CHEARS, the CHesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society

Chesapeake Forest Gardens A Permaculture Design Certificate Course Gain knowledge of local ecology & confidence in ecological design Experience a design process from start to finish of a site of your choosing Empower yourself as a steward of land regeneration & ecosystem health Enhance your knowledge of forest gardening, trees, plants, and care In this twelve-day course over the span of eight months (April through November), you will dive deeply into the vision and practice of creating wholesome, dynamic, and resilient edible ecosystems using temperate deciduous forests as models.   The teaching team will offer lectures, site walks and experiential exercises to help you understand how the architecture, social structure, underground economics, and successional processes of natural forests apply in the design of edible ecosystems of all kinds.    Curriculum Includes: Permaculture Ethics & Vision, Reading the Landscape, Soil Health, Impacts of Climate Change, Plant Care, Nature Connection, Patterns of Natural Systems, Design Principles & Drafting Skills,  Water Harvesting & Storage, Local Permaculture Examples and Visits and much more! Become inspired and empowered to design food forests and edible landscapes at home for yourself and your community! Click here to register!

Forest Stewardship Program Providing care and stewardship to our remnant woods Download the flyer "Trees outstrip most people in the extent and depth of their work for the public good." ~Sara Ebenreck, American Forests What: Friends of Greenbelt Park Forest Stewardship Program Interest Meeting When: Wed, February 20th, 7 PM-9 PM Where: City of Greenbelt Public Works Department 555 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770 If you are interested in the following ideas, come join us! Understand the benefits of the urban ecosystem Learn about the threats to Greenbelt's forests Increase your ability to identify surrounding trees Contribute to a city-wide tree inventory Click here to register!

GCAN: Greenbelt Climate Action Network    MEETINGS The next GCAN Meeting will be on Tuesday, February 19, at 7 pm, in the Community Center, Room 103 (*note change in room, this month only*)  The topic is "Varying Leadership Roles" presented by Susan Stewart.   You will receive a separate GCAN email with details.    GCAN "ACTIVISTS" We continue to have a broad-spectrum focus, including: CITY: Asking Greenbelt City Council to write a letter against Fracking in MD.Jennifer Robinson is coordinating a meeting in a private home, to plan out a presentation in front of the Greenbelt City Council.  Save the date of Mon, Feb 25, when we will all gather in the City Council chambers. COUNTY: Join an ad-hoc group that meets in College Park, to support a new county Draft Solid Waste Plan, that moves us in the direction of "Zero Waste". Next meeting is Feb 4th.  Click to RSVP. STATE: Work with CCAN in support of the Offshore Wind Energy Bill in Annapolis, Moratorium on Fracking, and with the Sierra Club on a new bill on Solar Energy. Click here to check bill progress. FEDERAL: Carpool to DC on Sun, Feb 17, (time TBA) for the Rally against Keystone XL Pipeline, "Obama Climate Legacy" Action. Click here to sign the Open Letter to President Obama and sign up here.  SPECIAL PROJECTS The Greenbelt Barter Network has become the "Greenbelt TimeBank". We will be beta-testing the software (from TimeBanks USA) this month. Contact Lore for details.    An ad-hoc group continues to meet to investigate a green, worker-owned cooperative.  Three of the most popular ideas are a daycare center in Franklin Park, a Composting Facility to make organic soil, and an Edible Landscaping Business.  Next meeting is Sun, Feb 24.  Contact Lore for details.   Re-Skilling Workshop Committee will most likely convene in Feb/March to plan another re-skilling workshop.  The topic will probably be "weatherizing your windows."  Contact Lore if you would like to attend the planning meeting.     DISCUSSION CIRCLES Two circles are finishing up in January/February: A. Common Security Club/Resilience Circle B. Sacred Economics by Charles Eisenstein We can start either topic again this spring, as soon as we identify 8 interested people.  Contact Lore. *NEW* A new circle is starting in College Park on Wed, Jan 16th *NEW* We are still trying to start a fourth circle:  C. World on Edge by Lester Brown There is also now interest in D. Voluntary Simplicity  If you are interested, contact Lore and let her know which nights of the week work for you.     For more info on any of these listings, contact Lore Rosenthal, 301-345-2234 , Greenbelt Climate Action Network.  Also visit our calendar on the CHEARS website for a full listing of events.

The Green Man wants YOU! Volunteer at the 9th Annual Festival Mother's Day weekend, May 11-12, 2013 Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt, MD The teams (Green Man Villages) have been working on planning since last September for this locally grown event.  As we approach the middle of winter, the efforts to get the word out and energize the Green Community will begin in earnest.  We are opening up our bi-monthly meetings to individuals in the community who wish to participate and collaborate. We invite you to find a village to join, from music and performances, to arts and crafts, from communications to education, and the villages of volunteers to help provide fun and discovery for both young and old.  Add your name to the Green Mans list of friends by updating your information with CHEARS, and start planning for a fun and informative spring. The next meeting will be at the New Deal Café on February 9th at 4pm.  Let us know your thoughts by dropping a line to Richard of the the Green Man Villages. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Interested in joining us as a vendor this year?  Is your community group interested in having an informational table? Contact Candy of the Green Man Villages for more information. Greenbelt Green Man Festival website