Bus and Train fare Hikes
February 2nd, 2012The MBTA has proposed to increase their fares and cut services. There will be a community meeting at the Mystic Activity Center for residents and public transit riders to think of ways to STOP the fare hikes and services cuts. Join us as we convene over food, childcare, and interpretation.
Playing through the seasons and Winter nature: Parent’s Workshop
February 2nd, 2012Do you have ideas you can share about playing outside through the seasons? Do you want new ideas? Join with interested community members and Paula Jordan, a teacher, naturalist, and the Children in Nature Initiative Coordinator for the Somerville Community Growing Center. During the hour we will talk about fun things to do outdoors with your children and exploring urban nature in the winter.
Click here for to view the poster and for more information.
100 Best Communities for Young People Celebration: “Passport through the Promises”
January 31st, 2012Somerville is celebrating its fourth year of being one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People in the United States by the America’s Promise Alliance. We’re celebrating with a community event on Saturday, February 25th from 1:00-3:00 PM in the Somerville High School Atrium, and would love for you to be part of the celebration! At this celebration we will host family friendly indoor games, performances by youth singers, dancers and other entertainers, and invite youth and families to celebrate the promises the City of Somerville makes to nurture the aspirations of all of our young people.
Tapping Event a Success!
January 30th, 2012Groundwork Somerville, with the help of 30 adults and at least 25 youth, successfully hung 20 buckets on 10 Sugar Maple trees this past Thursday. Despite temperatures just barely below freezing the night before, sap ran out of the holes as soon as they were drilled. Participants got to help with the tapping of the trees, taste the fresh sap, and enjoy some outdoor time on the sloping grassy slope between Tuft’s academic quad and the intersection of Boston and College Aves.
We measured the trees’ circumferences to determine the right number of buckets to hang, placed holes well away from past year’s scars, hammered in the spiles (taps), and hung buckets on hooks. The final step, putting the tops on the buckets, will prevent bark, leaves, or rain from falling into the buckets as they collect sap. Maple sap runs when temperatures go below freezing at night and rise above freezing during the day. Once trees start to bud, the flavor of the sap will become more bitter, and we will pull out the spiles and clean our equiptment. The tree then heals itself quickly. This year’s season is much earlier than usual, so we are not sure how long the sap will run.
All sap is stored in frozen and refrigerated storage until the Boil Down Festival on March 3rd at the Somerville Community Growing Center. Public are then invited back out to see the sap boil down into pure maple syrup! Keep an eye on Groundwork Somerville’s website, online calendar, facebook page, or twitter feed to get updates and news about the Somerville Maple Syrup Project. Maple tapping would not be possible without the support of Tufts Buildings and Grounds – thanks!
Photographs taken by Groundwork Somerville Staff on 1/26/2012 can be viewed on this Picasa Album.
Best Shoveled Block Award
January 27th, 2012Does your neighborhood have the best shoveled block this winter? Nominate your neighbors by emailing edward.g.davis@usps.gov. See details below!
Maple Syrupy Kids Workshops
January 26th, 2012Come join Groundwork Somerville at the Somerville Public Library Saturdays in February from 11am to 12pm. This free workshop series will be run by Groundwork Somerville Maple Educators and is open to the public! Check out the Workshop Flier here.
February 25: Getting Sappy: How many gallons of sap makes one gallon of syrup? What does sap taste, smell, feel, and look like? Can we use poetry to describe these sensations?
Recommended for ages 6-9. Limited to 15 youth on a first come, first served basis. This program is coordinated through the Children’s Department and funded by Friends of the Somerville Public Library.
Thank you to the Children’s Department and the Friends of the Somerville Public Library for supporting this programming. For information about The Maple Syrup Boil Down, the education series, or syrup production contact:
Tai Dinnan ~ tai@groundworksomerville.org ~ 617-628-9988 office phone
Maple Syrupy Kids Workshops
January 26th, 2012Come join Groundwork Somerville at the Somerville Public Library Saturdays in February from 11am to 12pm. This free workshop series will be run by Groundwork Somerville Maple Educators and is open to the public! Check out the Workshop Flier here.
February 18: Maple-y history and tools: How did people a long time ago figure how to make maple syrup? How have tools changed over the years? Can we practice using the tools?
Recommended for ages 6-9. Limited to 15 youth on a first come, first served basis. This program is coordinated through the Children’s Department and funded by Friends of the Somerville Public Library.
Thank you to the Children’s Department and the Friends of the Somerville Public Library for supporting this programming. For information about The Maple Syrup Boil Down, the education series, or syrup production contact:
Tai Dinnan ~ tai@groundworksomerville.org ~ 617-628-9988 office phone
Maple Syrupy Kids Workshops
January 26th, 2012Come join Groundwork Somerville at the Somerville Public Library Saturdays in February from 11am to 12pm. This free workshop series will be run by Groundwork Somerville Maple Educators and is open to the public! Check out the Workshop Flier here.
February 11: Tree trunks have layers?! What does each tree trunk layer do for the tree? How do trees benefit our neighborhoods? Does tapping for syrup hurt Somerville Maple Trees?
Recommended for ages 6-9. Limited to 15 youth on a first come, first served basis. This program is coordinated through the Children’s Department and funded by Friends of the Somerville Public Library.
Thank you to the Children’s Department and the Friends of the Somerville Public Library for supporting this programming. For information about The Maple Syrup Boil Down, the education series, or syrup production contact:
Tai Dinnan ~ tai@groundworksomerville.org ~ 617-628-9988 office phone
Maple Syrupy Kids Workshops
January 26th, 2012Come join Groundwork Somerville at the Somerville Public Library Saturdays in February from 11am to 12pm. This free workshop series will be run by Groundwork Somerville Maple Educators and is open to the public! Check out the Workshop Flier here.
February 4: Investigating trees through the seasons. What is sap? Why does it flow in the spring? Making hypotheses: when will sap flow and what might make it stop?
Recommended for ages 6-9. Limited to 15 youth on a first come, first served basis. This program is coordinated through the Children’s Department and funded by Friends of the Somerville Public Library.
Thank you to the Children’s Department and the Friends of the Somerville Public Library for supporting this programming. For information about The Maple Syrup Boil Down, the education series, or syrup production contact:
Tai Dinnan ~ tai@groundworksomerville.org ~ 617-628-9988 office phone
The Maple Syrup Project @ Winter Farmer’s Market
January 24th, 2012Come join Groundwork Somerville at the Winter Farmer’s Market at the Armory! We will have information about our annual Maple Syrup Project including information about tapping Maple trees, collecting sap, boiling it down to make maple syrup, and celebrating the Somerville community. We will be spreading the word about the Maple Syrup Boil Down Festival on March 3rd and selling T-shirts to support the Project.