The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

agriculture and flora

Three chances to get your hands dirty and help the land

Codman garden

The garden at the Codman estate.

It’s garlic mustard pulling season!

Please help eradicate this invasive plant. There are several “group pulls” you can join:

  • Neighborhood pull—April 26 through May 31
  • Conservation pull—Saturday, May 17 from 9 a.m. to noon
  • DeCordova Sculpture Park pull—meet at the far end of the parking lot. To volunteer, contact Jane at 781-259-2612 or laytonj@lincolntown.org.

Get free paper leaf bags on Saturday, May 3 at the transfer station or any time at the Conservation/Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) offices over the post office, courtesy of the Lincoln Garden Club. Drop off bags of weeds Monday through Friday (plus Saturday May 3 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. behind the DPW on Lewis Street near the cell tower. Bag pickup is available now through May 31. Call the Conservation Department at 781-259-2612 or email laytonj@lincolntown.org. For more information, see the Lincoln Conservation Department website. This event is sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the Lincoln Garden Club and the LLCT.

Garlic mustard weed.

Garlic mustard weed.

Volunteer in the garden and learn about landscaping

Volunteer alongside Historic New England’s staff experts and members to care for and learn about historic gardens and landscapes at the Codman Estate. Work includes seasonally appropriate tasks, such as weeding the gardens and paths, dividing plants, planting new materials, removing invasives, and other cleanup activities. You may choose ongoing participation or just try it out for a day. You’ll also get a $10 discount on membership to Historic New England. The next volunteer opportunity is Wednesday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to noon. Other dates (same time) are May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, Sept. 3 and Oct. 1. Meet at the estate’s Italian Garden.

Lindentree Farm looking for new members

Lindentree Farm is looking for new members this summer. Buy a share of delicious, certified organically grown vegetables, berries, flowers and fruits for 20-22 weeks starting in June. Pickup is at the farm in Lincoln.  Choose from among  two share sizes and three pickup days (Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday). All adult members do four hours of work each total during the season from April through end of October, and children are encouraged to help as well. All new members must attend a preseason orientation on one of three dates. For more information and an application, call 781-259-1259 or email lindentreecsa@gmail.com. Lindentree is also looking for a full-time or part-time crew member who is experienced in growing, planting, tractors, is willing to work in all weather conditions, and is in good physical condition.

Lindentree Farm has served the Lincoln Farmer’s Market for 25 years and has been offering CSA (community-supported agriculture) shares for 21 years. The farm hosts the Field of Greens (volunteers welcome), which grows fresh food for hunger relief organizations in Cambridge. For the last five years, it has been practicing biological, nutrient dense growing methods which help with soil and vegetable and ultimately human health.

More things to do in Lincoln this month

Theater now, music later on at L-S

The LSB Players at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School will stage the final two performances of The 39 Steps tonight and tomorrow, May 2 and 3, at 7:30 p.m. in Kirschner Auditorium. Based on the classic Hitchcock movie, The 39 Steps is an hilarious farce of mistaken identity, who done it, and deadpan humor. Produced in conjunction with the English Department’s Drama in Production class, the show will incorporate complex stagecraft sure to be crowd-pleasing. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Go to the LSB Tickets webpage to reserve seats.

Also at L-S in May, the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra (LSCO) will wrap up its 2013-2014 season with its spring concert on Friday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. Interim Conductor Ray Daniels will direct the orchestra in the overture to Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute, Gabriel Faure’s Pavane for a Dead Princess, Alexander Borodin’s On the Steppes of Central Asia, and Felix Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony (#5). L-S senior and Sudbury resident Emily Liang is the featured soloist in the Concerto in A minor, RV 356, by Antonio Vivaldi. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 for adults or $5 for students and senior citizens. A reception will follow the concert.

LSCO is a volunteer community orchestra comprising high school students and adult community members who share a love for preparing and performing substantial orchestral repertoire. The members have classical music training at the intermediate to advanced level and rehearse weekly. Neither professional performing experience nor residence in Lincoln or Sudbury are requirements for membership. Daniels also serves as associate conductor for the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra and has conducted symphony orchestras throughout the U.S.

For more information about this concert or about participation as a performing member, contact the orchestra at lscivicorchestra@gmail.com.

Spring cleanup at Codman this weekend

Please join us for Codman Farm’s Volunteer Spring Cleanup Work Day  on Saturday, May 3 starting at 8:30 a.m. Come for the day or come for an hour. Volunteers will be treated to a great lunch. We’ll find a task to suit your energy level and time commitment. Tasks include:

  • Barn cleanup
  • Refrigerator shelf cleaning
  • Brush burning
  • Wood pile moving
  • Wood chip spreading
  • Sugar shack cleanout
  • General trash pickup (tell the kids it’s a hunt!)
  • Painting
deCordova

Dance Spot at deCordova.

Dance outside at deCordova on Sunday

Try out your moves on outdoor dance floors in the deCordova Sculpture Park on Sunday, May 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Multimedia artist Elisa H. Hamilton pairs colorful diagrams, site-specific dance routines and songs in her participatory installation Dance Spot. Free with admission or membership.

Also on Sunday at the deCordova: celebrate jewelry artist Wiwat Kamolpornwijit, Artist of the Month at the deCordova Store for May 2014, during a drop-in weekend reception at 2 p.m. Admission to deCordova Store is always free.

Garden Club fundraising sale is on May 10

Get out your trowels and potting soil—it’s time for the Lincoln Garden Club’s biennial fundraiser plant sale on Saturday, May 10 at the Codman Barn. There will be something for every type of garden including perennials from local gardens, rare and unusual specimens, patio planters, herbs and shade plants. This year we have an abundant number of peonies and unusual lilies and irises, as well as hostas, ornamental grasses, echinacea, daisies, geraniums, anemones, spirea, trillium, astilbe, bee balm, bleeding heart, coriopsis, rubeckia, and much more. To entertain the kids, the Garden Club has a fun hands-on craft planned that will make a perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Plants will be sold from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., so plan to spend the morning browsing for plants. This fundraiser supports the Garden Club activities such as the planter in front of the library, floral arrangements for home-bound residents, and public lectures on gardening topics. Questions? Email Belinda.gingrich@verizon.net. Learn more on the Lincoln Garden Club website and hear news about meetings and events.

frog

A capella night to support LEAP

Join fellow Lincolnites for a night of a capella at Bemis Hall on Friday, May 16 from 7-10 p.m. to support LEAP (the Lincoln Extended-day Activities Program). There will be food, drinks and fun, as well as a silent auction and raffle to support LEAP, Lincoln’s longtime afterschool program. Prizes to bid on include dinner and a movie with babysitting, gift certificates to salons, a basket of wine, a loaf of bread every month for six months from Nashoba Valley Bakery, 18 holes of golf, Red Sox tickets, and more. Tickets are $25 ($30 at the door). Come to LEAP to purchase tickets in advance. Child care for the event will be provided at LEAP for $10 per child. Reserve a spot by May 14. To donate something to our benefit auction or raffle, please contact Kathryn Hawkins at978-505-8751.

Pie bakers

Rev. Daniel MacDonald and Eva Elder of St. Anne’s show off their pie-baking skills.

Pie-baking competition at St. Anne’s on May 16

St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church  is hosting a pie-baking competition as a fundraiser for the youth mission trip this summer. The event takes place starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16 in Flint Hall. We’ll have pies for judging, pies for eating and pies for buying.

You can submit a pie to be judged in any one of four pie categories (fruit, custard and cream, savory, and exotic); prizes will be awarded for each category as well as Best in Show. Register online at www.stanneslincoln.org. There will also be a pizza pie dinner and live music with admission to this fabulous event. Come hear more about our mission trip to New York City in July, and help support its funding by entering a pie, or buying a pie, or just coming to enjoy the festivities.

“What Makes Me White?”

The Lincoln METCO Coordinating Committee (MCC) will present the 45-minute film What Makes Me White? on Monday, May 19 at 6 p.m. in the Brooks Auditorium. The documentary discusses the role of race in the daily lives of white people. Designed as a gentle tool for the classroom, boardroom, and house of worship, the film avoids blame, guilt, or “political correctness.” The hope is to inspire individuals to reflect on the invisible influence of whiteness on personality and life. The audience will engage in a discussion of the feelings and thoughts raised by the film. Students in grades 6-8 can also see the film on Wednesday, May 21 at 12:40 p.m. Lunch will be provided courtesy of the MCC.

Program offers low-cost rain barrels

barrel-colorHaven’t installed a rain barrel yet? Did you install one last year and need a second one to collect more water? The Lincoln Water Department has again teamed up with Upcycle Products Inc. to offer low-cost barrels. Order them online by May 10 from the Upcycle.com website (click on the Lincoln form in the right hand column). The barrels will be delivered for pick up at Stonegate Gardens on South Great Road on Saturday, May 17 from 4-6 p.m.

Using rain barrels to water your gardens reduces the water drawn from our drinking water supply, helping Lincoln to achieve the DEP’s water conservation goals while simultaneously saving you money. The soft, chemical-free rain water is very good for grass and other plants. During a rain storm, an enormous quantity of water runs off a roof, so you may want to order more than one. Each 4’ x 8’ section of roof that receives a quarter-inch of rain will fill a 55-gallon barrel.

“Peter Pease has been our best customer so far,” says Lincoln Water Commissioner Ruth Ann Hendrickson. “I went to see his installation. He uses four to supply soaker hoses and two to fill buckets for hand watering. Peter reports that he had to use sprinklers far less last summer in spite of the weeks without rain.”

All the Upcycle Products plastic rain barrels were originally used for transporting food products to the U.S. from overseas, while the oak barrels were used for whiskey, so this program not only promotes water conservation but also diverts large quantities of material from the waste stream. Reuse is the best form of recycling.

Early May is packed with Lincoln events

calendar4Here are just a few of the events coming up in Lincoln early next month. Click the links for details in the Lincoln Squirrel calendar or on the website of the group that’s running the event.

May Day Merriness — Thursday, May 1
1-2:30 p.m., Drumlin Farm
We’ll make and decorate May baskets, then gather flowers from spring’s bounty to fill them. Plant some flower seeds in the garden and some to take home. This is a great family program for all ages. Registration is required; $12 for Mass Audubon members, $15 for nonmembers. More info…

[Read more…] about Early May is packed with Lincoln events

Trail walks led by Conservation staff

Visit a different area of Lincoln’s open space each week on Wednesday walks led by Conservation Department staff on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Walks are typically about 2.5 miles long. Wear sturdy shoes and always dress for the weather (walks are held rain or shine). Meeting places and descriptions are listed below.

trail walks 2014

Cool stuff coming up in Lincoln

Police_CapEvents in the next few days in Lincoln include a trip down memory lane with several former Lincoln police chiefs, a town candidate forum, and Drumlin Farm’s annual Sap-to-Syrup breakfast.

On Friday, March 14, the Lincoln Council on Aging will screen “50 Years of Public Safety” starting at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The 2004 DVD features former Lincoln Police Chiefs Leo Algeo and Allen Bowles—both of whom will be there to participate in a panel after the film, along with another former Lincoln chief, Dominic Arena, and current chief Kevin Mooney. Find out how public safety in Lincoln has changed over the years, reminisce, tell some stories of your own, and ask questions.

On Saturday, March 15, the Republican and Democratic Town Committees are co-sponsoring a nonpartisan candidate forum at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Meet the 20+ candidates who are on the ballot for the March 31 town election, and learn their qualifications and interests, and become informed about important issues that may impact the town for years.

There are a few spots left for the Sap-to-Syrup breakfasts at Drumlin Farm on Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets ($15 for adults and $12 for children over age 2) include a half-hour seating for a breakfast of pancakes with real maple syrup, Drumlin Farm roasted potatoes and sausage, plus access to special programming around the farm. See how sap is collected, explore the natural history of trees, learn about Native American sap-to-syrup techniques and purchase maple syrup made at Drumlin Farm to take home with you. Call 781-259-2206 or register online.

Drumlin Farm family programs

sheepDrumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary has plenty of programs to keep you busy through this cold winter season. Check out this sampling of upcoming programs! For more information about our programs or to register, call 781-259-2200 or visit www.massaudubon.org.drumlinfarm.

Winter Wool Craft Series: Knitting II – Building Skills
Saturday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m. to noon
What can you make from wool?  Join other teens 13-17 interested in creating amazing projects and developing craft skills. Visit with the sheep and build on your basic knitting skills. $20 for members, $24 for nonmembers.

Chickadee Birders: Eagles and Owls
Sunday, Feb. 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The North Shore is a perfect place to go in search of all our favorite wintering birds, such as ducks, eagles, and owls. We will introduce elementary age children (ages 7-11 or grades 2-5) to the basics of birding, bird life, and seasonal migration. Birding is a lifelong skill that can lead to a greater interest in the outdoors and the environment as a whole. $30 for members, $36 for nonmembers.

Kinglet Birders: Owl Prowl
Sunday, Feb. 9, 1:30-3 p.m.
Share the exciting and fascinating world of birds with your 4-6 year-old child as we search for owls and meet some of Drumlin Farm’s owl residents. Meet some of Drumlin Farm’s birds up close and explore field, forest and wetland looking for the birds that make these habitats their home. Learn activities that you can take home to expand your experience, wherever you live. $10 for members, $12 for nonmembers.

Wondrous Wool
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1-2:30 p.m.
Visit the soft and fluffy sheep all snug in their barn. After our visit share sheepish stories and make a woolly toy to take home. A great family program! $12 for members, $15 for nonmembers.

Owl Always Love Ewe
Friday, Feb. 14, 3:30-5 p.m.
It’s Valentine’s Day—what would Ewe want? Owl might have a different idea; mice are so very nice. Let’s visit with the sheep and make some wooly valentines. Perhaps Owl could teach us a Love Song to woo someone special. Whoo, whoo, who loves Ewe? A great family program! $12 for members, $15 for nonmembers.

Teen Birders: Eagles and Owls
Saturday, Feb. 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Birders aged 12-17 can travel with us to Newburyport and Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for a full day of searching for eagles, hawks, owls and more! $35 for members, $42 for nonmembers.

Naturalist Walk
Saturday, Feb. 15, 1-3 p.m.
Are you interested in the natural world around you? Join us on these Saturday afternoon excursions that will focus on observing, exploring and appreciating the world around us. We’ll cover wetlands to uplands, exploring all the habitats of the sanctuary, as we look for amphibians, reptiles, mammals, flowering plants, trees, shrubs, lichens, fungi, insects, and birds. We’ll follow the seasonal changes that occur on the sanctuary as the year progresses. Each walk will focus on a particular area or habitat as we build our understanding of ecological communities and our mutual interdependence. This program is open to adults or teens 16-17 accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is not required. $10 for members, $12 for nonmembers.

Robichaud takes over as head farmer at Codman

Andy Cook

Eric Robichaud served his secret-recipe pancakes at Codman’s Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on January 11, where staff and board members honored long-term volunteers who help with animal care and egg collecting each week. (Photo courtesy Codman Community Farms)

This is an edited version of an article appeared in the January issue of the Codman Community Farms member newsletter.

Codman Community Farms recently welcomed a new head farmer, Eric Robichaud, who grew up on a farm—Codman Farm, to be exact.

[Read more…] about Robichaud takes over as head farmer at Codman

How do you feel about leaf blowers?

leafblower-compositeThe town’s Leaf Blower Study Committee is asking resident to complete an online survey about leaf blower use in Lincoln as part of its research on noise and air pollution impacts of leaf blowers, possible alternatives and potential cost impacts.

Paper copies of the survey can be picked up and returned to the Town Office Building, Bemis Hall, the Lincoln Public Library, or the Parks & Recreation Department.

The panel will also hold a public meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Donaldson Room at the Town Offices to give residents an opportunity to air their opinions and to hear what the committee is up to.

Formed as a result of a vote at the March 2013 Town Meeting, the Leaf Blower Study Committee has been meeting since July and will make a presentation at  Town Meeting this March. However, vice chair John Koenig in December said the group will not be proposing any  regulations for a vote at that time, saying at the December 16 Board of Selectmen meeting that it was “too soon.” Although the group has asked for a spot on the agenda, “we don’t really have a plan yet for what we’re going to do at Town Meeting,” he said.

With the help of the survey and other input, the committee hopes to find out “if we have a mandate at all” for restricting leaf blower usage, Koenig said. How to enforce any such regulations will also an issue, he added.

The committee has compiled research on the effects of leaf blowers, which members say include air and noise pollution from the two-stroke gasoline engines as well as pollution from particles blown into the air by the devices. These particles, which can remain airborne for up to three days, include dirt, road salt, animal feces and other substances in addition to bits of grass and leaves, Koenig said.

“What you end up with is an aerosol of a lot of offensive products,” he said. The machines can also cause horticultural damage by blowing off topsoil, he added.

Some commercial property owners use leaf blowers year-round to clear paths and paved surfaces of dirt and litter. In Lincoln, the “epicenter” of this type of use is in the Lincoln Station area, he said, but the town also uses leaf-blowers on recreation fields and other public property.

Perhaps driven by the wide availability of leaf-blowers themselves, standards have changed in recent decades. “There’s this notion that the place has got to look nice,” Selectman Renel Fredriksen noted.

Although alternative machines are being developed, “we know electric equipment is not commercial grade… there needs to be some better technology,” Koenig said. Alternatives might include using gas blowers only at the height of leaf season and electric ones at other times of the year, or having neighbors share an electric leaf blower and battery packs, or even subsidizing exchanges whereby residents could trade in gas-powered leaf blowers for electric models, Koenig said.

Selectman Noah Eckhouse said it was important to hear from all sides and “have a balanced outcome” before making any decisions. He noted that other outdoor equipment such as chainsaws also produce smoke and noise.

“It’s a quintessential Lincoln type of topic,” Board of Selectman Chair Peter Braun said.