Dear Friends and Acton Conservation Trust Members,
The following news and events may be of interest:
Thursday, July 20-August 13
Riverfest 2023
To view all the events, visit https://www.sudbury-assabet-concord.org/riverfest-2023.php
Come, Connect, and Experience your local wild and scenic rivers! A Riverfest Summer!
Enjoy free hikes, paddles, walks, music, and family fun all summer long in this annual celebration of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic River. Explore all the rivers have to offer, just west of Boston!
Sunday, July 23
Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market – October 15
Elm Street Playground, West Acton
10 AM – 1 PM
Join us for our 15th season of promoting good food and supporting sustainable agriculture.
Visit http://www.abfarmersmarket.org for more information
Monday, July 24
Sunset Art Hike at Fruitlands with Rachel Hayes
6:30-8:30PM
Fruitlands Museum,102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard, MA 01451
Join exhibiting artist, Rachel Hayes at Fruitlands Museum for a hike and a gathering to celebrate her new outdoor piece “The Edge of Becoming,” taking in expansive views from the Fruitlands hilltop as the sun sets over the Nashua Valley.
We will hike from the center of the museum campus up to the overlook where we will toast to the occasion. Please pre-register for this intimate gathering on the trails. The hike will be less than a mile and include moderate uphill climbs and some uneven terrain.
Register at https://tickets.thetrustees.org/calendar/64a6e5dde3
Contact 978.228.5193
Wednesday, July 26
Energize Acton Climate Café Go Solar! Acton Homeowners Share Their Stories
5:00-6:00pm
Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St, Acton, MA
Matt Liebman, who has solar on his own home and who spearheaded the solar carports at Congregation Beth Elohim, will lead this discussion. If you like $0.00 electricity bills or the thrill of checking daily solar output, then stop by! Part of the summer Climate Café series co-sponsored by the Acton Memorial Library. For more info, go to EnergizeActon.org
Wednesday, July 26
Sudbury Valley Trustees Ice Cream Social Member Appreciation
5:00 – 6:30 pm
Wolbach Farm, 18 Wolbach Rd, Sudbury, MA
Please register by July 19 at https://svticecream2023.funraise.org/
Take this opportunity to meet Lindsey Ketchel, SVT’s new Executive Director.
Tuesday, August 1
The Full Sturgeon Moon followed by a full Blue Moon on Wednesday, August 30.
August’s full Moon was traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer.
What Is a Sturgeon?
These prehistoric-looking fish have been traced back to around 136 million years ago and many people call them “living fossils.”
Females require around 20 years to start reproducing, and they can only reproduce every 4 years. However, they can live up to 150 years!
Today, there are about 29 species worldwide, including the lake sturgeon found in the Great Lakes. They have evolved in size from the size of a bass to monster sturgeon as big as a Volkswagen.
The lake sturgeon is quite rare today, due to intense overfishing in the 19th century, pollution, and damage to their habitat.
Females require around 20 years to start reproducing, and they can only reproduce every 4 years. However, they can live up to 150 years! This information is taken from https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-august
Wednesday, August 2
Energize Acton Climate Café – State and Federal Incentives for Green Technology
5:00-6:00pm
Acton Memorial Library Outdoors, 486 Main St., Acton
There are HUGE opportunities now to save money on clean energy technologies, but all the programs and requirements can be confusing. Energize Acton will present a clear outline of what is available now from the state and the federal government, what is in the pipeline, who is eligible, and how to layer savings by technology. Part of the summer Climate Café series, co-sponsored by the Acton Memorial Library. For more info, go to EnergizeActon.org
Wednesday, August 9
Energize Acton Climate Café – A Celebration of Plant-Based Food!
6:00-8:00pm
NARA Park Pavilion, 25 Ledge Rock Way, Acton
This is the event we are truly anticipating! No statistics, no large expenses! Instead, this is a celebration of our land and the amazing world of plants. Eating more plant-based meals is something that all of us can do to help reduce the intensity of climate change. So please prepare your favorite plant-based dish and join the potluck party at the NARA Park Pavilion. (Please note the venue and time change.) If you need menu ideas, the library has a cookbook at the Reference Desk called River Cottage VEG with great recipe suggestions. Need more inspiration? Kitchen Outfitters is selling The Gaining Ground Table, a wonderful local cookbook with yummy vegetarian recipes. Or bring your vegetarian favorite. Besides your food contribution, please bring two copies of your recipe. We look forward to seeing you for good conversation and delicious food! For more info, go to EnergizeActon.org
Climate Cafe Schedule for August
Aug. 16, 23, 30: Topics to be announced
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Sign up to volunteer at BAG, https://www.bagetc.org/gleanlist.php
Thursday, July 20th
9:00am – 12:00pm: TBD!
Location: TBD!
Friday, July 21st
9:00am – 12:00pm: TBD!
Location: TBD!
Friday, July 21st
10:00am – 1:00pm: Zucchini and Cucumber Harvest
Location: Ipswich, MA
Friday, July 21st
1:30pm – 4:00pm: Wash and Pack Produce
Location: Acton, MA
Saturday, July 22nd
10:00am – 1:00pm: Zucchini and Cucumber Harvest
Location: Dover, MA
*Please join the waitlist if a trip is full! Not only will this help us gauge interest moving forward, but if someone is unable to attend who had previously committed, and depending on your place on the waitlist, you will be automatically added to the roster.
Don’t forget: The most up-to-date trip information is always on the website. We may post trips after the weekly email goes out. To stay in the loop about last-minute calls for volunteers, you can join our volunteer emergency text list!
News:
Community members in Lincoln and surrounding towns are organizing against the planned expansion of Hanscom Airport. To learn more about their efforts and to get involved, visit https://www.stopprivatejetexpansion.org
Walden Pond in Concord
7 am-7 pm
915 Walden St.
walden.pond@state.ma.us; 978-369-3254, bridal paths, and farm roads.
Boat ramp Sunday – Saturday: 5 AM – 7 PM.
Parking: MA resident $8; Non-MA resident: $30
Annual and senior passes NOT sold in park, click here to purchase an annual pass, click here to purchase a senior pass.
Sincerely,
Susan Mitchell-Hardt
President, Acton Conservation Trust
www.ActonConservationTrust.org
P.S. Welcome new “Events of Interest” subscribers! As a nonprofit organization focused on conserving land in Acton, we rely upon the support of our members. Visit our ACT website, and click on “Join Us”!