The Lehigh Valley is home to many universities and colleges that draw talented students and faculty from around the region, country, and world to further their education and prepare for successful careers. These institutions are centers for a wealth of resources – in terms of knowledge, reputation, people, and funds. They have tremendous capacity to... Read More
As part of the ongoing CREATE Resilience project, Nurture Nature Center will be hosting a virtual discussion forum on Tuesday September 29th from 6:30 to 8:30 (registration here). Strong communities with good planning can become more resilient in the face of natural hazards. What are the areas of need in our communities? What strategies will... Read More
Two goals of the Spotlight on Community series are to bring attention to the variety of organizations and individuals in our local area who are committed to addressing issues of the environment and sustainability and to connect readers to local opportunities to make a difference regarding a problem or area they are passionate about. The... Read More
Since many people have been spending more time at home, backyard gardens and local farms have become more common sources of food than they were in previous years. I have been caught up in this shift myself, joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program with my family, for which we pick up a crate full... Read More
A recent study found that there’s a “sweet spot” for effective action on climate change – initiatives targeting between 10,000 and 1,000,000 people, at the community, city, or regional level. This means that by focusing on implementing solutions in a local context we can find the most effective levers for catalyzing rapid action. Even before... Read More
Nurture Nature Center (NNC)’s project, Watershed-Friendly Properties – an education and certification program, was one of 15 projects across the state to receive a grant of up to $20,000 for 2020. Read More
I’ve heard a lot of jokes and comments about 2020’s seemingly endless barrage of threats and bad news, comparing this year to the biblical plagues or remarking that it feels impossible for so much to have happened in so short a time. In one example of this, the East Coast recently experienced tropical storm Isaias... Read More
Say you’re installing a rain garden and aren’t sure what type of plant to use, or a local park is experiencing erosion along a stream bank. Who can you call? The Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards! This program, similar to the Master Gardener program, trains volunteers to help their community find and use information... Read More
At our last few meetings with our CREATE Ambassadors, we’ve been discussing environmental justice. Although it was previously an unfamiliar topic for most of the students, they were really interested in learning more and thinking about the intersections of environmental and social issues relevant to community resilience. We want to share some of the information... Read More
Imagine if the shelves of your grocery store’s produce department changed with the seasons, offering a variety of fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers in the Lehigh Valley. Or imagine only needing to pick up a few supplementary items at the store because you bought most of the food your family will need for the week... Read More