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Program Updates

Program listings below are for the next several weeks. For a complete schedule of all BNAN summer programs check our summer newsletter posted online, for Neponset River Greenway Festival schedule view the online brochure, and for Seed, Sow & Grow listings for the year check the brochure posted here. You may also check listings by date using the calendar. To have a paper copy of any of these items mailed to you contact the BNAN office at 617-542-7696 or info@bostonnatural.org.

Bike to the Harbor Islands
Saturday, July 24, 10:00 a.m.
Paul Revere Landing Park, Charlestown

We’ll bike from Charlestown through East Boston on the East Boston Greenway to Deer Island and back, stop for lunch at Constitution Beach, explore a few side paths and enjoy great harbor views. Helmets required. Cyclists can join the ride at the blue caboose on the EB Greenway around 10:45 -11:00 a.m. Contact Doug Mink at dmink@masspaths.net. Sponsored by MassBike. Visit www.masspaths.net for more information.

Canoe the Future Greenway: Mattapan Square to Central Ave.
Saturday, July 24, 10:00 a.m.
Meeting location will be determined pending river levels in July.

Get a view from the river of the mile-long trail gap in the trail between Mattapan Square and Milton. Paddling experience required. Free, registration required. To register call BNAN at 617-542-7696 or or email info@bostonnatural.org.

Family Movie Series
Tuesday, July 27, sunset
Martini Shell, Truman Parkway, Hyde Park

Tuesday nights are family nights in Hyde Park! Bring a blanket, chair and popcorn and enjoy a family movie under the stars. Sponsored by MA DCR. Free. Visit www.bostonnatural.org/evtNeponsetRiverFest.htm to find out what’s playing.

Neponset Watercolor
Wednesday, July 28, 5:30 p.m.
Martini Shell, Truman Parkway, Hyde Park

Cathy Garnett of MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation will instruct the group in basic watercolor technique, using the surrounding trees and river as our subjects. Supplies provided, bring your own folding chair. Free, registration required. To register call BNAN at 617-542-7696 or or email info@bostonnatural.org.

Especially for Children
Thursday, July 29
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Ryan Playground, River Street, Mattapan

Storyteller Valerie Stephens offers interactive tales, songs and games from West Africa, the Americas and Caribbean with lessons and fun for all to enjoy. Free program.

Family Movie Series
Thursday, July 29, sunset
Pope John Paul II Park, Gallivan Blvd, Dorchester

Thursday nights are family nights in Dorchester! Bring a blanket, chair and popcorn and enjoy a family movie under the stars. Free. Visit www.bostonnatural.org/evtNeponsetRiverFest.htm to find out what’s playing. Sponsored by MA DCR.

Paul’s Bridge Paddle
Sunday, August 1, 1:00 p.m.
Brush Hill Road and Neponset Valley Parkway, Milton/Hyde Park

We’ll launch from this historic bridge and enjoy the lush vegetation on this section of the river. Paddling experience required. Free, registration required. To register call BNAN at 617-542-7696 or or email info@bostonnatural.org. Co-sponsored by MA Department of Conservation and Recreation.



Canoe Belle Isle Marsh
Sunday, August 1, 4:00 p.m.
Belle Isle Marsh Bennington Street East Boston

Discover the ecologically important Belle Isle Marsh by canoe. Must be experienced. Registration required. Call DCR at 617-727-1199 x411.


Ranger Recreation Fun!
Tuesday, August 3 One hour before sunset
Martini Shell, Truman Parkway, Hyde Park
Martini Shell, Truman Parkway, Hyde Park

Kids! Join a DCR ranger one hour before movies to enjoy nature, crafts and more. Free program.


Family Movie Series
Tuesday, August 3, sunset
Martini Shell, Truman Parkway, Hyde Park
Martini Shell, Truman Parkway, Hyde Park

Tuesday nights are family nights in Hyde Park! Bring a blanket, chair and popcorn and enjoy a family movie under the stars. Sponsored by MA DCR. Free. Visit www.bostonnatural.org/evtNeponsetRiverFest.htm to find out what’s playing.


Sounds of the Garden
Free Concert Series
Wednesday, August 4, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Minton Stable Community Garden, 110-112 Wiliams St., Jamaica Plain

Come listen to Lloyd Thayer, masterful blues guitarist. Light refreshments provided. Bring your own chairs or blankets.


Ranger Recreation Fun!
Thursday, August 5 One hour before sunset
Pope John Paul II Park, Gallivan Blvd, Dorchester

Kids! Join a DCR ranger one hour before movies to enjoy nature, crafts and more. Free program.


Family Movie Series
Thursday, August 5, sunset
Pope John Paul II Park, Gallivan Blvd, Dorchester

Thursday nights are family nights in Dorchester! Bring a blanket, chair and popcorn and enjoy a family movie under the stars. Free. Visit www.bostonnatural.org/evtNeponsetRiverFest.htm to find out what’s playing. Sponsored by MA DCR

Video Link
Community Garden News

Community gardener Elnora Thompson from the Nightingale Community Garden in Dorchester talks about renovations being undertaken by BNAN during US Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius's visit to Boston with Mayor Menino on July 9. Click here to view video. Click here to view photos.

Video Link
Youth Conservation Corps

See this year's Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) in action as they plant native trees and shrubs at Pope John Paul ll Park in Dorchester, in partnership with MA Department of Conservation and Recreation. This is only one of the important projects that the three BNAN YCC crews will work on this summer. Click here for video and click here for more information on YCC.

Garden Education
Grow Healthy Tomatoes
Tips to Avoid Late Blight in Your Garden!

Ensure your garden is not a source of this plant disease in 2010!
Late blight destroys tomato crops. Late blight persists in "volunteer" potato tubers.

See these important links from the Extension Service, University of New Hampshire, Durham:

http://extension.unh.edu/agric/Media/Late-Blight2010/Late-Blight2010.htm

http://extension.unh.edu/agric/Docs/Lateblightpreventionflyer.pdf

Take Action!

Tell your congressional legislators to fund community gardens and support the bill titled Community Gardens Act of 2009. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to eligible entities to establish, build, or operate community gardens.

Contact your Congressional Representative (either Michael Capuano or Stephen Lynch) to tell them to support this important bill. Tell them why community gardens are important and what they provide for the community. So pick up the phone or send in a letter. It is vital that we demonstrate our support for community gardening. Each voice will help influence the decision, so don't under-estimate the impact your letter can have. For the complete bill language and current list of co-sponsors go to
www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3225 .

If you are uncertain as to who is your Representative, go to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml,. You can then use this same site to email your Representative to support this important bill to fund community gardens.

Please share this information with your fellow community gardeners.

Finding a Community Garden Gets Easier

In time for the growing season, the community garden map on the BNAN website that includes all 150 community gardens in the city has become interactive. You can now easily locate gardens near your home or in your neighborhood and see garden aerials, photographs of the garden and street views to and around the garden and learn the address and owner. Check out www.bostonnatural.org/cgFind.htm today. It is also a great way to take a virtual tour of the city's gardens.

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Urban & Green Newsletter.

The spring 2010 issue of BNAN's Urban & Green Newsletter is available online. Included in the newsletter are BNAN spring events and programs. Read it to find out what's happening in Boston's Community Gardens, Urban Wilds and along the Neponset and East Boston Greenways. Click here for current and past newsletters.

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