Wed, July 18, 2007
"On Thin Ice": Scientist Who Discovered Accelerated Melting of Greenland Glaciers to Speak at Mass Audubon, South Wellfleet, MA. - Dr. Gordon Hamilton of University of Maine's Climate Change Institute will be speaking at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Hamilton, along with Ph.D. Student Leigh Sterns, discovered the accelerated melting of glaciers in Greenland. The Greenland Ice Sheet contains enough water that if completely melted would raise global sea levels by ~7 meters. Call 508 349-2615 for details

Thurs, July 26, 2007
An Osprey Odyssey: Author David Gessner will discuss his book, "Soaring with Fidel: An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and Beyond," an irreverent, absorbing, and insightful tale of one man's adventures following the great 7,000-mile osprey migration across two continents. Lecture will take place at 4:00 p.m., in Redfield Auditorium, Water Street, Woods Hole. Admission is free. Sponsored by the Woods Hole Library (508-548-8961) and Woods Hole Sea Grant (508-289-2398).

Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary is looking for a few good volunteers! We need desk receptionists willing to commit to a minimum of 4 hours per month. Answer phones, greet visitors, register public programs and new Mass Audubon memberships, and handle cash/credit cards sales for admissions and shop sales. If you are enthusiastic, love nature and enjoying working with people and can help, please call Marion Hammond 508-627-4850 ext 101.

EOEEA is now seeking proposals for the FY08 Conservation Partnership Grant Program. Grants of up to $60,000 are available to help nonprofit organizations acquire land suitable for conservation or recreation. Final grant awards will be continent upon funding. Two grant workshops will be held on July 25 in Sutton and on July 26 in Boston. To get more information, including the Request for Responses (RFR), see the Comm-PASS website and search for document number “ENV 08 POL 03.” Proposals are due by September 20.

Wed, July 11, On Island Writing, Show 107, Talking with Marnie Stanton, 8PM Channel 13. News about the Vineyard Conservation Almanac and more.

Biologist Edward O. Wilson Warns of a Bleak World Without Bugs

You may have heard of the nematode, that microscopic gelatinous worm in your garden soil, but did you know that four out of every five living creatures on Earth is a nematode? The whole bloody planet is crawling.

A gram of soil might also contain 5,000 species of bacteria and untold fungi in a secret universe separated only by the soles of our shoes and our sad ignorance of our global home. These and other marvelous revelations come from the celebrated Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson, who was in town this week as lawmakers, government officials and scientists took a little time away from pressing matters of state to consider . . . the plight and the future of bugs. Laughable? No, don't dis bugs -- your very life depends on them, it turns out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/
content/article/2007/06/29/AR2007062902334.html

Farmers get stability, consumers get the freshest food

Dave Purpura knew he always wanted to be a farmer. But when the time came for him to make good on his dream and begin growing organic produce on five acres in Middleborough, he jumped in without fully understanding the business.

http://www.boston.com/business/globe/
articles/2007/07/05/making_agriculture_a_community_effort/

Join our own Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm right here on the Vineyard. Shares for the summer are still available. Call 508-693-5995 to sign up today.

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. It's 7:30 on a muggy summer morning and Rich Staudt is brewing up some tea before he heads out for work.

He has the bag, he has the water. But this isn't an ordinary cup of tea: Think bacteria, fungi, protozoa and other compost ingredients stuffed in what looks like a windsock inside a 22-gallon drum in his garage. The molasses-colored "compost tea" will soon end up on his customer's well-manicured Long Island lawns.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/
local/sfl-flzlawns0703nbjul03,0,998306.story?coll=sfla-business-headlines

DNA hints warm era didn't melt entire cap

An international team of scientists, drilling deep into the ice layers of Greenland, has found DNA from ancient spiders and trees, evidence that suggests the frozen shield covering the immense island survived the earth's last period of global warming.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/
articles/2007/07/06/greenland_ice_yields_hope_on_climate/