Worth a Visit

Gardener On-Call thinks the following organizations are well worth a visit:

BELLAMY-FERRIDAY HOUSE AND GARDEN, Bethlehem, CT.  Lovely house and garden.  Open from May to October on select days, call ahead for more info 203-266-7596.  www.ci.bethlehem.ct.us/Bellamy/bellamy.htm

CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, University of Vermont.  Thinking of a second, third, or fourth career?  Maybe boutique farming, heirloom breeds or artisinal cheesemaking pike your fancy.  The center promotes and develops sustainable farming practices throughout New England and offers business as well as land management advice.  www.uvm.edu/~susagctr

ELIZABETH PARK, West Hartford, CT.  The oldest municipal park in the country with many activities, including moonlight tours of the gardens. THE place for rose enthusiasts.  www.elizabethpark.org

GLEBE HOUSE, Woodbury, CT.  Birthplace of the Episcopal church in America and home to the only existing US gardens designed by Gertrude Jekyll.  www.theglebehouse.org

THE HILL-STEAD MUSEUM, Farmington, CT.  Home to one of our first female architects, Theodate Pope Riddle, with gardens by noted designer Beatrix Farrand.  www.hillstead.org

HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND, Boston, MA.  Formerly known as the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, it is the largest and oldest regional preservation group in the US.  It maintains historic properties and gardens and has many interesting permanent, traveling and cyber-exhibits.  www.historicnewengland.org

CONNECTICUT COLLEGE ARBORETUM, New London, CT.  Another gem in southeastern Connecticut, http://arboretum.conncoll.edu.

THE GARDEN CONSERVANCY, Cold Spring, NY.  Non-profit organization dedicated to preserving America's finest private gardens.  They publish a book of Open Days listing when the public can visit private gardens.  www.gardenconservancy.org

S.A.L.T.:  SMALLER AMERICAN LAWNS TODAY.  Connecticut College, New London.  Each year Americans apply 3 million tons of fertilizer and 67 million pounds of pesticide, herbicide and fungicide to achieve the "perfect" lawn. Is this environmentally sustainable or sane?  Learn about sustainable lawn care at http://arboretum.conncoll.edu/salt/salt.html.  

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE:  Connecticut is a small state that's big on agriculture/aquaculture.  Bet you never imagined that Ag was so important to our economy.  The Ag department has many interesting brochures on farmers' markets, agricultural fairs, pick-you-own-farms, organic farms, and the Connecticut Farm Map.  Click on the Publications link at http://www.ct.gov/doag

VOELKER-ORTH MUSEUM:  Flushing, Queens NY.  Victorian house, garden and bird sanctuary.  The house is a true example of a late 19th century Victorian homestead and was the home of the Voelker-Orth family for almost 100 years.  The gardens have been restored and are maintained using sustainable organic practices from the late 19th century.  www.vomuseum.org.
 

BLITHEWOLD MANSION, GARDENS AND ARBORETUM.  Bristol, Rhode Island.  One of New England's finest garden estates, www.blithewold.org.

33 million Americans experience hunger or are at risk of going hungry each day.  Gardeners have the knowledge and skills to help. 

THE GARDEN WRITER'S ASSOCIATION.  The Garden Writer's Association sponsors the Plant a Row for the Hungry program (PAR).  Click on the PAR link at www.gardenwriters.org

Not sure what you're eating?  Neither are we.  If you are concerned about genetically engineered crops, the following organizations are worth a visit:

CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY:  www.centerforfoodsafety.org
GENETIC ENGINEERING ACTION NETWORK:  www.geaction.org 
ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION:  www.organicconsumers.org
UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS:  www.ucsusa.org 

ENVIRONMENT & HUMAN HEALTH, INC.  North Haven, CT.  Non-profit comprised of physicians, public health, and public policy experts dedicated to exploring the link between human health and environmental factors.  Learn about their legislative efforts and read their many interesting reports on topics such as rubber mulch, pressure-treated lumber, wood smoke and artificial turf at www.ehhi.org.
  

Sustainable principles apply to many areas of life:  agriculture, burials, forestry, interior design, architecture, community planning, energy and travel, to name a few.  If high utility bills have you thinking of energy-efficient home improvements, the following sites will be helpful:

U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL, Washington, DC.  Interested in a green roof or living walls?  We aren't referring to the algae growing on the roof or mildew on the cellar walls.  The council sponsors the Leadership in Environmental Design Program (LEED) and has great information on "green" buildings, and can help you find an architect or builder in your area.  www.usgbc.org/LEED

GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMP CONSORTIUM, INC., Washington, DC.  Find out how you can use the soil or pond on your property to provide your year-round heating and cooling needs.  www.geoexchange.org

CONNECTICUT HOUSING INVESTMENT FUND, Hartford, CT.  A private, nonprofit organization that overseas Connecticut's  Energy Conservation Loans.  These loans are available to homeowners and developers wishing to make energy improvements and can be used for windows, insulation, geothermal, etc.  Interest rates and amount of loans vary based on income level and type of property.  Contact CHIF at 860-233-5165 or www.chif.org

When it's time to hit the road for a vacation, why not do so in eco-style?  Whether you call it sustainable tourism, green travel or eco-toursim, many travelers are seeking meaningful adventures while also being mindful of environmental stewardship:  www.globalexchange.org.  www.greenglobe.org.  www.sustainabletravelinternational.org.  www.tourismconcern.org.uk.
 
And when it's time for that final journey...

ECO-BURIALS AND GREEN CEMETERIES:  Interested in making a final sustainable statement by engaging in what may be the ultimate form of recycling?  Learn more about this interesting approach to sustainable land use at www.greenburials.org.