It was an eventful Earth Month 2024… thanks to everyone who organized and supported Oxford’s events and celebrations. We received an updated total on the number of trees given away from the OPC ‘Trees for Life’ program organized by Dick Munson… an incredible 1695 trees! If you have a photo of your tree planted and growing, please email it to opcc4c@gmail.com Learn more about how important trees are (and a soft landing zone’ underneath them) by revisiting this story map created for the ‘Biodiversity in your yard and beyond’ campaign.
Today at 7pm, Science of Prairie Restoration
Nerd out on the science of ecological restoration this Wednesday, May 1 7pm, Dr. Sara G. Baer, Director, Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, University of Kansas, will give a presentation entitled, “Restoration remains an acid test: applying theory in ecology and evolution to understand prairie restoration.” Dr. Baer will also give a Biology Department seminar on “Reversing ecosystem disservices caused by agriculture: plant and soil drivers of belowground ecosystem recovery during grassland restoration” at 4:15 pm, Thursday, May 2 in 218 Pearson Hall.
Vote for Local Businesses in the “Best of Butler County” Now through May 10
Help raise the profile of some of our local Oxford Businesses with sustainability at the core of their mission, such as MOON Co-op, BikeWise Oxford, and Shademakers Garden Center.
May 2, Des Fleurs Garden Club “Quick Sale” and Auction
Des Fleurs Garden Club offers a wonderful “quick sale” at 8am at OCAC of affordable plants grown by garden club members, which often features many quality native plants. This sale is followed by the formal silent auction and luncheon at 10.
May 4, Shademakers Goes Wild! 9am-12pm
Shademakers Nursery will be unveiling their native plant offerings. Come join Wild Ones Miami Valley to answer questions about going native in their yard.
Sat. May 11th - 9-12 Seed Bomb Children (of all ages) Activity at the Oxford Farmers Market
Join Wild Ones Miami Valley and get your hands dirty and go home with a collection of seed 'eggs' to toss wherever wildflowers are needed.
Sat. May 11, Audubon Miami Valley Field Trip Herbert and Patricia Wagers Memorial Park
Visit the “Devil’s Backbone” of Prebble County with Audubon Miami Valley. Details here.
Monday May 13 7:30pm: AMV Program on Prairies, Pathogens, and Pesticides: Evaluating Causes for Population Declines in Blanchard's Cricket Frogs
Michelle Boone’s lab at Miami University (Boone Lab) has been trying to understand factors that contribute to range contraction and population declines in a species of concern in the state of Ohio, the Blanchard's cricket frog (Acris blandchardi). Over the last decade, they have evaluated the effects of land use change, agricultural pesticides, and widespread pathogens to understand factors that may help and harm populations of cricket frogs with an eye toward creating win-wins for amphibian and human coexistence.
Sharefest with E-waste Drop off, Thursday May 16 through May 21 9am-5pm
Sharefest is an important annual opportunity to ensure that as our students move out and we clean our homes, that materials are re-used and find good homes. This is a great volunteer opportunity. This year, the City of Oxford is again partnering to offer e-waste collection. More info at https://www.sharefestoxford.com/
In Memoriam:
In the last month Oxford lost two of our ‘bright lights’ in sustainability. Please find their obituaries linked below, and information on how to contribute to their legacy.
Sharon Edwards: Sharon Edwards was an environmental educator who created the ‘Environmental Mobile Unit” or EMU, teaching generations of local children to care for nature. Link to obituary. Audubon Miami Valley is collecting funds to plant a memorial tree for Ms. Edwards at Oxford Community Park. You can contribute by mailing a check to Audubon Miami Valley, P.O Box 556, Oxford Ohio 45056 and indicate on the check “Sharon Edwards memorial”.
Dr. Ron Wiley: Ron Wiley was physiologist and professor at Miami University who had a passion for native plants and trees. Link to obituary. The family has suggested memorial donations in Ron’s name to the Darrtown Reunion Committee for upkeep of the Memorial Park’s trees, shrubs and walkway pavers
Citizens Climate Lobby, Ohio: Letters Needed
Members of our local Miami Valley Citizens Climate Lobby chapter will be visiting the office of Warren Davidson and our other Ohio representatives in D.C. at their annual conference and lobby day in June. They are looking for letters of support for climate action from community leaders who own businesses, are elected officials, or have served in the military. Please check out the template here. If you would like to submit a letter, email it to annkweb@gmail.com.
Finally, here are some ‘good news’ dispatches from Peggy Branstrator:
There's a lot of Gloom and Doom about Climate Change in the news but that's not the whole story! There's still a LOT of work to be done and we need to keep pushing hard, but there is evidence that we are making real progress on slowing climate change.
Ohio ranks 5 in new solar for 2023! Even with the barriers our Legislature has passed! Who would've guessed!
China installed more solar in 2023 than the US has done in its entire history. They are still building coal plants but they are making great progress on renewable energy!
Earth Day 2024: Why you should celebrate climate change optimism (usatoday.com)
The cost of getting to zero carbon has been calculated and its less than you might expect. Its still a lot on money but it's not out of reach as some might think!
Thanks Peggy. If you have submissions for future newsletters, please send to oxohsustain@gmail.com