By Joshua Rose August 18, 2012
Residents of Amherst have been debating about dogs and leashes for the past several months. According to some residents, the argument has actually been going on for a decade or two. Amethyst Brook Conservation Area in particular is a hugely popular site for dog walking, and has become a flash point of the conflict, even more so since the town limited the hours of approved off-leash activity. But frequently lost in the contention over leashed vs. unleashed, how many hours and when is another issue: Should pets be allowed at all, let alone encouraged, in a conservation area?
By Michael Dover
Let’s try a little experiment. When you see the words “air pollution,” what pictures come to mind? Perhaps you envision a belching smokestack from a factory or power plant, or a tailpipe on a car or truck spewing exhaust. But what if I asked you to look in your own home? You might be surprised to learn that your laundry room is a possible source of toxic air pollution, and that you could be wearing the problem every day.
By Elizabeth Farnsworth
I have this really troublesome neighbor. First, right after he moves in, he clears most of the trees on his land. Then he dams up the stream that runs along our shared property boundary to create a pond, with no permit from the Conservation Commission. Sure enough, the water table in my basement is rising and, during heavy rains, our street floods! I guess I shouldn’t complain so libelously in a newspaper article. But I don’t have to worry – he can’t read English, or even speak Human. He’s a beaver.
By David Spector
The great southbound migration of birds starts around the last week of June and continues for about half a year, with hundreds of millions of birds flying south across North America. This southward movement reaches its greatest intensity in August, September and October, and continues into early winter. Not all birds, though, follow the pattern. In the late summer, here in western Massachusetts, we can sometimes see spectacular birds that have flown north from the southern states.
By Ginny Sullivan Gazette Contributing Writer
Research shows that children benefit from spending time in nature. The benefits are enormous and far-reaching—including increased attention, greater physical activity, more complex use of language and improved social skills. But how should we incorporate this understanding into the places we design for children’s play? Whenever I consult with schools about making changes to their outdoor play space, I advocate for the creative potential of a rich natural environment. And when they are asked, teachers and children say this is what they want as well.
By Ted Watt
What’s not to love about fireflies? Their soft, twinkling lights inspire romance and poetry. Do you remember trying to catch them when you were a kid? These warm, humid June nights are perfect for observing this unique summer spectacle. But the tiny sparkling lights in meadows, parks and backyards aren’t designed for our pleasure they’re mating signals.
By Katie Koerten
When I first became interested in birds and their identification in the wild, I was daunted by the prospect of identifying raptors (birds of prey) in flight. Sure, field guides are helpful when it comes to looking for coloring and field marks, but when you’re standing on the ground and the bird is flying across the sky, these characteristics can be hard to detect. From a distance you can’t determine size with much certainty, let alone any markings. Often you can just make out the shape of the bird, and maybe catch a few wing flaps before it soars out of sight.
By Lawrence J. Winship
Each spring I wander my favorite haunts in search of ephemeral spring wildflowers. Patches of adder’s tongue, trillium, bloodroot, wild ginger, bleeding heart and spring beauty can be hard to find, but are so rewarding. These reliable harbingers of the deep forest shade to come are locally rare, mainly because of past land use practices. Widespread forest clearing and plowing in the 1700s and 1800s killed native plants and depleted their seed banks, wiping out local populations. Re-establishment of spring ephemerals requires at least two things: plants in nearby non- tilled areas to serve as seed sources, and time—lots of time, because seed dispersal is often a slow process.
By Mary Kraus
Wouldn’t it be great: A home that produces as much energy as it uses. No utility bills. Maybe some income for energy production. And the knowledge that you have reduced your ecological footprint and impact on global warming. It used to sound like a dream, but now that dream is well within reach. How do I know? I’m living it! And it didn’t take much to get there.
By Michael Dover
Spring! ’Tis the season for walking, biking, paddling or just plain being outside. Even after a mild winter like the one just past, we’re still ready to stretch our limbs, breathe deeply and soak in the sunshine. Let’s all follow our best instincts and get outdoors. This year, though, you might try a new way: spend some of that time in silence.
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Hitchcock Center for the Environment
at Hampshire College
845 West Street | Amherst MA 01002 | 413.256.6006 | 413.253.2809 fax