[highland-conservancy] HC March E-newsletter - Toads, Snakes and Gardens

[highland-conservancy at hyrule.one-point.com]

Highland Conservancy E-Newsletter
March 8, 2009
Spring is almost here!
 
Growing Vegetables in your back yard
The Highland Beautification group is hosting a workshop on growing a successful vegetable garden. Learn about preparing the soil, planting in pots, growing from seeds and much more!  Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30pm at the Highland Township Senior Center, 209 N. John Street.  Tickets are $5. For info, call Judy Kiley 248-887-3791 ext. 135.  
 

Basic Composting 
On Sat. March 28, 9-noon MSU is hosting a class on basic composting at the Oakland County Conf. Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford 48328.  Cost of $20 includes breakfast.  Call Linda Smith with questions 248-858-0887.

Toad Abodes
What do I love most about being in the garden?  The toads, snakes, and critters!  A fun project to do with any age right about now is to make a toad abode.  Toads enjoy a nice dark covered area to hide in.  You can put out a broken clay pot, just turn it on its side.  Or, you can make a much more elaborate house from stones and cement, wood, or clay.  Then find a shady, moist spot and place your toad home there.  Add a bowl to catch rainwater and they'll be all set. The good news is they will eat up pests like cutworms, ants, beetles and bugs.
 
Want to see live corn snakes?
Now that I have your attention, please mark your calendar to bring the family to Huron Valley’s Earth Festival on Sunday, April 19 noon-4 at the Milford YMCA.  We will have a booth with albino corn snakes and other critters to hold or wrap around your neck.  (No, they don’t bite).  There will be all kinds of earth friendly games, art projects and activities.  So come join us in celebrating earth day.  For more info email hurongreen at gmail.com 
 
Green Schools in Huron Valley?
“Hey, don’t throw that paper away – you can recycle it!” cried a fourth grade art student during cleanup.  Oxbow Elementary has recently worked hard to become a “green” school by recycling paper, printer cartridges, reusing all kinds of materials for classroom assignments and installing solar panels in a fifth grade classroom. The students and teachers have taken the essential parts of the program to heart!  Most impressive was when I walked past Mr. McAuliffe’s fifth grade class and saw them taking apart old VCR players and using the internal parts to create motorcycle models (wired to actually move) and jewelry.  Peaking further inside the room, I saw wooden cigar boxes being used as habitats for mealy worms. (Did you know they change into beetles?)  I returned to my room where we were putting the finishing layers on papier-mâché moons using strips of newspaper dipped in slimy flour paste.  A number of Huron Valley Schools have applied to this outstanding program, established by the Oakland County’s Waste Resource Management.  Last year 45 schools throughout Oakland County participated in this new initiative to teach children how to be more environmentally friendly. Visit: www.oakgov.com/waste/green_schools/ for more info.  For articles on green schools, visit our blog at www.highlandconservancy.typepad.com 
Thanks to those who have renewed their membership already.  We appreciate your support.
Katheryn Krupa, Editor  artfingers at comcast.net 
www.highlandconservancy.org 
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