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Sneaking Food

Have Your Garden and Eat It Too

Do you want your garden to fit in to your community, fulfilling your own and your neighbors’ sense of esthetics? Do you find you also wish to grow more food on your property?

These are the issues Demetra Tseckares, of Gardens by Demetra, will explore with the audience at her upcoming talk, Sneaking Food.

Demetra notes that many people look to their gardens to be a source of food or food knowledge for their families. Some want their kids to know that strawberries and beans come from plants—not the store. Others want to farm their third- or quarter-acre suburban plot and feed their families. Others just want to have some basil and tomatoes in the summer. But a tension exists between that and wanting a beautifully presented landscape. Can edibles play nicely with ornamentals? Can they be one and the same?

This talk is aimed at people who want to “farm” their yards without putting in a dedicated vegetable garden, notes Demetra. She will explore simple strategies to “sneak in” veggies and fruits to an existing landscape. She’ll talk about basic landscape “rules,” and breaking them.

Issues brought by audience members will also be discussed.

Join Demetra and stock up on great ideas to add beauty and deliciousness to your gardens. The talk, hosted by Sustainable Winchester, will take place on Wednesday, February 15, at 7:00 p.m. at the Winchester Public Library.

Green Roofs and Rainwater Management

Sustainable Winchester presents Winchester resident Mark Winterer in a talk on green roofs.

Winchester Public Library, Monday, January 23, starting at 7:00 p.m.

There will be time for questions—bring your queries and join the lively discussion.

Because of Winchester’s history of flooding, Mark will present green roofs within the context of rainwater management. Such systems help counteract the problem of rainwater runoff where surroundings are largely covered with impermeable surfaces such as concrete and asphalt.

Mark will explore different stormwater management practices while narrowing his focus to green roofs. Green roofs offer an effective solution while addressing other impacts of development including food-supply issues.

Mark is the Director of Operations for Recover Green Roofs, a company dedicated to minimizing the impact of development by building green roofs throughout New England.

Other talks in the winter talk series include “Sneaking Food: Have Your Garden and Eat It Too” by Demetra Tseckares, of Gardens by Demetra, on February 15 and “Food Security Issues” with Jennifer Obadia, PhD, Tufts University, on March 27.

The Winter Talk Series is brought to you by Sustainable Winchester. For more information, contact Fred Yen, fredyen@winchesterfarmersmarket.net

Looking for Volunteers The organizers of the Fourth Annual Winchester Environmental Fair are welcoming volunteers to help set up on the morning of the fair, assist exhibitors in setting up, and help break down after the event is over. You can lend a hand for as little as one hour. Sign up to volunteer for this event at www1.mysignup.com/environmentalfair2011

Learn more about the fair at www.sustainablewinchester.org/envfair11.

The Environmental Fair will be on October 15 from 9:30 to 2:00 on the Town Common. The rain date is October 22.

Indoor Farmers Market This Saturday (11/20)

The last Winchester Farmers Market of the 2010 season will be a special indoor market this Saturday, November 20 at the Parish of the Epiphany, 70 Church Street, from 9:30 to 1:30. The indoor market will be a great opportunity to buy local foods and produce right before Thanksgiving as well as to get a start on holiday shopping. Free child care will be available for children under 7 years old, who can stay busy with toys, games, and crafts downstairs at the church while their parent shop at the market.

Most of the regular market farmers and vendors will be at the indoor market, as well as several artists from the Winchester Artists Network.
 

Environmental Fair on the Common, October 16, 9:30-3:00

Winchester's third annual environmental fair will be held alongside the farmers market this Saturday, October 16 from 9:30 to 3:00. Be sure to visit all of the interesting exhibitors and events at the fair while you are on the common at the market! The fair will also include several lectures taking place inside the First Congregational Church.