Please plan to join us in a participative, collaborative process, through a series of working sessions, in a group effort to envision the year ahead. Purpose:

• To picture where our environmental community hopes to see itself by the end of 2012
• To identify attainable goals for several environmental areas
• To produce a visionary document that summarizes these group goals, capturing the essence of this collaboration
• To share this vision with our local governments and the community at large
• To facilitate efforts among environmental agencies to realize joint short-term goals
• To introduce a wider spectrum of our citizens into the environmental conversation

Thursday, February 9, 2012, 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
5:30 pm: Dinner by Georgia’s Farm to Market included in your $25 registration fee.

United Way Community Resource Center

• Announcement
• Agenda
• Registration ($25)

*** SPACE LIMITED — RSVP/Registration Required! ***  In order to have an accurate headcount for seating, refreshments and dinner, we will need all general participants, discussion leaders, and scribes, sponsor and booth guests to send in a registration form (provided below).

For more info, contact Katie Molina at Katie@cechouston.org or 713-524-4232.

Event sponsored by Reliant Energy & Green Bank

1. Houston Environmental Education Summit. Environmental Educators Exchange, National Wildlife Federation, and Houston ISD are proud to co-host the 5th Annual Houston Environmental Education Summit at the University of Houston - Downtown on January 28, 2012. The summit will energize teachers, principals, community leaders, and environmental experts to use the outdoors as a living laboratory by offering engaging, hands-on workshops on everything from teaching students about our world-class birdlife to building a rainwater-harvesting barrel from a trashcan. Nationally known environmentalist Jarid Manos, director of the Great Plains Restoration Council and author of Ghetto Plainsman, will deliver a stirring keynote address at 8:45am that will address the benefits of nature for children, particularly at risk youth. Learn more about the summit at http://houstoneesummit.wordpress.com/.
2. Houston Green Film Series: Our Seeds: Seeds Blong Yumi. This event is put together by the Rice University Environmental Club, Houston Tomorrow, Emerging Professionals of the Houston USGBC, Houston Green Scene, and Transition Houston. There will be a screening of the movie, Our Seeds: Seeds Blong Yumi, on January 25th from 6:30-9pm at 2030 University Blvd Houston, TX 77030. The movie focuses on Pacific islanders, who face great challenges to their way of life, their culture and their traditional cultivation methodologies. They have fallen into the trap of replacing resilient locally-adapted food crop varieties with modern hybrids that require pesticides and chemical fertilizers. They replace innumerable varieties of root staples with imported low quality starch such as white rice, biscuits and noodles. These are all issues that are extremely relevant to Houston-area farmers and gardeners. Following the 57-minute film a panel moderated by Brittany Goldsmith of Seed Swap Houston will answer questions and discuss the film. For more information, visit http://www.transitionhouston.org/.
3. HANC Annual Arbor Day Celebration. Houston area families are invited to celebrate Arbor Day at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on January 28th from 10am-4pm. “Nature Awaits!” is the theme for this year’s celebration. There will be many events and hands-on activities for everyone in the family to see and do, including making recycled paper and designer paper hats, seeing Johnny Appleseed who will hand out acorns, and finding new plants in the native tree and shrub sale. More at http://houstonarboretum.org/arborday.asp.
4. Community Outreach Dune Restoration. Artist Boat is hosting three Community Outreach Dune Restoration Events around Galveston that will include a 3 hour planting activities and lessons about the importance of dunes for the island. The events take place on February 3rd, February 18th, and March 4th from 8am-noon. These events are opportunities for the community to engage as coastal stewards through planting a variety of native dune plants which include seaoats, bitter panicum, railroad vine, sea purslane, and marsh-hay cordgrass. To register, call Artist Boat at 409-770-0722 or email info@artistboat.org.
5. Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2011 Update Public Hearing. The Houston‐Galveston Area Council (H‐GAC) is seeking input on the draft Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2011 Update, which covers Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Liberty, Montgomery, Walker and Waller counties and the majority of cities therein. There will be a public hearing on January 31st from 2-4pm at the Houston‐Galveston Area Council, located at 3555 Timmons Lane, Room A. Both oral and written comments are encouraged. Written comments will be accepted until 4pm on February 8th, and can be sent via email to amy.boyers@h‐gac.com, mailed to H‐GAC Attn: Amy Boyers, Sr. Environmental Planner, Houston‐Galveston Area Council, P. O. Box 22777, Houston, Texas 77227, or hand delivered to H‐GAC, 3555 Timmons Lane, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77027. The draft Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2011 Update will be posted on Wednesday, January 25th by 6pm at http://www.h‐gac.com/hazmap.
6. Northwest Harris County Habitat for Humanity Sale. Support Deconstruction and ReUse and get a great deal in the process! The Northwest Harris County Habitat for Humanity is moving and everything must go! Come treasure hunting to supply your next building or home-improvement project at our huge sale from Feb 15-18 at 13572 Texas 249, Houston, TX 77086. The NWHC Habitat for Humanity ReStore keeps items out of landfills through deconstruction of homes in the Houston area and through donations of new and gently used building materials and housewares. The sale items include doors, windows, trim, appliances, hardware, flooring, lighting fixtures, fans, furniture, sinks, toilets, cabinets, carpet, household items and SO MUCH MORE! For more information, call (281) 820-2307 or visit http://www.habitatnwhc.org/restore/restore.
7. Register for 2012 Buffalo Bayou Regatta. Registration is now available for the 2012 Buffalo Bayou Regatta, which will take place on March 10th from 7700 San Felipe to Sesquicentennial Park. This event, hosted by Buffalo Bayou Partnership, is Texas’ largest canoe and kayak race. Houstonians (ages 12 and up) are encouraged to participate in the 15-mile USCA-sanctioned race along scenic Buffalo Bayou. Register at https://app.etapestry.com/.
8. Save the Date: River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash. This annual event is scheduled for March 31, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 17 sites around the greater Houston area. For more information, please visit www.trashbash.org.

1. Texas Public Input Meeting – Deepwater Horizon Trustees. There is a Texas public input meeting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 26 in Galveston. The meeting will take place in the Texas A&M University Ocean and Coastal Studies Building, 1001 Texas Clipper Road. The meeting will provide an opportunity for people to gain knowledge of the restoration process. The attendees are encouraged to comment on the Draft Phase 1 Early Restoration Plan. More at http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/.
2. The Texas Watershed Steward Workshop. The Texas Watershed Steward Workshop is a FREE one-day event to help residents in the watershed improve and protect water resources by getting involved in local watershed protection and management activities. The workshop will focus on water quality issues in Highland Bayou, as well as efforts by the Texas Coastal Watershed Program, Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, and area residents to help improve the health of water resources in Galveston County. Bayous in the study area are known to have elevated levels of bacteria and low levels of oxygen. Continuing education credits will be available for professional engineers, certified planners, certified teachers, crop advisors, pesticides license holders, landscape architects, and certified floodplain managers. Workshop will be held at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension offices in Carbide Park, La Marque at 4102 B Main St. (FM 519) on February 22nd from 8am to 4pm. More information at http://mokabayousalliance.org/ or Facebook.com/MoKaBayousAlliance. Agenda and pre-registration is available at http://tws.tamu.edu/workshops/online-registration or call 979-862-8070.
3. Green Tour: LEED for New Construction One Green Street. The public is invited to see the LEED for New Construction One Green Street on January 27th from 11am-2pm at 5160 Buffalo Speedway Center. The free viewings are run in “open house style” guided tours that occur every 30 minutes. This is one in a series of free tours of green buildings in Houston. Green buildings save owners and users money with greater energy efficiency and are better for the environment. For more information, visit www.houstontx.gov/mayor/leedtour.pdf.
4. Endangered Species Information Available. Biology, ecology, general science and other teachers can find a variety of resources about teaching endangered species preservation on the Endangered Species Day web site, http://www.stopextinction.org/esd.html. Resources include a comprehensive lesson plan for teaching about endangered species preservation, an art lesson plan to help students create endangered species artwork, a series of pod casts providing information on endangered species preservation and everyday actions to help, and a Video showing how one teacher taught endangered species conservation in his biology class. May 18th will be the seventh annual national Endangered Species Day. For more information, contact David Robinson, Endangered Species Day Director, at drobinson@stopextinction.org.
5. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Seabrook, and on HCC. More info on the TPWD website(* indicates a segment about the Houston area). This week’s broadcast will include:
   • Fort Boggy State Park
   • TPWD People: Ashley Summers
   • Memories of the Civilian Conservation Corps
6. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
• January 26: Green–Good–Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
• January 27: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
• January 28: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.

Featured

1. Brazos battle pits water supplier against environmentalists, growers and industry (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle, 01/23/2012)
   The Brazos River Authority is asking for the rights of all the Brazos River water in order to meet the future demands of a growing population. However, many people, including farmers, landowners, environmentalists, and the Dow Chemical Co., are voicing opposition. Diverting the water could have great impacts on rights holders, water quality, and fish and wildlife habitat.
   http://www.chron.com/
2. Endangered: Texas water and whooping cranes that winter on the Texas coast (Michael Berryhill – Texas Climate News, 01/19/2012)
   The Aransas Project (TAP), a group of conservationists, is using the Endangered Species Act to challenge the management of surface water, which has been affecting the whooping crane. TAP members believe that, due to a lack of freshwater flowing from the Guadalupe into San Antonio Bay, the blue crab population (the primary food there of the whooping crane) has declined. In recent years, the number of whooping cranes has also declined. The current case will determine whether the lack of freshwater is the reason behind the loss of cranes, and this decision in this case could fundamentally change the way Texas manages the Guadalupe River and its estuary.
   http://texasclimatenews.org/
3. After record heat and drought, Texas parks face crunch (Corrie MacLaggan – Reuters, 01/17/2012)
   The drought, high heat, and wildfires kept many people from visiting the Texas state parks last year. As a result, park officials have had to ask the public to donate money to help keep the parks open. Last week the officials said they had raised almost $1 million of the $4.6 million needed. Although there are signs that visitors are coming back to the parks to enjoy the cooler weather, the parks have a long way to go to reach their goal.
   http://www.reuters.com/

EcoNotes

• 23 January
• Brazos battle pits water supplier against environmentalists, growers and industry (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
  http://www.chron.com/
• More Texas Water Woes, This Time at the Beach (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
  http://stateimpact.npr.org/
• Texas Leads the Fight – Against Greenhouse Gas Regulations, But Not Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Larry R. Soward – Air Alliance Houston News)
  http://airalliancehouston.org/
• Company Eyes Natural Gas Terminal in Corpus Christi (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
  http://stateimpact.npr.org/
• 2011 Was Ninth-Warmest Year Since 1880: NASA (Deborah Zabarenko – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• 22 January
• Texas A&M Study On Microbes Adds New Dimension To Carbon Dioxide Predictions (Guidry News)
  http://guidrynews.com/
• Quick action taken after report of bayou trash (Mark Fleming – The Baytown Sun)
  http://baytownsun.com/
• 20 January
• See Houston’s EPA offenders (Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• 4 Theories on How Tiger Prawns Ended Up in the Gulf of Mexico (Mose Buchele – StateImpact)
  http://stateimpact.npr.org/
• Improvements Being Made In Blighted Area Of Houston (Bill Stamps – KUHF News)
  http://app1.kuhf.org/
• 19 January
• Endangered: Texas water and whooping cranes that winter on the Texas coast (Michael Berryhill – Texas Climate News)
  http://texasclimatenews.org/
• Baytown’s parks plan honored by H-GAC (Mark Fleming – The Baytown Sun)
  http://baytownsun.com/
• Volunteers to Re-Forest Houston Parks Devastated by Drought (Ed Mayberry – KUHF News)
  http://app1.kuhf.org/
• Texas’ Water Rights System Gets Tested in Drought (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
  http://www.texastribune.org/
• Houston Parks and Recreation – Houston-Galveston Area Council Parks and Natural Area Awards
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• New Paved Bike and Pedestrian Pathway Expands Missouri City’s Oyster Creek Trail (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• CPS To Buy Power From Texas Clean Coal Power Plant: DOE (Scott DiSavino – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• 18 January
• Opportunity Knocks: How the Proposed Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area Could Attract Visitors, Boost Business, and Create Jobs (Jim Guidry – Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• 11th Anniversary of Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program Coming Up (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
• Obama expected to reject Keystone XL (Deon Daugherty – Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• Sierra Club files suit over coal plants’ emission permits (Farzad Mashhood – The Statesman)
  http://www.statesman.com/
• 17 January
• H-GAC Announces Parks, Natural Areas Award Winners (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• H-GAC kicks off public portion of sustainability plan (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  http://www.houstontomorrow.org
• After record heat and drought, Texas parks face crunch (Corrie MacLaggan – Reuters)
  http://www.reuters.com/
• 10 January
• Texas Senate Hears Warnings on Drought and Electricity (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
  http://www.texastribune.org/

Title: Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens Day Trip to Nacogdoches Gardens
Link out: Click here
Description: The Mercer Society and Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens are pleased to present a fantastic springtime Garden Tour to Nacogdoches, Texas on Friday, March 30, 2012, from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens Director Darrin Duling is excited to offer the first of an ongoing series of exceptional, garden-filled day trips. Participants will enjoy touring public and private gardens filled with azaleas and other vibrant spring flora in this historic Northeast Texas town. Don’t miss the unique opportunity to join us for a new adventure in our program calendar. Sit back, relax, visit with gardening friends and enjoy springtime scenery while someone else does the driving. Paid registrations are required. Trip cost per person includes luxury coach transportation, guided tours, lunch and snacks. Members of The Mercer Society: $70, non-Members: $80. The coach departs from Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens’ south parking lot promptly at 7:30 am, so please plan to arrive earlier. For registration information call: 281-443-8731

Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, a Harris County Precinct 4 facility under the leadership of Commissioner R. Jack Cagle, is located at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, Texas one mile north of FM 1960. Harris County Precinct 4 programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, sex, religion, national origin, or physical ability. Anyone requiring special assistance to participate in any program, or to obtain additional information, should contact Mercer at 281-443-8731, or on the Web at www.hcp4.net/mercer.

Start Time: 07:30
Date: 2012-03-30
End Time: 17:30

Title: Audubon Nature Sanctuary Volunteer Orientation
Location: Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, 440 Wilchester Blvd., Houston
Link out: Click here
Description: Description: The Houston Audubon Docent Guild and the Houston Audubon
Society need new volunteers to serve in many areas such as:
– restoring habitat in sanctuaries
– leading children’s nature programs
– helping visitors at High Island during spring migration
– staffing festival and outreach booths
– assisting in the office
– working on fundraising projects.

An overview of volunteer activities will be provided in a free
orientation session on Saturday morning, February 25, at the log cabin
in the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary.

For more information, visit www.houstonaudubon.org. Preregistration
is required: call 713-932-1639 or e-mail jperkins@houstonaudubon.org
to reserve a spot.

Start Time: 9:00

Date: 2012-02-25

End Time: 12:00

Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2012-02-25
End Time: 12:00

Title: Livable Houston Initiative: Pat Walsh on the Sugar Land Mobility Plan
Location: H-GAC, 3555 Timmons Lane 2nd Floor, Room C
Link out: Click here
Description: Pat Walsh, Sugar Land’s Director of Transportation & Long Range Planning, will present the city’s new Comprehensive Mobility Plan. This Plan identifies recommendations necessary to accomplish the City’s long-range vision for mobility. Sugar Land’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan considers the potential for all modes of transportation, including commuter transit and commuter rail, freight rail, intra-city transit, walking, biking, and automobile. The Plan was the result of a 9-month study which drew on extensive public input.
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2012-01-25
End Time: 13:30

Title: HANC Nature Trekkers Spring Break Camp
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: Nature Trekkers Spring Break Camp
for Explorers ages 5 to 12:
Do you have what it takes to be
an adventurer in our woods?
Learn fun and challenging outdoor skills like orienteering, knot tying, and camp crafts. Have fun with outdoor leadership and team building challenges.

Naturalist teachers will be leading children in fun, hands-on activities. Children are taught in classes by age (5 & 6 yrs., 7 & 8 yrs., and 9-12 yrs.)
Class Dates: Monday – Friday, March 12-16, 2012
Times: All day:
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Morning only: 9 a.m. – noon
Fees:
Members
Non-members All day:
$265 per child
$325 per child Morning only:
$140 per child
$180 per child
Start Date: 2012-03-12
End Date: 2012-03-16

Title: HANC Canning and Preserving Jams and Jellies from Native Wild Fruits: An Introduction
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: In this two hour class, Paula will walk you through how to make your own jams and jellies using native fruits. Elderberries and grapes grow wild in our area, and jam making is a great way to preserve the fruit for use all year. Paula will discuss topics concerning fruit, sugar, lemon juice, the cooking process, and how to actually preserve your fruit spreads.

Our goal is to give you the skills and confidence you need to successfully create your own basic jam at home. Recipes and a tasting table will be provided. Jams and Jellies are the easiest and most delicious entry into home preserving. Come ready to leave inspired.

Paula Campbell is a native Houstonian who enjoys staying connected with her food supply. She learned jam making from her mother at an early age and has been making her own jams for 20 years. Her Christmas Jams/Jellies are a sought after gift each year. When not in her kitchen preserving local food for use all year, Paula is found backpacking in Big Bend, kayaking on the Gulf Coast, hiking in the Hill Country, or riding
Date: Saturday, February 25
Time: 10 a.m. – Noon
Instructor: Paula Campbell
Cost: $25 or Arboretum members / $35 for non-members
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2012-02-25
End Time: 12:00

Title: HANC Tapas on the Trails: A Valentine’s Evening at the Arboretum
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: Leave the sequins and stilettos at home and Walk on the wild side with your Valentine!

Celebrate a very special Valentine’s Eve with gourmet food and wine in Houston’s premier venue for natural beauty. Meander from one delectable table to the next along the recently restored Willow Oak Trail. Dine on delicious tapas created by Chef Randy Ruckerl complete with wine pairings for each food selection.

Your culinary adventure culminates at the Meadow Deck with sparkling wine, gourmet Starbucks coffees and desserts prepared by Chef Dan Budd.

Tapas Cheese and Fruit StationChef Randy Rucker credits his mother for his passion for food, and looks to his culinary peers and love of Third Coast produce and cuisine for inspiration. Rucker has an extensive culinary resume, ranging from positions at Mark’s American Cuisine to Quattro at Four Seasons Hotel Houston to the Rainbow Lodge, where he received a rare four-star review from Alison Cook. In 2011 he was named a Houston Rising Star by Starchefs.com as the chef-owner of Bootsie’s in Tomball, Texas. Rucker also received two nominations from the James Beard Foundation for best new restaurant and best chef in the southwest region of the United States. He is in the process of opening his latest venture, Restaurant conat in the Museum District of Houston. Rucker expresses his philosophy—that food should represent an unrepeatable time and place – in the foraged ingredients that inspire his daily-changing menus.

Chef Dan Budd has been the pastry chef at such famous New York eateries as The River Cafe, The Peninsula Hotel and Park Avenue Café. He was named twice as “Top Ten Pastry Chef in America” by Chocolatier magazine, was nominated for pastry chef of the year by The James Beard Foundation and currently owns Taste Budd’s Chocolate and Coffee Cafe of Red Hook, NY.

Chef Dan Budd will be teaching a class “Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate” on Friday, Feb. 10.

Date:

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Time:

Arrive anytime between 5 and 8 p.m. to start your stroll. Last admission on the trail is 8 p.m. Event closes at 9 p.m.

Cost:

$75 per person for Arboretum members; $85 per person for non-members.
Childcare for ages 5 and up at a fee of $10 per child. Reservations are required; limited spaces are available.

Deadline:

Pre-registration is required! Limited spaces still available – Registration will close on Friday, February 10 at 4 p.m., or when event is sold out.

Special note:
Dress comfortably for your walk through the woods. Trail to Meadow Deck is approximately 1/4 mile and is wheelchair accessible. In case of inclement weather, event will be held in nature center building.
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2012-02-11
End Time: 21:00

Title: HANC Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: Learn about chocolate from cocoa tree to confection. A tasting and demonstration that will help you appreciate the soothing and energizing deliciousness of chocolate. Delve in the preparation of Truffles, Decorated Chocolate Torte, and Warm Chocolate Dessert. You may be making your own chocolates for your sweet heart this Valentine’s Day! Registration is limited to 15 participants, so sign up now for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from a master.
Date: Friday, February 10, 2012
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $45 per person for Arboretum members;
$55 per person for non-members.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2012-02-10
End Time: 21:00

Title: HANC “Build Your Own Compost Barrel” Workshop
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: Don’t trash it! Compost it! According to the Houston-Galveston Area Council, up to 30% of our garbage is bagged up leaves, grass clippings and tree limbs. The City of Houston mandates the use of compostable bags to divert your leaves and yard trimming away from costly dumps, saving both landfill space and tax dollars. Now a private company composts your nutrient-rich wastes and sells it to the public as a natural soil conditioner.

Learn how to compost your own nutrient-rich kitchen wastes and yard debris in this intensive, hands-on workshop where each participant will build their own 55-gallon composting barrel. You can create rich, dark brown compost in as little as 3 weeks!
Course Instructor: Joe Blanton, the Arboretum’s Conservation Director, is certified by National Wildlife Federation as a Backyard Habitat Designer. Before joining the Arboretum staff, Joe designed, implemented and/or managed 16 outdoor environmental education classrooms for Urban Harvest and HISD.
Class Dates (choose one): Sunday, February 5 or May 6, 2012
Time: 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Cost (includes one barrel and one kit): $85 for members; $95 for non-members
Necessary tools and materials will be provided. Additional barrels and conversion kits will be available for sale at the end of class for $65. Registration limited to 25.
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2012-05-06
End Time: 17:00

Title: HANC “Build Your Own Compost Barrel” Workshop
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: Don’t trash it! Compost it! According to the Houston-Galveston Area Council, up to 30% of our garbage is bagged up leaves, grass clippings and tree limbs. The City of Houston mandates the use of compostable bags to divert your leaves and yard trimming away from costly dumps, saving both landfill space and tax dollars. Now a private company composts your nutrient-rich wastes and sells it to the public as a natural soil conditioner.

Learn how to compost your own nutrient-rich kitchen wastes and yard debris in this intensive, hands-on workshop where each participant will build their own 55-gallon composting barrel. You can create rich, dark brown compost in as little as 3 weeks!
Course Instructor: Joe Blanton, the Arboretum’s Conservation Director, is certified by National Wildlife Federation as a Backyard Habitat Designer. Before joining the Arboretum staff, Joe designed, implemented and/or managed 16 outdoor environmental education classrooms for Urban Harvest and HISD.
Class Dates (choose one): Sunday, February 5 or May 6, 2012
Time: 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Cost (includes one barrel and one kit): $85 for members; $95 for non-members
Necessary tools and materials will be provided. Additional barrels and conversion kits will be available for sale at the end of class for $65. Registration limited to 25.
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2012-02-05
End Time: 17:00

Title: HANC Photographing Birds
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: Greg Lavaty, one of Houston’s most talented and popular bird photographers, will return to the Arboretum for a class and field trip on photographing birds. His photographs have wowed Texas birders for the past decade. Greg’s ability to find birds and to capture stunning photographs is a skill that all nature photographers will want to learn.

Greg will discuss lenses and other equipment, how to brave the elements to get good shots, techniques for approaching birds for photographs, composing shots, common mistakes in nature photography, and other topics.

A two hour class will be followed by a Saturday field trip to the Texas coast to practice your skills.

Instructor:
Greg Lavaty – view Greg’s photo galleries.

Date:
Thursday, January 26: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Field trip:
Saturday, January 28, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost:
$75 for members, $85 for non-members
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2012-01-26
End Time: 21:00

Title: Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: The recent drought has everyone thinking about water conservation. Go “green” by harvesting rainwater to nourish your soil, reduce your water bill, and water in between downpours. In this hands-on, make and take workshop, learn how a rain barrel will allow you to harvest 55 gallons of chemical-free water from your roof every time it rains.
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2012-04-29
End Time: 17:00

Title: Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: The recent drought has everyone thinking about water conservation. Go “green” by harvesting rainwater to nourish your soil, reduce your water bill, and water in between downpours. In this hands-on, make and take workshop, learn how a rain barrel will allow you to harvest 55 gallons of chemical-free water from your roof every time it rains.
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2012-04-22
End Time: 17:00

Title: Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: The recent drought has everyone thinking about water conservation. Go “green” by harvesting rainwater to nourish your soil, reduce your water bill, and water in between downpours. In this hands-on, make and take workshop, learn how a rain barrel will allow you to harvest 55 gallons of chemical-free water from your roof every time it rains.
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2012-03-25
End Time: 17:00