Spring heralds Chard Your Yard installations of 24 new beds

Transition Longfellow by By LESLIE MACKENZIE

Transition Longfellow is an all-volunteer group of neighbors who host several activities with the goal of engaging the community in a positive, local response to climate change. Their activities focus on reducing energy use, promoting more food growing, and creating a more socially connected and resilient community. Anyone can participate in Transition Longfellow activities. For more information about the activities each month, visit www.transitionlongfellow.org.

Climate change

Part 2 of the Series: When Climate Change Comes Home – “Here Comes the Rain,” Thur., May 18, 6:30pm, at Longfellow Park Building, 3435 36th Ave. S.

Climate change is already affecting Minnesota, and one of the changes we have seen is fewer spring showers and more mega-rain events (6” to 8” of rain covering more than a 1,000 square miles). These damaging rain events have increased sharply since 2010.

In May, the Climate Conversation series will explore actions individuals and communities can take to prepare for and minimize damage from heavy rain and flooding. Speakers include Kelly Moriarty, City of Minneapolis engineer, talking about steps the City is taking to improve storm sewers and flood control; Professor Pat Huelman, U of M, with new technologies to protect your home from water intrusion; and permaculturalist Rob Czernik and master water steward, Tara Hanlon-Nevins, with tips on water management strategies that can be used in city yards. The session ends with a community discussion.

More information about this series, which is cosponsored by the Longfellow Community Council Environment Committee, can be found on the group’s website under “Preparing for a Changing Climate.”

Chard Your Yard Garden Install – volunteers needed

A resilient community is one that can feed itself. While it may not be possible to meet 100% of a city’s food needs locally, it’s easy to increase the amount of food grown here with the addition of home and community gardens. That’s the goal of the Chard Your Yard garden installation program, which will be adding 24 additional garden beds to neighborhood yards this year. There are three opportunities to volunteer. Sign-up at transitionlongfellow.org.

• Sun., May 7, 6pm: Prebuild the garden boxes. No experience necessary, but a cordless drill is helpful.

• Sat., May 13: Join a garden bed installation team. Group breakfast at 8:30am, garden installations from 9:30am to 2:30pm, then a celebration meal.

• Sat., May 13: Volunteers are also needed to help prepare food. Food donations are welcome.

This event is co-sponsored by the Longfellow Community Council Environment Committee.

Book group

Climate Preparedness Book/Discussion Group, Wed., May 3, 6:30pm at Moon Palace Books, 3260 Minnehaha Ave.; and Wed., May 17, 6:30pm at Lake Coffee House, 3223 E. Lake St. (new location).

The book group is reading “Making Home: Adapting Our Homes and Lives to Settle in Place” by Sharon Astyk. This month’s topic is staying warm and keeping cool. The chapter will be read out loud on May 3 and discussed on May 17. Theresa Rooney facilitates the group.

Movie Night

Movie Night, Fri., May 19, 6:30pm potluck, 7:15pm movie, at Bethany Lutheran, 3901 36th Ave. S.

Movie night is a great way to learn about Transition Towns and gather with friends and neighbors. Share a meal and watch a movie, followed by discussion. Check the group’s website for updated information about the movie.

Northern Spark

Every year, tens of thousands of people attend Northern Spark, the premiere overnight art event in the Twin Cities. This year it’s taking place in locations along the Green Line, Sat., June 10 (9pm) and June 11 (to 5:30am). The theme is Climate Chaos / Climate Rising. Seventy artists and arts groups will be involved, including several members of Transition Longfellow.

Longfellow neighbors are invited to participate in creating the TransitionNOW! art project (details at the Transition Twin Cities website, transitiontwincities.org). Join Transition folks and community members at a fun and free Community Day event, May 20, 6-9pm, at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts (1011 Washington Ave. S.). Children and families are welcome.

• For those who can attend Northern Spark, pick up a free T-shirt and customize it with the help of volunteer screen printers.

• Work with acclaimed book artist, Regula Russelle, preparing tiny books for distribution at Northern Spark.

• Help make leaves that will be part of the Grove of Life tree installation in Lowertown, St. Paul.