Category: Featured

Connect with Your Inner Lorax: Become a Tree Steward

Connect with Your Inner Lorax: Become a Tree Steward

If you live in northern Virignia, here’s a fabulous opportunity to get the knowledge you need to be an impactful advocate  for the trees … The TreeStewards of Arlington and Alexandria are volunteers dedicated to improving the health of our urban trees through educational programs, tree planting and care, demonstrations and tree maintenance throughout the community. New […]

Photo by Jolie Semedo-Strauss @ Copyright 2012

Let Your Fall Leaves Lie

It starts in late August. That’s when I usually spot the first few dry, brown leaves cascading to the ground. They are an early cue of the changes afoot that eventually will cause some birds to depart for warmer climates, insects and animals to seek shelter for hibernation, and many trees to shed their leaves. […]

8 Great Ways to Green Your Thanksgiving

8 Great Ways to Green Your Thanksgiving

8 Great Ways to Green Your Thanksgiving Being green is about more than being eco-friendly; it’s about being a good citizen of the earth in ways that go far beyond the environment. When I think about being green, eco-friendly or earth-minded, I don’t just think about being kind to the environment. Sure, I think about […]

Great Green Escapes: Mt. Vernon Trail

Great Green Escapes: Mt. Vernon Trail

A version of this story originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. During the school year, I had a standing date with a friend whom I met 10 years ago at a new mom’s group at Alexandria Hospital. I had just had my first child and was in full-scale panic mode, […]

Farm-to-Table Summer Camp at Arcadia Farm

Farm-to-Table Summer Camp at Arcadia Farm

If you haven’t yet locked in your camps for the summer, here is a great one to add to the list. Campers ranging in age from 6 to 10 years old will gain hands-on experience as they work the farm and engage in related activities designed to help them understand and appreciate where their food […]

Invasive Species Awareness Activities for Kids at the US Botanic Garden

Invasive Species Awareness Activities for Kids at the US Botanic Garden

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 […]

Big Miracle: Lots of Great Discussion Opportunities for Parents and Kids

Big Miracle: Lots of Great Discussion Opportunities for Parents and Kids

This piece originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. I’m not one for sappy, giggly, feel-good movies, but as a mom of three preschool and elementary school-age kids, I’ve learned to tolerate, and even appreciate some of them, as is the case with Big Miracle. Recently, a teacher professional development day meant […]

On Becoming a Naturalist

On Becoming a Naturalist

This piece originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. How pushing through an irrational fear of bugs led me to become a naturalist and connect on a deeper level with the natural world. For the past several weeks I have been taking weekly classes as part of the Arlington Regional […]

Having a Ball at Dinner!

Having a Ball at Dinner!

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 […]

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