OK, folks, I'm adding a new working tray to the vermicomposter today. The biggest challenge was to keep the messiness at bay. The layering system on the new tray starts with food as the trick is for the worms to smell new food and migrate upwards as they finish the food in the first tray. Therefore, the food has to go on the bottom....but the bottom is full of holes to allow migration....oh boy... and so I put some shredded packing material (thank you Rebecca) in first to minimize leakage. I then added foodscraps, eggshells, tea bags and leaves and coffeegrounds, the coir and pumice and the skeleton of my rosemary plant. Sadly, (after two years of successfully overwintering in a pot) it's allotted time on this earth ran out. I got some fallen oak leaves and grass clippings from the yard to add to the bedding material and topped everything off with shredded newspapers and wet sheets of newspaper. I kept the tray in a plastic kitchen bag while I was doing this and have transported it to the library successfully. So here goes... I'm really looking forward to using the finished vermicompost this spring which I understand to be "black gold."
Thursday, December 29, 2011
New Working Tray Added to Worm Bin
OK, folks, I'm adding a new working tray to the vermicomposter today. The biggest challenge was to keep the messiness at bay. The layering system on the new tray starts with food as the trick is for the worms to smell new food and migrate upwards as they finish the food in the first tray. Therefore, the food has to go on the bottom....but the bottom is full of holes to allow migration....oh boy... and so I put some shredded packing material (thank you Rebecca) in first to minimize leakage. I then added foodscraps, eggshells, tea bags and leaves and coffeegrounds, the coir and pumice and the skeleton of my rosemary plant. Sadly, (after two years of successfully overwintering in a pot) it's allotted time on this earth ran out. I got some fallen oak leaves and grass clippings from the yard to add to the bedding material and topped everything off with shredded newspapers and wet sheets of newspaper. I kept the tray in a plastic kitchen bag while I was doing this and have transported it to the library successfully. So here goes... I'm really looking forward to using the finished vermicompost this spring which I understand to be "black gold."
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
A few simple hints
It is my experience that it is best to do the simple things first. Your Sagewell report may show heat loss through your windows. First go around and check to make sure all your windows are tightly shut and locked. This will help. Also your air-conditioner should be removed or covered.
Save money and time with the laundry process, by first making the determination whether an item is really in need of washing. Teach kids not to automatically throw clothes in the hamper or on the floor. You'll be surprised at how much difference this makes. Even cutting back one load of wash a week saves water, power, and your time folding and putting away.
Thinking differently by questioning your habits is a great way to start saving energy and making a difference.
More ideas can be found in It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living by Crissy Trask at http://tinyurl.com/ckscsbp
Save money and time with the laundry process, by first making the determination whether an item is really in need of washing. Teach kids not to automatically throw clothes in the hamper or on the floor. You'll be surprised at how much difference this makes. Even cutting back one load of wash a week saves water, power, and your time folding and putting away.
Thinking differently by questioning your habits is a great way to start saving energy and making a difference.
More ideas can be found in It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living by Crissy Trask at http://tinyurl.com/ckscsbp
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
If you had your home thermal imaged, you will get a letter soon!
Thanks to Barbara, Rebecca, Sue, Karen, Dede, and Tara, we prepared the mailing yesterday and I took it to the post office today. There is a whole lot of information on this one piece of paper...so be sure to read it!
Many thanks to our partners: The Institute of Museum and Library Services, Sagewell, Inc., Hamilton Wenham GREEN, and Choice Graphics.
Dave Rattigan wrote a very informative article in the Boston Globe about the Sagewell Thermal Imaging Project. To access it through the library's electronic resources go to Proquest and type "Sagewell" in the search box. The title of the article is Feeling the Draft.
To access Proquest from our website go to http://www.hwlibrary.org/ and choose the Research Tab> Choose Electronic Resources> Scroll to Newspapers> Click on Boston Globe and Search for Sagewell.
Use this resource to search for all sorts of newspaper articles!
Many thanks to our partners: The Institute of Museum and Library Services, Sagewell, Inc., Hamilton Wenham GREEN, and Choice Graphics.
Dave Rattigan wrote a very informative article in the Boston Globe about the Sagewell Thermal Imaging Project. To access it through the library's electronic resources go to Proquest and type "Sagewell" in the search box. The title of the article is Feeling the Draft.
To access Proquest from our website go to http://www.hwlibrary.org/ and choose the Research Tab> Choose Electronic Resources> Scroll to Newspapers> Click on Boston Globe and Search for Sagewell.
Use this resource to search for all sorts of newspaper articles!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Thermal Imaging Letter with list of upcoming Green Programs
Collaboration is exciting! The Hamilton-Wenham Library, Hamilton Wenham GREEN, and Sagewell, Inc. are working together to alert 1500 homeowners that their home's thermal imaging data and custom reports are available at www.sagewell.com/hw.
We'll be sending out 1500 letters on Monday. Look for your letter! An extensive list of riveting upcoming programs are also enclosed. Thanks to our LSTA Green Grant, we have many opportunities for folks to learn about saving energy, conserving resources, and saving money.
Here's a quick rundown:
We'll be sending out 1500 letters on Monday. Look for your letter! An extensive list of riveting upcoming programs are also enclosed. Thanks to our LSTA Green Grant, we have many opportunities for folks to learn about saving energy, conserving resources, and saving money.
Here's a quick rundown:
Feb 15 7 PM Reducing Toxins in Your Home with Heidi Wilcox of TURI Labs
Feb 29 7:30 PM Energy Retrofits and the Historic Home: Weighing Risks and Opportunities with Sally Zimmerman
March 6 7 PM Repair of Wooden Windows with Window Woman of New England
March 7 7 PM Dirt on Your Hands, Soil in the Garden with Betty Sanders
March 29 7:30 PM at Gordon College
Dr. Gordon Sato. Growing corn in the Manzanar Internment Camp fostered his passion to plant mangroves in Eritrea , Africa and alleviate the hunger crisis.
April 4 7 PM Healthy Lawns and Lawn Alternatives with Betty Sanders
April 11 6:30 PM Vermicomposting with Lisa Spence
Summer 2012 Sunflower Growing Contest
Hope to see you at the library.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Homemade Yogurt
I started buying Jersey milk from Appleton Farm in Ipswich. So good and so local! It is available at Appleton Farm and at Green Meadow Farm. I grew up with Jersey cows, so I was excited about this. The milk comes in glass bottles. There is a $2 deposit for the bottle, so don't put it in your recycling bin. Please rinse and return it to the Farmstand. Learn more about the milk
Last week I made a wonderful batch of yogurt. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my yogurt came out fine sitting overnight in a cooler with jars of hot water. No need to buy a yogurt maker.
For more information about making yogurt, kefir and chevre go to http://find.galegroup.com/menu/commonmenu.do?userGroupName=mlin_n_hamwen Type "how to make yogurt." The article I found was How to make your own yogurt, kefir, chevre: tap the benefits of delicious fermented milk products. Mother Earth News. .208 (February-March 2005) p116. Word Count: 1529.
Last week I made a wonderful batch of yogurt. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my yogurt came out fine sitting overnight in a cooler with jars of hot water. No need to buy a yogurt maker.
For more information about making yogurt, kefir and chevre go to http://find.galegroup.com/menu/commonmenu.do?userGroupName=mlin_n_hamwen Type "how to make yogurt." The article I found was How to make your own yogurt, kefir, chevre: tap the benefits of delicious fermented milk products. Mother Earth News. .208 (February-March 2005) p116. Word Count: 1529.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Yikes! Pumpkins!
Well, I'm learning every day more about vermicomposting. Mainly, what NOT to do. I grew Long Pie Pumpkins this summer both at home and in Vermont. 
I have tons of these luscious pumpkins that look like orange zucchinis. While making pies, breads, stews etc. I threw some pumpkin innards into the Worm Factory 360. WOW! The seeds sprouted and mighty little guys that they are, in their quest for light, they were trying to open the bin. So, yesterday I opened up the bin, performed surgery, and now we are back to normal. Phew!
Lesson learned: All pumpkins seeds should be roasted for human consumption or pulverized before feeding the worms!
I have tons of these luscious pumpkins that look like orange zucchinis. While making pies, breads, stews etc. I threw some pumpkin innards into the Worm Factory 360. WOW! The seeds sprouted and mighty little guys that they are, in their quest for light, they were trying to open the bin. So, yesterday I opened up the bin, performed surgery, and now we are back to normal. Phew!Lesson learned: All pumpkins seeds should be roasted for human consumption or pulverized before feeding the worms!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Library awarded LSTA "How Green is My Library" Grant
Our goal is to help you find information about saving energy and greening your home. Join us October 1 at 9:30 a.m. for the Zip It Up: Everything you wanted to know about weatherizing your home but didn't know who to ask event.
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