Environment

Arnold Arboretum Weld Hill Solar Project Feted by City, Harvard Officials

By |

With the flip of a switch, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and the city of Boston illuminated a new chapter in their 137-year partnership and celebrated the nearly complete Weld Hill Solar Project, the latest advancement of their shared vision for a more sustainable future. At a “switch-throwing” ceremony at the Arboretum’s Weld Hill on Sept. 12, Harvard President Larry Bacow; Boston Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space Christopher Cook; and Arboretum Director William “Ned” Friedman spoke to members of the University, the city of Boston, and the community about a unified commitment to mitigating climate change and maintaining a forward-focused dedication to conservation and the preservation of nature by utilizing fossil-free renewable alternatives for energy. “Climate change is a challenge for all society and each and every one us bears a personal responsibility for what we can do individually,” Bacow said. “But we also have an institutional responsibility as a university, through our teaching, through our scholarship, and through how we run the institution.

645 Views
Environment

Arnold Arboretum Fights Flora with Fauna

By |

The Greeks knew it takes a thief to catch a thief. Today, taking a page from the ancients, scientists at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University are using one foreigner to combat another, but in this case it’s fauna against flora. The target: swallow-wort, or Vincetoxicum nigrum or V. rossicum, a weed that is no stranger (or friend) to city gardeners or country strollers. Cambridge, in fact, distributes flyers asking residents to yank the seed pods when they see them; in woodsier suburbs, whole trees can be swamped with the climber.

613 Views
Environment

Next Jamaica Plain Fixit Clinic is September 14

By |

Calling all broken toys, computers, lamps and more -- the next Jamaica Plain Fixit Clinic is September 14. The clinic is great way to stop things from being tossed into the landfill. Just bring your broken household items with any manuals (if you still got them), and a willingness to learn. Tools and volunteer coaches will provide their knowledge to help fix a variety of things. Bikes and skateboards, clothing and fabric items, computers and phones, toys and wooden items, small kitchen appliances, small electrical devices, jewelry, lamps and a lot more.

446 Views
Environment

Jamaica Plain Mothers Demand National Grid Fix Dangerous Gas Leaks

By |

Members of the Jamaica Plain chapter of Mothers Out Front recently came together at a large natural gas leak to protest the dangerousness of gas leaks and the ineptness of gas company, National Grid. "National Grid agreed to address large volume leaks but aren't keeping their promise, on our health, our dime and our kids' future," said Claire Humphrey. The mothers started off at the Curtis Hall Community Center on July 25, and then went to a large gas leak across from the Pine Village Preschool on South Street. The organization called on National Grid to honor their 2017 commitment to fix large gas leaks as part of the company's shared action plan with Columbia Gas, Eversource, Home Energy Efficiency Team, and more. Since then, National Grid has not fulfilled their commitment, said Mothers Out Front.

869 Views