From Gail K.
  News from the Garden The River Raisin Institute Organic Seedling Sale is Approaching! Our team has been hard at work growing, up-potting, and maintaining the seedlings. The sale will occur on Saturday, May 4th starting at 10 am. Please join us at the IHM Campus in Monroe (610 W Elm Ave.) to buy some seedlings, meet the staff and board members, and learn about the organization! There will be a variety of tomatoes and peppers, along with other kinds of vegetables. All the seedlings are USDA organic certified and use Dairy Doo’s 101 Seed Starter. We will be accepting a variety of payments too. We hope you can join us this upcoming Saturday to support the River Raisin Institute!Seedling Catalogue & Preorder Form  Earth Day Expo 2024Thank you all for such a great turnout at the 2024 Earth Day Expo on April 27th! This event was a fun, family-friendly day for people of all ages. The River Raisin Institute had a table at the event, where folks were able to learn about our organization, buy some of our seedlings, and make wildflower seed balls! We also exhibited the bats created by local elementary schools for our Climate Literacy Program, with the theme being Bats: Heroes of the Night. A special shoutout to all our schools for their amazing work! Thank you to our fellow partners: The Monroe County Recycling and Green Community Program, Monroe County Library System, The Monroe Family YMCA, and the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for coordinating this event. We thank our generous sponsors for their support: FEDCO, DTE, DTE Foundation, La-Z-Boy, and Monroe Community Credit Union. May is National Clean Air MonthIn the United States, National Clean Air Month is an annual observance that has been taking place in May since 1972. Originated by the American Lung Association, it is a week-long event to raise awareness about the importance of clean air for public health and our environment. Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW) 2024 is May 6-10. The EPA, in partnership with National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as state, local, and Tribal agencies will share information with the public about efforts to protect and improve air quality.  2024’s theme is “Knowing Your Air”. AQAW’s website has resources and information that increase awareness of air quality and push people to take action and consider the learned knowledge into their daily lives. It allows us to learn about what causes poor air quality and how we can prepare for and respond to future events that occur due to this issue. The daily topics of AQAW are as follows:Monday, May 6th – Wildland Fires and SmokeTuesday, May 7th – Asthma and Your HealthWednesday, May 8th – Air Quality and ClimateThursday, May 9th – Air Quality and Environmental JusticeFriday, May 10th – Air, Animals, and PlantsTo celebrate clean air means to understand the issues that arise and how we can all work together to create a cleaner, healthier environment for us and future generations.2024 AQAW ToolkitSources:https://www.epa.gov/air-quality/air-quality-awareness-week https://www.intellipure.com/national-clean-air-month/#:~:text=National%20Clean%20Air%20Month%20is,public%20health%20and%20our%20environment. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders in Climate History With May being Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, it is important to recognize some of the unspoken climate leaders who have continually fought for the Earth and nature.  Larry Itliong, a Filipino-American labor activist, organized a strike of over 2,000 farmworkers in 1965 to stand for better wages and working conditions, including eliminating the use of harmful pesticides that hurt the workers’ health and the environment. After over five years of striking took place, they finally secured higher wages, benefits, and better regulations for pesticides. This environmental justice win remains an important contribution to Asian-American communities and the fight for workers’ rights. Published in 1987, “Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States” was an infamous report that used national data to demonstrate that race is the most predictive factor where toxic infrastructure is located. This was the first empirical study to uncover environmental racism at the national level. The primary author of this report was Charles Lee, a Chinese-American activist-scientist. Four years later, he led a convention in Washington D.C., where US leaders of color formally established the environmental justice movement. This groundbreaking report and movement has created a national awareness of environmental justice and led to Charles Lee’s position as a senior policy advisor for the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice. Native Hawaiians have continuously shown their support for preserving nature. Their fight for a return to indigenous stewardship of the land and the fight for independence remains a strong effort. Recently, a group of native Hawaiians led a successful grassroots campaign that protected two of the world’s largest marine protected areas, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Papahānaumokuākea.  Organizations like the Chicago Asian Americans for Environmental Justice and Asian Pacific Environmental Network have been leading the way in environmental justice and climate legislation. The Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) started in 1991 and by 1993, Laotian refugees had helped to establish the fight against Chevron’s refinery pollution in Richmond, California. In 2016, APEN was able to get the state to pass legislation to mitigate carbon pollution, in turn, making Chevron pay a $5 million settlement for one of their refinery fires. With so many people from AANHPI heritage around the world fighting for their rights and for the land, it’s important to recognize that many of these voices are not included in government and international climate decisions. Representation of all should be a forefront effort in the climate movement and will be the only way to address environmental justice issues. Sources: https://atmos.earth/asian-pacific-islanders-climate-activism/https://www.ncelenviro.org/articles/asian-american-pacific-islander-heritage-month/  No Mow May ⇒ Mow Less May For many of those who want to participate in “No Mow May”, but can’t due to city ordinances, consider the freer alternative of “Mow Less May”. This approach to the initiative allows the continual mowing of lawns, but at less frequency. Due to climate change, Michigan grass is growing longer and quicker than what we are used to during this month. Also, allowing grass to grow to 12-18 inches can negatively impact your lawn’s health. If it is cut, it will make it harder for nature to break down the grass and convert it to nutrients for your lawn. By mowing less, you can still keep a healthy lawn, while preventing issues for the future. Source: Bees in the D Upcoming Events    The River Raisin Institute Organic Seedling SalePlease join us at the IHM Campus to purchase seedlings. All seedlings are USDA organic certified and started in soil blocks using Dairy Doo’s 101 Seed Starter. The price is $5.50 per seedling. Cash or credit cards are acceptable. The sale will occur on Saturday, May 4 from 10 am to 7 pm.Preordered seedlings will be available for pick up on Friday, May 3rd from 5 pm to 8 pm on the IHM Campus. Preorder Seedlings & View the Seedling Catalogue Here:tinyurl.com/rrispringseedlingsale If you are unable to use the order form, please contact us at riverraisininstitute@gmail.com or (734) 240-9754.  This event is free but please note – registration is required. Register Here  Call to Volunteer2024 Lake Erie Water FestivalDate: May 14, 2024Time: 8:00 am – 2:00 pmLocation: IHM Campus, 610 W. Elm Ave, Monroe MIVolunteers needed on May 14th to complete tasks such as:Register attendeesHelp presenters hand out educational materialsand morePlease consider volunteering for this event by clicking the volunteer button to the right or to send an email to the RRI team.  VolunteerAsk A Question 2024 Environmental Career DaysDate: May 29th – May 30th Time: 9:00 am – 2:30 pm Location: Monroe County Community College, 1555 S Raisinville Rd, Monroe, MI 48161Volunteers needed on May 29th & May 30th to complete tasks such as:Help presenters hand out educational materialsand morePlease consider volunteering for this event by clicking the volunteer button to the right or to send an email to the RRI team.  VolunteerAsk A Question 2024 Budding NaturalistsDate: July 22th – July 25th Time: 8:00 – 12:30 pm Location: IHM Campus, 610 W. Elm Ave, Monroe MIVolunteers needed on these days to complete tasks such as:Present to the kidsAssist with educational activities and craftsand morePlease consider volunteering for this event by clicking the volunteer button to the right or to send an email to the RRI team.  VolunteerAsk A Question Partners Supporting Critical Food NeedsDate: May – August by AppointmentTime: Typically 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, but other times can be arranged.Location: Monroe County Community College, 1555 S Raisinville Rd, Monroe, MI 48161Volunteers are needed throughout the spring, summer, and fall to complete tasks such as:Plant and transplant;Harvest produce and flowers;Remove weeds;Water the plants;Package produce;and morePlease consider volunteering for this event by clicking the volunteer button to the right or to send an email to the RRI team.  VolunteerAsk A Question River Raisin Institute sponsors educational works with the goal to respect, nurture, and promote the well-being of all creations. We collaborate with others to promote transformational learning and a sustainable community for the 21st century and beyond. VolunteerAsk A QuestionDonate!Sign Up to Receive the Raisin’ Awareness Newsletter via Email River Raisin Institutewww.rriearth.orgEmail not displaying correctly?View it in your browserUnsubscribe |
Now through May 18th, while supplies last.
Monroe County Master Gardener Association 