Community News

By Alex Cash                                             (Photo Courtesy of Dahlem) Staff Writer In the middle of a cold, harsh winter, images of spring can seem far into the distance. But, soon enough birds will be singing, trees will be green, and the fruits of the Earth will be growing again. Gardening can calm the nerves, quiet the mind, and provide a sense of accomplishment when growing something that is useful. However, gardening takes space, resources, and knowledge. If those aren’t available out your backdoor, consider the community gardens at the Dahlem Conservancy. For a $40 yearly membership fee gardeners can rent a 20 x 20 plot of land located on the site of the historic Wickwire Farm, 1427 Wickwire Road, on Dahlem’s property. Resources such as healthy soil, a deer and rabbit fence, water, hoses, hand tools and more are available as part of the rental fee. What’s more, is the knowledge and know-how brought by fellow gardeners in this communal space. Ben Dandrow, Executive Director of the Dahlem Conservancy, thinks this is an excellent community resource. “It gives people an opportunity…

By Alex Cash                 (Courtesy Photo) Staff Writer When children run around the grounds of YMCA Storer Camps, playing game of tag, they aren’t just having fun and getting exercise-they are learning about ecological systems. To play the game of Predator Prey, players take on the roles of squirrel, skunk, wolf and more; just like animals found within a specific ecosystem. When players tag or prey on other animals to get them out, they can see just how a food chain works. Later, they discuss how small changes in the ecosystem can have major effects. This is just one of the many activities that happen at YMCA Storer Camps in Napoleon where every year more than 13,000 students and teachers spend time in the great outdoors learning and having fun. The game of Predator Prey is an example of STEM-based outdoor education, which allows students to learn about science in a practical, hands-on way.   Recently, Storer received the opportunity to strengthen their STEM-based education by receiving a grant from the DTE Energy Foundation. The grant allowed the camp to create a new staff position; one that shows their dedication to staying in the…

By Alex Cash, JTV So far, it has been a confusing fall season. Hot one day, cold the next. Cold rain followed by high humidity. Nonetheless, fall is here.   Gary Beck, President of Beck’s Flower Shop and Gardens agrees. “We’ve had a strange fall. Normally we’ve had one or two freezes, leaves changing and dropping. But we are enjoying a nice long summer.” The odd weather we’ve been having effects what our plants do and what kind of plants we can buy.   Many of us have seen colorful hearty mums on people’s front steps, gardens, and porches mimicking the beautiful Michigan fall colors. Now is the time to get your potted mums to add that gorgeous color to your fall or Halloween themed home decoration. Though Gary says they are at the end of their growing season, it doesn’t mean you can’t get five weeks or so of enjoyment out of a potted one. To those among us who weren’t born with a green thumb, this may be all the gardening we are capable of.   Though fall is lovely, some of us might want to look forward past the winter to spring. Now is the time to…