Commonwealth Conversations: The Great Outdoors

To “Happy Valley” for Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins...and Barley.

Anna Waclawiczek

Chief of Staff, Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR)

View Anna's Bio

Sara Grimaldi & Cheryl Fletcher

They don’t call it the “Happy Valley” for nothing! The Pioneer Valley made up of three counties: Franklin, Hampden & Hampshire; collectively feature much of New England's most fertile farmland. Nestled along the Connecticut River this region is known for its scenery and as a vacation destination, however its agricultural heritage dates back to the 1600’s. On a recent beautiful fall weekend, Agricultural Markets Program Coordinator Julia Grimaldi traveled west from Boston to pick pumpkins and celebrate a lesser known but emerging crop, barley.

Her first stop, with niece in tow, was to Fletcher Family Farm in Southampton, a dairy farm that also offers a pumpkin patch with pick-your-own pumpkins and a seasonal farm stand. Bob and Cheryl Fletcher along with their three children, Nicole, Elizabeth & Mathew farm over 100 acres of land. They are the recipients of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ Agricultural Improvement Program Grant resulting in a new modern dairy facility completed in spring 2011 and in 2010 they received NECN favorite distinction award for “Best Pumpkin Patch in New England”.  Pick up a MassGrown & Fresher pumpkin at a local farmers’ market (most are opened through Thanksgiving week) a farm stand near you, or at a number of pick-your-own pumpkin patches.

Ben Pratt, Ben Roesch and Tyler Fitzpatrick, brewers from Wormtown Brewery, Worcester

The fall’s foliage complemented Valley Malt’s 2nd year anniversary party at the 1^st annual “Barleyfest” at the Young Men’s Club in Hadley. Valley Malt‘s goal is to reintroduce small grains and hops to the area and produce beer that would possess the unique characteristics and flavor from grains and hops grown on native “Valley” soil.  This year’s celebration featured eight beers all produced with malt made from a combination of Massachusetts hops and grains.

The festival also featured Four Star Farms from Northfield who produce sustainably grown sod, hops and small grains, an antique tractor show, wood fired pizza made with local wheat, apple cider donuts and kettle corn from the North Hadley Sugar Shack, home brew demos, and lives music.

Weekly Outdoor Events - October 29-November 4: Discover, Explore, Learn

Jenny Dranetz

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Jenny's Bio

Transitioning from fall to winter presents new opportunities to experience the outdoors. This week, discover, explore, and learn about the wilderness around you.

See Borderland State Park like never before! Attend the Full Moon Hike on Monday, October 29 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Participate in the 3-mile walk lit by the beautiful full moon. Plus, join the group for some delicious apple cider afterward.

Curious about the deer and wild turkeys you see each fall? Attend the Deer Trails & Turkey Tails interpretive program at Borderland State Park. Learn more about these animals and then get out on the trails to explore their habitat on Saturday, November 3, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am.

Also on Saturday, learn about other wild animals and their transition into winter with the Tracking Wildlife: Preparing for Winter program. Identify tracks and other wildlife activity during this two hour walk from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at F. Glibert Hills State Forest. Space is limited so make sure you pre-register!

For more great events happening this and every week, check out our outdoors calendar for events near you.

Think Coastal, Act Global

Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr.

Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

View Secretary Sullivan's Bio

On October 11, 2012, the Boston skies were a brilliant blue, the temperatures hovered in the mid-60s, and the local weather forecast called for nothing but sun and blue skies all day long. For those wanting to extend summer, all signs pointed to a great beach day.  Or, as 215 students from the Josiah Quincy Upper School in Chinatown were about to find out, a great day for a beach cleanup - the 25th COASTSWEEP cleanup, to be exact. This annual state-wide cleanup organized by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and UMass-Boston’s Urban Harbors Institute takes place at beaches and waterways all over the state during September and October.

 

Along with teachers and parent volunteers, the group combed the beach looking for things that did not belong on the shores. Call it marine debris or plain old trash, the kids collected and catalogued more than 100 pounds of man-made materials, including 406 beverage cans and bottles, 229 food wrappers/containers, random pieces of plastic and metal toys, some shotgun casings, and more than 350 smoking-related items (including cigar tips and cigarette butts, lighters, and packaging). In the “other” category, volunteers found an aluminum cane, a chop stick, broken toys, and two car tires.

 

Carson Beach is one of 186 Massachusetts cleanup spots. And, in addition to helping the beach look a whole lot prettier, the data collected during COASTSWEEP are used as part of a global effort—114 countries around the world participate—to learn more about the sources of marine debris to keep the shores of our beaches, oceans, lakes, streams, and rivers clean. Since 1987, the Ocean Conservancy has recorded every cigarette butt and grand piano that has been removed during the International Cleanup so that ocean managers and policy makers can make informed decisions. (For example, due to the large amount of plastic bags found during cleanups, Italy and San Francisco banned single-use plastic bags, and Ireland added a shopping bag tax that reduced bag use by 90 %.)

Lastly, as the old adage goes, when you go to the beach, take only pictures and leave only footprints. (In other words, please take your trash with you when you go and encourage others to do the same!)

   There is still time to get involved in a local COASTSWEEP cleanup—for a list of cleanups, check out COASTSWEEP2012 Cleanups. 

And for more facts about COASTSWEEP, check out CZM’s “25 Years of Sweeping the Shores of Marine Debris.”

Weekly Outdoor Events - October 22-28: Outdoor Family Fun!

Jenny Dranetz

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Jenny's Bio

Bring your entire family outside this week to experience nature. Here are some events everyone will enjoy:

Start out your family filled weekend on Thursday, October 25 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm with the Tales of the Night event at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary. Take a haunted hayride or explore the spooky candlelit paths by foot. And if you’re not too scared, pick up some witch’s brew and snacks from the ghoulish graveyard and then head over to the Creepy Critter Mansion. Costumes encouraged!

On Sunday, October 28, come to Borderland State Park for the Family Autumn Hike. Experience the peak of fall foliage with your family! From 10:00 am to 11:30 am, enjoy a three mile, easy to moderate hike appropriate for all ages.

And don’t forget another important part of your family…your dog! Dress up your furry family member for the second annual “Howl”-o-ween Canine Costume Parade held on Sunday, October 28. Bring the whole family to Borderland State Park from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm. Get creative with your canine’s costume for a chance to win exciting prizes! 

For more great events happening this and every week, check out our outdoors calendar for events near you.

Weekly outdoor events October 15-21

Jenny Dranetz

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Jenny's Bio

This week offers a variety of outdoor events ranging from the hills to the beach to the starry night sky! 

Get outdoors mid-week with the weekly Nice & Easy Hike program. Join the group on Wednesday, October 17, at 10:00 am for a one to two mile, easy-pace walk at the Mount Greylock State Reservation. All ages are welcome, and seniors are especially encouraged to participate.

Before you celebrate Halloween, celebrate the 25th anniversary of COASTSWEEP, Massachusetts’ coastal cleanup program! On Saturday, October 20, help clean up Lynn and Nahant Beaches from 9:00 am to 11:00 am or Revere Beach from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Meet at either the Ward Bathhouse in Lynn or the William G. Reinstein Bandstand in Revere.

Just in time for Halloween, the 11th Annual Neponset Pumpkin Float is happening on Saturday, October 20. Put your own carved pumpkin on display as it floats down Davenport Creek! Come to Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester at 5:30 pm to check-in and watch the float begin at 6:00 pm. Bonus points to anyone who wears a costume!

Sky’s the limit when it comes to enjoying the outdoors! On Sunday, October 21, admire the stars from Borderland State Park during their special Astronomy Night. Star gazing beings at 7:00 pm with high-powered telescopes available to examine everything from constellations to the moon. 

For more great events happening this and every week, check out our outdoors calendar for events near you.

 

Weekly Outdoor Events: Explore Fall!

Reginald Zimmerman

Assistant Press Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Reginald's Bio

Nothing’s better than taking a walk on a crisp, fall day surrounded by beautiful scenery. Check out the following programs that get you outside to experience fall.

Take part in the Southeastern Massachusetts Adult Walking Club’s Let’s Take a Walk! program and join them on their weekly walk each Saturday. On October 13 at 1:00 pm, meet at the Wompatuck State Park in Hingham for an easy 2-mile trip around Triphammer Pond. All walkers ages 16 and older are invited to participate.

Attend the Wild Edibles Walk in Massasoit State Park on Sunday, October 14 from 9:00-10:30 am to experience which wild plants you can eat and what you can do with them! Adults and children accompanied by adults can attend and should meet at the main parking lot at 1361 Middleboro Avenue in East Taunton.

If you’re still hungry for more information, take a short break from walking and head over to Dighton Rock State Park to learn about the history of cranberry bogs and agriculture. Sit outside and enjoy the Cannonballs & Cranberries program from 1:00-2:00 pm on Sunday, October 14.

Celebrate the Cranberry Harvest!

Reginald Zimmerman

Assistant Press Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Reginald's Bio

Thanks to Illissa Palmer, our intern from Simmons College for her contributions to this blog about Massachusetts cranberries! Enjoy!

Did you know that Massachusetts is one of the largest cranberry producers in the country?! This year’s bountiful crop will yield one of the largest harvests on record and will have you seeing red…in a good way. Many believe that cranberries grow in water, but surprise! They grow on vines and contain small pockets of air, which is why they float. Now is the time for the everyday person to take part in their own personal cranberry adventure. The cranberry was made for more than just sauce on the holiday dinner table, and should be enjoyed all year round.

Massachusetts is home to about 469 hard-working cranberry farms with over 14,000 acres of bog, with 16 farms open to the public for exploration. See the bog, speak with harvesters, purchase berries, products, and join in seasonal festivities. Slip on some waders, splash into the bog, and help with the harvest for the “be the grower” experience. Most farms host school, youth or private groups and are handicapped accessible. To find a bog near you visit http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/index.htm. There are acres to choose from!

The annual Cranberry Harvest Celebration in Wareham is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to get to know the fruit and the farmers. This year, the 9th anniversary celebration takes place Columbus Day weekend; October 6 & 7 from 10am-4pm. Featuring  guided tours, helicopter rides, artist/craft vendors, live entertainment, pony and train rides, cooking demonstrations, bounce house, and food vendors, the festival is fun and educational, allowing celebrators to engage in the unique world of cranberry-growing while enjoying the scenic autumn outdoors. It also serves as an annual fundraiser for local non-profit organizations. Visit www.cranberryharvest.org.

Historically the cranberry was used medicinally to treat wounds, diabetes, liver problems, and stomach ailments. It is a nutritional and antibacterial powerhouse high in vitamins C and K, manganese, and fiber, with phytochemicals that may protect the body’s cells from damage and disease. Cranberries may be beneficial for stomach, heart, and dental health, kidney stones, yeast infections, cataracts, cognitive decline, cholesterol and cancer prevention. To yield health benefits, consuming 1 ½ c. of fresh or frozen, 1 oz. dried, ½ c. cooked berries, or 4-6 oz. of juice daily is suggested.

Don’t wait for Thanksgiving!  Incorporate these ruby red gems into your mealtime with these recipes for Cranberry Avocado Salsa and Grilled Portabella Mushrooms with Cranberry and Sausage Stuffing, courtesy of the CCCGA at www.cranberries.org. Enjoy fresh from the bog cranberries now, and frozen or dried year round. Attend the harvest celebration, visit a farm for an agritourism outing, or cook up something new and enticing this fall season! Deepen your knowledge, nourish your body, and tickle your taste buds as often as possible this cranberry season!