Association to Preserve Cape Cod |
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Skunk Cabbage. Photo by Sue Machie |
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| It is that time of year by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director |
Every year around this time they arrive. It is a spring ritual and a harbinger of the summer ahead. Perhaps you might think I am referring to the annual return of river herring or osprey. I could have hummingbirds in mind or even striped bass. Nope, not this time. I am talking about annual flood of marketing materials promoting lawn care and caterpillar spraying practices that promote a form of a model yard, but which really degrade and diminish the environment of Cape Cod.
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According to the law care industry, the only way to have a healthy yard is for it to be pristine non-native turf grass chemically enhanced to grow lush and green and devoid of any other life forms, be they plant or animal. This myth of the chemically enhanced lawn as healthy is one of the great annual frauds perpetrated on the American consumer. Green turf lawns don’t want to be on Cape Cod. Ours soils don’t support turf grass, so to meet the suburban standards for lawns, yours has to become a chemically dependent junkie surviving on the next fix of fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide and copious volumes of drinking water.
The result of this widespread chemical dosing yard by yard is poor water quality and the extermination of the food sources relied upon by birds, especially those rearing young who rely on the caterpillars these chemicals target for death. Starved of their food source, many baby birds never make it out of the nest.
It simply does not need to be this way. Today you can resolve to change practices in your yard to restore balance to the natural environment. Stop doing harm by saying no to chemicals in your yard. From there, you can start making things better by changing your landscape over to one that works in harmony with nature. One path forward can be found in APCC's publication, Guidelines for Cape-friendly Landscapes, but there are a myriad of ways to make your yard a haven for varied forms of life and not a sterile graveyard. Start by letting the landscaper know that you are not spraying or fertilizing any more.
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News from APCC's Ecosystem Restoration Program |
Site photos and the draft designs with stormwater flow paths at Waquoit Bay Landing. |
On March 26th and 27th, APCC’s Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP) held virtual meetings to review initial designs for stormwater management at the Willimantic Drive boat ramp on Shubael Pond in Barnstable and the Waquoit Bay landing in Falmouth. The meetings provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about the proposed changes and ask questions. These meetings, where input can be received from stakeholders and abutters, are crucial for the success of these projects. The project team can use this feedback to help ensure the final designs meet the needs of the community and the environment.
These sites are part of the Cape Cod Boat Ramp Stormwater Management Project, one of the ERP’s ongoing projects, with the goal of capturing runoff to remove pollutants and improve water quality. The presentations for Willimantic and Waquoit Bay landings are available on the Boat Ramp Stormwater web page.
The sites were surveyed and designed by engineers at Horsley Witten Group with assistance and review from town, state and local partners. Work on this Boat Ramp Stormwater Project has been funded by an EPA Southeast New England Program Watershed Grant, two Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Water Quality and Coastal Habitat Grants, and private foundation funding. |
Site photos and the draft designs with stormwater flow paths at Willimantic Drive Landing on Shubael Pond. |
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Cape Cod Pond Network Meeting
The next meeting of the pond network is Thursday, April 16, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom. If you are not already on our email list and would like to attend quarterly Zoom meetings, sign up here. Any questions can be directed to Kristin Andres [email protected] or Dr. Julie Hambrook [email protected] |
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Resilient Roots hosts APCC's education director, Kristin Andres |
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| State of the Waters Intern - full-time, seasonal position
We are seeking a college- or graduate-level intern to assist with our “State of the Waters: Cape Cod” project. Tasks include: - Collection and organization of water quality data for coastal embayments, ponds, and public water supplies.
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Data analysis, scoring and grading of water quality data using established Excel formulas.
- Conducting statistical analyses to summarize results using Excel.
- Collection and analysis of drinking water Consumer Confidence Reports.
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Preparation of data summaries, coordination with APCC’s GIS contractor, and participation in team meetings.
- Assist with other projects as needed.
Minimum Education Requirements: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., water resources, hydrology, limnology, natural resource management, etc.) and experience and skills as described here. |
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The 2023 State of the Waters: Cape Cod report content can be viewed on this dedicated website: CapeCodWaters.org |
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Guidelines for Cape-friendly Landscapes - an APCC publication |
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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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Thank you for this important book! Hopefully everyone of us with a yard will read it and put it to use! - Vicky Titcomb of Titcomb Bookshop |
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?
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We are grateful for the several retail shops that are partnering with us to make this publication more widely available: Brewster Book Store, Birdwatchers General Store, Crocker Nurseries, Wellfleet Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Cape Abilities Farm, Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, the Cape Cod Lavender Farm, Heritage Museums and Gardens, Titcomb's Bookshop, Sea Howl Bookshop, Soares Flower Garden Nursery, and Eight Cousins Bookshop.
If you are a retailer and would like to sell this publication at your store, contact Kristin at [email protected]. |
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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. Please get on the map to show your support of pollinators on Cape Cod!
You can purchase now your 9-inch aluminum Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod sign at Hyannis Country Garden, Ponderosa Garden Center, and Cape Abilities Farm.
If you are a retailer, and you would like to sell the signs, you can order online here, or email [email protected]. |
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| 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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| Rain Barrels for Cape Cod
Order online from Upcycle Products $122 each
includes FedEx shipping to your door APCC receives a portion of the proceeds. For more information, click here. |
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A Cape Cod Native Plant-selector ~ to help you choose the perfect native plants for your garden. |
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| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana |
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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 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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APCC is rated four stars by Charity Navigator and 2023 Platinum by Candid (formerly Guidestar). |
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