"Farms for the Holidays" Guide Released

Homegrown, Authentic Southern Maryland Holiday Ideas

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development commission (SMADC) has released the "Farms for the Holidays 2008" guide. As the seasons change, so do the farm products and events, making it possible to support our local rural economy all year. This popular guide is a mini-directory of regional farms offering locally grown or produced products as well as seasonal activities for a memorable, Southern Maryland holiday experience.

Organized by category of items (greenery and home décor; gifts; wine; poultry; meat and seafood; winter vegetables and holiday farm events) this free guide directs you to farm fresh winter produce, beautiful handmade centerpieces for festive tables and plump local turkeys to help create a Thanksgiving everyone will love. As Christmas approaches the holiday guide addresses all your needs; where to find and cut your own tree or attend a ‘how to' workshop to create your own decorations, or pick up a pre-made holiday garland or wreath from a local farm. The guide offers many locations in St. Mary's, Charles, Calvert, Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties. Other products offered include homemade jams, jellies, honey, and a wide variety of winter produce. Soaps from goat and sheep milk as well as cozy cold weather accessories including blankets, and cuddly teddy bears made from sheep or Alpaca wool are also featured in the guide.

The information presented here was excerpted from "This ‘N' That" in the Friday, November 14th edition of the Enterprise and was written by John Wharton.

St. Mary's County Marked America Recycles Week With a call for county residents to focus on purchasing products made from recycled materials, and an expansion of the list of materials that can be recycled locally.

The county's single-stream recycling program at the six convenience centers and St. Andrews landfill now accepts aerosol cans, aluminum foil and pans, most milk and juice cartons, plastic grocery bags, stretch film, shrink wrap and bulky rigid plastics such a milk crates, buckets, laundry baskets, lawn furniture, totes and lids, drums, coolers, flower pots, drinking cups, five-gallon water bottles, pallets, toys and garbage bins...

For more information on recycling in St. Mary's County go to: http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/dpw/recycle/

Maryland League of Conservation Voters
Education Fund

NOW WE KNOW  CALL-IN EVENT
Southern Maryland- Leonardtown

Our next President is Barack Obama and it’s now time to turn our attention to a new administration and the future of this country. Our Representative, Steny Hoyer needs to hear our voice to fight climate change and create a clean-energy economy. You’ve voted; turn that vote into action.

WHO: You and voices from all walks of life in Southern Maryland.

http://www.heatison.org/

Global warming is the biggest issue looming in our future. The key to meeting this challenge is strong national leadership - from Congress and the White House. The next session of Congress will prove to be a critical moment in our nation's history. Our leaders in Congress have a chance to take strong action to stop global warming and transition to a clean energy economy.

Activist Workshop: How to Influence Your Elected Officials

Who: 2008 lobby captains, soon to be 2009 captains (I hope!), and activist leaders –

The Green Way to Enjoy Favorite Artists - October 24

Patuxent Habitat for Humanity is hosting a Recycled Art Show on Friday, Oct. 24 from 6-9 p.m. in the ReStore at 21768 South Coral Drive in Lexington Park.

The Recycled Art Show will feature a unique silent auction of one-of-a-kind recycled art pieces. Local artists have fashioned art pieces from objects found in the Habitat for Humanity's ReStore. Participating artists include Ann Crain, Candace Cummings, Deb Daniels, Marilyn Fawley, John Girolamo, Shirley Gromen, Patty Archuleta, Joan Kocen, Joi Lowe, Larry Langfeld, Deborah McClure, Julia Musengo, Cindy Pond, Joe Rizza, Jo Ruggieri, Ryken High School Art Students (led by Catherine Dunn), Sue Seeger and Sue Stevenson.

http://www.smrwa.org/

Our mission is to Protect, Improve, and Promote the well-being of the St. Mary's River Watershed through the collaborative efforts of economic, agricultural, environmental, social, cultural, and political stakeholders in the community.

POTOMAC RIVER ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING

Menhaden vs. Oysters: Battle of the Bay Filters

NOVEMBER 13, THURSDAY, 6:30 pm

LEXINGTON PARK LIBRARY

Two of the region's most committed environmentalists will speak about two of the region's most important species.

RICHARD PELZ has been cultivating native oysters at his Circle C Oyster Ranch in St. Jerome's Creek for fifteen years. Oysters are now widely recognized as an essential element of the health of the Chesapeake Bay thanks to their phenomenal filtering capacity.  Pelz believes that we can restore the population of oysters to sustainable historic levels and thereby restore the health of the watershed. His slide presentation will reveal the phenomenal filtering abilities and sex life of the oyster.

Nature Walk
Myrtle Point Park
Saturday, November 1, 2008
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Join the Friends of Myrtle Point Park and Sierra Club in a seasonal nature walk at Myrtle Point Park. This will be a leisurely walk around the park's trail with an eye to collecting seeds for the Growing Native project. So bring your children and help us replenish the State nursery stock with native Maryland seed stock.

We will also be examining the condition of the trails in the Park to determine if repair work is needed.

For more information and directions contact Bob Boxwell at 410-394-1300.

Sponsored by the Friends of Myrtle Point Park And The Sierra Club Southern Maryland Group