A version of this story originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. A few weeks ago, I had the very unoriginal idea of going to Mt. Vernon Estate on Presidents Day. Although we arrived shortly after opening time at 10 a.m., traffic drew to a slow crawl as we came within […]
Happy Vernal Equinox! Today marks the first day of spring, when day and night are of equal length… how will you celebrate the day? This morning, I enjoyed a stroll through Huntley Meadows Park. As I meandered through the park, I enjoyed the cacophony of birds in song and celebration. From Canada Geese to wood peckers, their […]
A version of this story originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. If you travel along the George WashingtonParkway north of town, you will have noticed the massive lush patch of greenery in the middle of the Potomac River that is Theodore Roosevelt Island — another nearby great green escape. Two and […]
As I have written about a couple of times before, I’m an avid Freecycler. I like to think that I give and receive in equal proportion with a bit of ebb and flow. But, a recent Freecycle (TM) find, the new addition to our family, has left me with the urge to up my giving […]
DC area families: Looking for something fun to do this Sunday, March 4th? Join Eco-Active Family at a National Wildlife Federation (NWF) video shoot. Here are the details: National Wildlife Federation “Keeping The Wild Alive” Video Shoot When: March 4rd, 2012 | 10am to 4pm Where: 18557 Woodburn Road, Leesburg, VA 20175 What: The NWF is pledging […]
This weekend we enjoyed a load of activities at the US Botanical Gardens’ event for kids in celebration of National Invasive Awareness Species Week. The event, held on Sunday, February 26th, included an appearance by Woody, the owl – as in, “Give a Hoot. Don’t Pollute,” who was on hand for picture taking. Throughout the […]
Want to learn how to attract butterflies to your garden? Come learn how at the Washington Area Butterfly Club meeting at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington. Naturalist Lisa Bierer-Garrett, one of the original members of WABC, will speak on butterfly and wildlife gardening for your backyard. Lisa, a Calvert County, MD resident and longtime […]
This piece originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. Although Halloween is less than two weeks away, it is not too late to green your Halloween. Here are a few tips and resources for Eco-friendly fall fun. COSTUMES When I was a kid, our family always made Halloween costumes […]
How ditching our dining room chairs in favor of fitness balls has impacted our dining dynamics. As much as I love living in Old Town Alexandria, some days I find myself feeling especially cramped in our little house. Our dining room is particularly tight, with just enough room for a table that seats six. But […]
This piece originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. When I was a kid growing up in Massachusetts, my parents always planted a garden. Because we lived in a rural area, we had a sizable yard and a generously sized garden with rows and rows of plantings. We grew tomatoes, […]
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