the world-famous Otavalo market.
    Monday: help in a minga, [community work party] planting trees in one of the communities. In the afternoon, participate in a traditional cooking class and learn about the plants cultivated by local families.

    Tuesday: collect seedlings for the tree nursery. In the afternoon, tour a rose plantation.

    Wednesday: work all day at the tree nursery, potting the seedlings we collected, weeding, and trimming roots.

    Thursday: work at the tree nursery most of the day, and then visit Cuicocha volcanic lake (photo below.)

    Friday: teach a lesson about plants to school children and help them work in their school garden. In the afternoon, visit a master weaver.

    Saturday: visit the high-altitude páramo to see another biome, have a celebratory dinner at a hacienda, then head back to Quito and fly out at night.

    http://latintrails.com/uploads/f0/d6/f0d6a927aecaa5f333389e4abc9dd440/lake-cuicocha.png

  • Saturday, February 1, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm – Mothers Out Front

    Join Mothers Out Front to Kick Off The First Massachusetts Campaign!  Saturday, February 1, 2014 — 11am to 1pm at Tremont Temple Baptist Church, 88 Tremont Street, Boston
    (Red Line, Park Street Station).

    Together, send a clear message to Governor Patrick and Gubernatorial Candidates that we can and must choose clean energy in order to protect our children and grandchildren.

    Speakers:
    Mothers and Grandmothers Organizing in Massachusetts Communities
    State Representative Lori Ehrlich
    Special message from Bill McKibben of 350.org
    Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band

    Refreshments and banner making for the whole family
    March to the State House
    Group photo for delivery to Governor Patrick

    Click here to RSVP!

    https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000321399149/f6553396cf1e7729e631944e6670b275.jpeg

  • Eliot Memorial Restoration Project Update

    Eliot Memorial Restoration Project Update

    Over the past two years, The Garden Club of the Back Bay has contributed $7,500 to The Esplanade Association in connection with its Eliot Memorial Restoration project.  TEA’s contractor Sequoia has been hard at work at the site and has made great progress. The granite pavers and curbing, and the new pavement, have been fully installed and look fantastic.  The soil remediation, irrigation and electrical work also have been completed, and the plant material has arrived – planting has begun. There will be many new and exciting additions in the next few months: restoration of the historic overlook fence, preparation of the lawn areas, installation of the new benches, and completed demolition of 3 feet of asphalt on the main pathway to reclaim green space.  If you are interested in contributing to the project, contact Jessica Pederson, Director of Operations, at jpederson@esplanadeassociation.org.

    Eliot Memorial

  • Saturday, December 7, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Putting the Rose Garden to Bed

    Help put the Kelleher Rose Garden to bed for the winter on Saturday, December 7, from 10 – 1.  Gloves, tools, and training provided.  Sign up at projectassistant@emeraldnecklace.org.  Thank you motherearthnews.com for the image below.

    http://www.motherearthnews.com/~/media/Images/MEN/Editorial/Blogs/Organic%20Gardening/Add%20Roses%20to%20Your%20Edible%20Landscape/arosewinterpruned.jpg

  • Sunday, September 22, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm – 17th Annual Massachusetts Outdoor Expo

    It’s not too early for families, friends, and youth groups to mark their calendars for Sunday, September 22, 2013, and join the fun at the 17th Massachusetts Outdoor Expo (Big MOE) held at the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club grounds at 24 Hamilton Road in Sturbridge from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. The Big MOE, sponsored by the Facts About Wildlife and Nature Society (FAWNS), is a free family-oriented event celebrating outdoor skills, nature, art, and wildlife. The Big MOE is the perfect opportunity to introduce young and old to a variety of new outdoor skills and activities. This year, the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will feature their mobile pellet gun range, turkey call making, turkey feathers and decoys and the opportunity to talk to a turkey biologist. A new Camping station will be staffed by a Girl Scout Troop and Tekoa Mountain Outdoors, a new Watershed station will be run by The Last Green Valley National Corridor and this year’s Kayaking station will be staffed by ZOAR Outdoors. A complete list of activity stations in information can be found at www.fawnsexpo.com.

    This all-day event is free, thanks to the following co-sponsors: Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Hamilton Rod and Gun Club, The Weatherby Foundation, Whitetails Unlimited and the Worcester County League of Sportsmen’s Clubs. The Big MOE is also in need of enthusiastic, outdoor oriented volunteers willing to assist at several skills stations or to host a skill station. Clubs, conservation organizations, and outdoor oriented businesses wishing to host a skill station, assist others at an existing station or make a donation are welcome. For more information on volunteering or exhibiting, contact Gary Zima at (508) 389-6314 or gary.zima@state.ma.us.

    http://bostoneventsinsider.com/bostonevents/2012/09-17/annual-mass-outdoor-expo-S.jpg

  • Marathon Daffodils

    Marathon Daffodils is a collaboration of nonprofit organizations, gardeners, cities and towns, organizations, businesses, and citizens interested in preserving the spirit of the Boston Marathon and Boston Strong, while embracing the tradition of celebrating the arrival of Spring to Boston.

    Some of Massachusetts top horticultural organizations, partnering with communities and volunteers plan to plant daffodils along the 26.5 mile Boston Marathon route, to create a new event.  Tower Hill Botanic Garden, The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, The Garden Club Federation, The Charles River Conservancy and other groups have agreed to collaborate. The goal is to raise $1,000 per mile for a total of $26,500 from Hopkinton to Boston.

    “We want to do something to lift the spirits of the community, in support of Boston Marathon 2014 and Boston Strong,” said Diane Valle, volunteer and organizer.

    “We are excited to participate,” said Kathy Abbott, Executive Director of Tower Hill Botanic Garden, “because we believe Marathon Daffodils represent Spring and rebirth. This is a great community building opportunity.”

    Plans include outreach to supporters and volunteers from young to old; and novices to Master Gardeners; to plant daffodils. “Marathon Daffodil” donations are welcome, sent to The Cooperative Bank, 201 Main Street, Charlestown, MA 02129.

    “With the support of the communities, the planting of daffodils is to commence in October and continue through December, along the route, and hopefully throughout our communities,” said Kathy Thomas, Past Garden Club Federation President and horticultural activist.  Volunteers are welcome.

    For more information:

    Diane Valle
    dianevalle@gmail.com

    Kathy Thomas
    Kathymthomas@aol.com

    http://i0.wp.com/northendwaterfront.com//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Marathon-Daffodils-Logo-with-Blue-Font1.jpg?resize=300%2C130

  • Friday, October 18 – Friday, October 25 – Gardening Volunteer Vacation in Ecuador

    The Tandana Foundation is organizing a Gardening Volunteer Vacation to the beautiful Andean highlands outside of Otavalo, Ecuador from October 18 to the 25th.

    The volunteers’ primary purpose on this trip will be helping out at a local tree nursery. They will be doing a little bit of everything at the nursery including planting trees, pruning roots, digging ditches and pulling weeds. The volunteers will also collect saplings which they will plant at the nursery

    The nursery was built by an organization representing 23 indigenous villages, called UCINQUI. UCINQUI sells the trees in order to earn money to help the 23 communities with health, education, and other projects. Most of the trees are used to protect water sources and reforest in the 23-village area. The Tandana Foundation has assisted with infrastructure projects for the nursery, including acclimatization beds and a greenhouse.

    Helping out at the nursery is not the only gardening work the volunteers will be doing. The group will participate in a minga, a community work day, helping plant trees in a local community. They will teach a lesson about plants to the students at the Ulpiano Navarro School in Quichinche and will work alongside the students in the school garden. The volunteers will also have an opportunity to learn about the plants cultivated by local families.

    When they are not having fun digging in the dirt, the group will have plenty of time to enjoy the local culture and see beautiful scenery. They will visit the world-renowned Otavalo market and participate in a cooking class taught by a local chef. They will enjoy a demonstration from master weaver and visit Cuicocha volcanic lake. The volunteers will relax each night at lovely La Posada del Quinde in Otavalo.

    The trip will cost $1,200 if the volunteer wishes to share a room or $1,300 for a single room. This cost does not include airfare or personal expenses but does include food, lodging, transportation and activities while in Ecuador. To register for this trip please visit http://www.tandanafoundation.org/gardening-volunteer-vacation.html.

    The Tandana Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers cross-cultural volunteer opportunities, scholarships, and funding for small community projects in highland Ecuador and Mali’s Dogon Country. Tandana coordinates service projects and volunteer vacations that offer visitors to Ecuador or Mali the unique opportunity to be guests rather than tourists, to form cross-cultural friendships, to experience a rich indigenous culture, and to make a difference in the lives of new friends. Its scholarship program allows rural Ecuadorian students to continue their secondary education. Its community projects help villagers in Mali and Ecuador realize their dreams of improving their communities. Otavalo photo below from www.2backpackers.com. For more information about The Tandana Foundation, please visit www.tandanafoundation.org.

    http://2backpackers.com//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Streets-of-Otavalo.jpg