Association to Preserve Cape Cod |
Monarch on Seaside Goldenrod. Photo by Sue Machie. |
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| Let it be by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director
It's dark later in the morning and earlier in the afternoon. Fall flowers are starting to fade while late season pollinators load up on the remaining food they provide. I have not seen a hummingbird in about a week and the winds now blow more northerly than not. Fall is in the air but not everyone is leaving. Native species that overwinter here are getting ready to weather the winter ahead. How you treat your yard in the next several weeks will impact how well important insects and birds do next spring and summer.
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Read why it's important to leave the leaves. The short version is many beneficial insects rely on the leaf litter and dead plant stems in your gardens. Wintering birds eat the seeds in those dead flowerheads and use the stalks for nest building material the following spring. Everyone benefits if you just resist the suburban practice of neatening up your yard and just leave it all in place. Dead stalks and leaf covered ground, despite years of indoctrination by the lawn care industry, are not ugly, especially if you can take the time to see the life supported by keeping the natural landscape in place.
Your reward? Time saved not cleaning up the fall yard (don’t waste it on the Patriots—not worth it this time around), a life-filled yard in the winter, and more birds, bees and pollinators who made it through the winter with your help who will visit your yard in the spring and summer. Everyone wins. |
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Graphic: Jeremy Hemberger |
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| $2.1 Million in Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants Announced |
On September 29, EEA announced $2,126,159 in grant funding for projects to protect coastal habitat and water quality in Massachusetts. The CZM Coastal Habitat and Water Quality (CHWQ) Grants support efforts to address polluted stormwater runoff to further protect coastal water quality and habitat, develop comprehensive coastal habitat restoration plans, and implement priority habitat restoration actions. One priority of the grant program is to support implementation of stormwater green infrastructure, which uses approaches that replicate natural processes to filter and treat pollutants in runoff. The ten funded projects—which are matched by $544,118 from municipal and non-profit sources, demonstrating a strong local commitment to coastal water quality and habitat— will help keep beaches and shellfish harvesting areas open and advance coastal habitat restoration planning.
Association to Preserve Cape Cod - $761,137 to complete permitting and final designs of green stormwater infrastructure at four public boat ramps sites as well as construction at two of these sites to treat stormwater for nutrients and bacteria and improve water quality and recreational opportunities. This work involves several municipal, regional, and federal partners and builds off assessment work supported by previous CZM funding.
Yarmouth - $795,908 to develop green stormwater infrastructure designs for five priority sites, resulting in the permitting and installation of two stormwater BMPs. This project, which builds on assessment work supported by previous CZM funding, will improve water quality for fish and wildlife habitat and reduce beach closures. |
Spotlighting: Resilient Roots ~ a Cape Cod non-profit educating people about growing food, while being mindful of nature. |
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It was a great way to spend this last Sunday afternoon—joining in a workshop sponsored by Resilient Roots. This past Sunday, the subject was foraging, lead by naturalist, author and wild edible forager-extraordinaire, Russ Cohen. It was held at Fuller Farm, a conservation property owned by Barnstable Land Trust and managed in partnership with Resilient Roots.
Attendees learned about numerous native edibles on the walk, including fox grapes, rose petals and rose hips, cat briar shoots, dew berries, wild strawberries, and about making beverages from sumac berries and birch twigs.
And the best way to tackle some invasive species? Eat them! Autumn olive fruits can be harvested and processed into pies, jams, and fruit leather. All these recipes and more can be found in Russ's book, Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten.
The workshop was a clear reminder of our connection to the land, as is everything that Resilient Roots stands for. Their permaculture plantings are taking form in just two growing seasons, fruit trees planted in guilds—plant communities consisting of a mix of native and non-native plants to support soil health and pollinators. There are a few more workshops offered this fall. Check them out! |
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The meadow area at Fuller Farm is ablaze with little bluestem grass—stunning in the sun! |
An APCC publication - Guidelines for Cape-friendly Landscapes |
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The Guidelines gives homeowners steps they can take in the design and maintenance of their properties that will support pollinators and birds, manage stormwater, conserve water, and protect the Cape's water quality.
This 40-page booklet is beautifully illustrated by Marcy Ford with content that is easily digestible and supported by numerous resources for additional learning. |
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We've enjoyed creating it and hope it will help you with ideas to help you steward your piece of Cape Cod and maybe foster an environmental ethic in the decisions we all make in our own managed landscapes. Get your copy here—and maybe one for a friend? |
We are partnering with several retail shops to make this publication more widely available: Brewster Bookstore, Birdwatchers General Store, Crocker Nurseries, Wellfleet Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Cape Abilities Farm, Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, the Lavender Farm, and Sea Howl Bookstore.
If you are a retailer and would like to sell this publication at your store, contact Kristin at [email protected]. |
Pollinator Spotlight - Leaf Cutter Bees |
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If you see circular voids in plant leaves, it's likely from a leaf cutter bee!
The genus Megachile are commonly known as leaf cutter bees. Female bees chew off pieces of leaves and petals to incorporate into their nests. Unlike many native bees, females will often make multiple nests. These bees nest readily in pre-existing cavities and can be attracted to gardens by installing bee hotels.
They emerge early in spring and are active through September. They typically have lateral bands on their abdomen. [Source] They are especially valuable pollinators. Read more here.
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Above photo of bee on an aster is by Robert Gessing |
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The Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod is a group of organizations promoting native plants and pollinator-friendly land care practices to create a boat load of safe oases for our native bees, butterflies and a whole host of other pollinators that are crucial to the health of our ecosystems. Join us! It's easy. There are no fees. You just need to pledge to ADD native plants, SUBTRACT a little lawn, AVOID yard chemicals, especially pesticides, and LEAVE the leaves. And, help us spread the word. If you wish, please get on the map to show your support of pollinators!
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APCC is still looking for an important part of the team...
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Cyanobacteria Science Coordinator: APCC seeks an experienced project manager to manage the sample analysis, interpretation, and reporting of results for APCC’s Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program. The cyanobacteria science coordinator is responsible for ensuring the overall scientific quality of the program through oversight of sample collection, analyses, interpretation, and reporting of monitoring results, and communicating results and other information to municipal officials, agencies, organizations, and the public in an accurate clear manner. The position is fulltime, year-round, salaried with benefits. For the full description, click here. To apply, email a cover letter and resume to Dr. Julie Hambrook at: [email protected]
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| By popular request...
APCC Caps are available for purchase! $25 includes shipping & handling Click here for more information and to order. ~ This is one great way to show your support for APCC's work. |
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A Cape Cod Native Plant-selector ~ to help you choose the perfect native plant for your garden location. |
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| Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
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Sally Baer's rain barrel! |
| Rain Barrels for Cape Cod
Order online from Upcycle Products $99 each
includes FedEx shipping to your door APCC receives a portion of the proceeds.
For more information, click here. |
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| APCC Enewsletters. Our weekly newsletters are archived on our website and easily shared.
You can find past newsletters and share with your friends to sign up for future enewsletters HERE. |
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Are you thinking of going solar? We hope so! In partnership with SUNPOWER BY E2 SOLAR in Dennis, APCC receives $500 for every solar installation when APCC is named as referral.
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| Thank you to the homeowners who just contracted to install solar panels through E2 Solar. May the sun always shine for you! |
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Expressions Gallery, 578 Main Street, Chatham
CLICK HERE |
Expressions Gallery donates 20 percent of its profits to APCC's work.
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Thank you to our business sponsors |
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