Tag Archives: howard county conservancy

What is in your children’s lunch?

Posted on March 8, 2012 by AnnieRie

Howard County is indeed a great place to live. The school system is highly rated, and from all the time I have spent interacting with the teachers at the Conservancy field trips, I know they are a dedicated group of people.

Thankfully, I don’t believe we would ever be a venue for Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution or TV reporters to come in and find fault with what we serve our children in Howard County Public Schools.

But, is there room for improvement? Are there things you can do as a parent to help your children make the best choices in eating healthy foods? How do you get them away from the sugar-laden flavored milk that is still on the menu and get them to drink something that doesn’t approach the sugar level of a cup of Coca Cola? Fat free flavored milk has 21 grams of sugar in a cup. A Coke has 26 grams in a cup. That fat free thing gets us all, over and over again. Eating those fat free cookies full of sugar. We all learn that lesson the hard way. By reading the labels.

In looking over the menus in the county prior to attending Tony Geraci’s talk next week at the Conservancy, we can see the county does a really good job and cooks from scratch, per my research into presentations by the director of the school system’s food and nutrition services.

This program will also benefit parents who pack their children’s lunches. Tony has great ideas on getting children to expand what they eat and make healthier choices.

But, what questions would you like Tony to answer on how we can improve, and how we can keep our little ones healthy and happy? Better yet, come join us and have an entertaining evening listening to someone passionate, engaged and eager to spread the word on healthy eating. Seven PM at the Conservancy March 15th. $5/family. Students free.

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March to the Conservancy

Posted on March 1, 2012 by AnnieRie

What is happening in March at the Howard County Conservancy?

March means spring is coming, and the Conservancy has lots going on to entice you outdoors, and indoors as well. As a volunteer naturalist, I love to attend walks and talks there to further my knowledge and share it with the school children on their field trips. I can’t go hiking yet after surgery but I will be there to hear Anthony Geraci give his talk on school foods.

On March 10th, come out and take a hike. Bring the family. The volunteer naturalists will be leading family friendly hikes on the Conservancy grounds. Come see some of the cool things the children learn on their field trips around the farm, woods, and grasslands. The walks are fun and informative. Bring binoculars to look for bugs, birds and critters in the creek. The little ones with their families will have a special shorter hike that takes them to see the goats, chickens, and Ranger the owl.

Other family groups will be lead by naturalists on the longer trails maybe doing a creek crossing on a log, or looking to find signs of the birds returning to nest in the bluebird boxes. Look for blossoms on the trees, and for the first signs of spring flowers. Large wheeled strollers can also make it through the hikes. Wonder walks begin at 10 am, and they are free.

Anthony Geraci speaking on March 15th

Geraci – Healthy Meals at Schools

Anthony Geraci aka Cafeteria Man is coming to speak about healthy foods in our schools on the 15th at 7 pm. This will be an interesting evening as he is always entertaining and enlightening. Don’t miss it.

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What’s a Volunteer Naturalist?

Posted on February 20, 2012 by AnnieRie

And, why do I love to be one? The Howard County Conservancy put out their call for volunteers to receive training to lead elementary and middle/secondary field trip hikes on the conservancy property.

The training is in March. Four days, three hours each. Thursdays or Tuesdays, depending on which programs you are interesting in leading. There are about 40-50 registered volunteers currently, but the Conservancy keeps expanding their offerings and any interested people are welcome to come and be trained.

Two years ago, 3000 students participated in the field trips. Last year it was 5000 visits. Some schools come fall and spring, while others pick one program yearly.

The grounds are lovely and spending a few hours at least three times a semester is an easy commitment. Some of us volunteer at least once a week. I have been known to sign up for as many kindergarten and first grade trips as possible. New volunteers also shadow us until they feel ready to lead on their own.

I love the program and the spring is my favorite. The kindergartners come in the spring to do “I Spy Nature”. We take them around to see the animals and to smell and touch the herbs and flowers, and they have a great introduction to nature. Including the resident owl, Ranger.

What are you waiting for? Come out and enjoy the sights and sounds on the farm and watch children become enthralled with bugs and chickens and goats and birds. It is truly a wonderful opportunity to give time and get so much in return. Call 410-465-8877 if you want to know more.

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It May Be Winter, But There’s Lots Going On!

Posted on February 7, 2012 by AnnieRie

I honestly am not sure how I found time to work. I have so many things happening this month, and places I want to go.

The Howard County Conservancy has two events this month, one this Saturday and one on the 26th. The Howard County Bloggers are having a blogtail hour in Columbia on the 13th. The 14th is Valentine’s Day and we are wandering down to Bistro Blanc for an after dinner drink, if we can get in.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is February 17-20.

I am volunteering to set up for an event at Sharp’s Farm for the Howard Legacy Leadership Institute for the Environment.

Breaux Vineyards in VA has their annual Samedi Gras event on the 18th. And, we are meeting friends for Fireside Friday at Black Ankle one of these Fridays if we can fit it in.

First up for us, going to the Conservancy on the 11th to see how to worm compost. Squirmy Wormy Worms That Work: Kitchen Garbage to Top Soil – with Barb Schmeckpeper, a retired researcher in human and medical genetics, Howard County Master Gardener and environmental volunteer, who loves to talk to kids of all ages about the wonder of the natural world. Dr Barb Schmeckpeper has been doing this for many years – and she and her grandkids have a lot of fun with it! The Conservancy event page is here.

Then, Monday night I will be meeting some of the long time Howard County Bloggers in Columbia to get to know others who blog locally. It should be an interesting evening, as I have lived here 40 years almost, but spent most of my life commuting to DC.

Doing my thing counting the birds in our yard and meadow for the annual Backyard Bird Count next weekend. The habitat that I so carefully created and have nurtured has given me dozens of visits. My highest count one year was over a hundred birds, thanks to a flock of geese who landed in the adjoining fields behind our house and my neighbor. We routinely get more than twenty different species here. It’s easy to register and send in a count. Click the link above and get started.

On the 26th, we are going to see a truly amazing lady, Twig George, talk about Life with her mom, who wrote over 100 children’s books including the famous My Side of the Mountain. Twig herself is an author, writing children’s books as well. This family event at the Howard County Conservancy promises to be a great one. Learning more about nature and the environment are priorities for me in retirement. I spent too long as a bureaucrat pushing paper and now take every opportunity to get out and experience new things.

Who says retirement is boring? Certainly not us.

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At the Most Elementary Level …

Posted on January 11, 2012 by AnnieRie

…knowing where our food comes from.

As a volunteer naturalist at the Howard County Conservancy, I have been lucky to meet and interact with some incredibly talented knowledgeable scientists as well as some amazing individuals passionate about the land and our future.

Next week a presentation of Dirt: The Movie will take place on Thursday night. Additionally, nationally known soil scientist Patrick Drohan will be on hand to introduce the film and lead the audience discussion that follows. Dr. Drohan was instrumental in the creation and design of the Smithsonian’s exhibit on soil, the most ambitious exhibition ever dedicated to soil.

The Conservancy website has all the details.

I have learned so much by attending events and walks at this preserved farm just north of the city of Columbia. This program promises to add more to my knowledge that will help me in making my little farmette more productive, by taking care of the soil.

In my retirement, I vowed to continue to learn and explore, and to give my time to endeavors that I believe to be valuable. It is the middle of winter here, and I don’t intend to hibernate. Hope to see others attend.

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It’s Not Just Dirt

Posted on December 14, 2011 by AnnieRie

One of my favorite lessons we teach on our field trips. Showing children where their food comes from. Watching the wonder when they smell oregano in the herb garden, or telling them pizza isn’t possible without soil.

Dough? Needs wheat. Tomatoes? Grow in soil. Cheese? Comes from milk from cows, who eat grass grown in soil.

For us, the work necessary to keep our soil rich and productive starts with composting and rotating crops. I have been working the soil in our backyard. I am in the midst of planning next year’s gardens. What do I put where? I really need to move the fenced garden because my trees are too tall now, and shade two plots.

I need expansive areas to put in melons and squashes, but I also need fenced areas for tomatoes. And potatoes. Winter is planning time.

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