Recently, I traveled there to attend the opening of PS41 Greenwich Village School’s green roof. The historic area of Greenwich Village is an area that I have visited before, but had never experienced through this particular lens: I saw kids living in a pavement world. I saw parents walking their kids to school every morning down 7^th Ave. with taxis rushing by. I saw kids eating their breakfast while their moms and dads hustled them across busy streets.

None of this is really a surprise—I know that kids grow up in big cities—but what I didn’t really stop to ever think about, was, well…the obvious: what it really means for kids to grow up in big cities. 

I do not have kids of my own, but I do have a one-year-old niece, and seeing New York this way really made me think about how this was a normal day for these kids. I couldn’t imagine growing up in the city, and all I kept asking myself as I stood by and watched the morning commute was, “Where do these kids play? Where do they venture out for that ‘green escape’ for the afternoon?”

At PS41, I found my answer: There’s no room on the ground? No problem! We’ll put it on the roof.

PS41′s green roof. Greenwich Village, New York City.

PS41 is packed between shops, parking garages and sky scrapers, but the kids that I saw on that roof had escaped from the pavement and hustle of the New York I had always known. I too, found myself not wanting to leave the roof.

We didn’t want to leave its beauty! PS41′s green roof, September 2012.

Turn your school into an Eco-School!

Learn more about the National Wildlife Federation and how you can turn your school into an Eco-School like PS41!

Winning Meme

Congratulations to Angie for winning the 2012 Garden for Wildlife Month Meme contest!

Till next time…

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest– your entries were fantastic!

Congratulations again, Angie!

With Urban Organic Gardening expert Mike Lieberman at my side and encouraging me that “you don’t need a green thumb, just two opposable ones,” to garden, I set out  to show gardening who’s boss, and instantly became a paranoid, first-time grower.

Will they grow? Why aren’t they sprouting right now? What if “my babies” don’t make it? Because just like the Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers song: The Waiting really is the hardest part.

And then…

It happened.  Three weeks after I put seed into soil, it happened.  I lifted up my homemade greenhouse and my little cherry tomatoes had sprouted. A few days later, the bell peppers and jalapeños also sprouted.  I’ve never been more proud of myself in my life.  Maybe this gardening stuff isn’t so bad after all.

For the first time ever, I’m excited about the idea of eating produce that I’ve grown from a seed– a fresh salad, veggie stir-fry and jalapeños poppers have never sounded so good. And for NWF’s Garden for Wildlife Month, I’ve added a few native plants to my garden that will attract wildlife, including butterflies and birds.

Today, my garden is HUGE, and I’m happy to share with you photos of my garden’s progress:

My bell peppers on April 21. Such babies!

My bell peppers on May 30-- getting so big!

Petunias remind me of my mother She always grew them in Georgia when I was a kid.

My cherry tomatoes on April 21.

My cherry tomatoes on May 30. These are my pride and joy-- they're growing so well. I don't know why the one is so much bigger, but all three are healthy!

The plants add that special touch to my balcony-- so homey!

The waiting continues…

Even though today, May 31, is the last day of Garden for Wildlife Month here at NWF, the fun is just beginning in the gardening world.  As I continue watering my plants every other day, The Waiting has moved from seeing sprouts to eating fresh produce!

Happy Growing, My Fellow Friends!

Wildlife-Friendly DMV Garden for Wildlife Month Edition

Wildlife-Friendly DMV connects wildlife enthusiasts in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia to local wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation. I will share with you the wildlife and nature where I “roam,” and bring to life the stories of people around our region who speak up for wildlife.

Our first attempt: 

 Meme design by Beth Pratt and Marine Jaouen

Hey Girl…

Inspired by NPR’s series, Hey Girl, I heart NPR , our goslings and NWF invite you to join us for Garden for Wildlife Month and a competition to create a “Hey Girl” meme like this one; you can use your own pictures of geese– or any wildlife– or you can use ours.  Add your submissions to our Facebook page or pin it to Pinterest through May 16, and the winner will receive a Garden for Wildlife fleece blanket! 

Happy Meme-ing!

The entrant must affirmatively agree to these Official Rules when submitting the entry form for the Contest.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ODDS OF WINNING WILL DEPEND ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTRIES RECEIVED. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. ONLINE ENTRY ONLY AND INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED.

Contest only open to legal residents of the 50 United States or D.C., 13 years and older.The Contest begins May 3, 2012, at 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) and ends May 16, 2012, at 11:59 PM EST (“Entry period”). The contest winner’s photo will be published on NWF’s Facebook page by May 31, 2012. ARV of all prizes awarded: $10.00 Winners may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and release of liability and publicity (where permitted). Subject to full Official Rules. Company: National Wildlife Federation, PO Box 1583, Merrifield VA 22116-1583.

More Garden for Wildlife Month Fun:

• Wildlife Garden Tour and Native Plant Sale: Join us on May 12!
• Certify your habitat: Let us show you how!
• Watch! The Garden for Wildlife Month video!
• Which plants are native to your region? Find out now!
• Help spread the word about Garden for Wildlife Month!

Click here to view the embedded video.

3… 2… 1… Liftoff!

For the next six months we’ll publish weekly video blogs, such as this one about the Sky Dance of the American Woodcock.

There are 10 participants from around the Federation: Lindsay Hauswald, Carla Brown, Danielle Moodie-Mills, Beth Pratt, Bentley Johnson, Kendall Mackey, Tony Summers, Nic Callero, and Ryan Stockwell, and myself.  

I know I speak for all the participants when I say “Welcome!” We look forward to sharing our stories from around the Federation with you.

National Wildlife Federation’s Storytelling Video Diary Series shares the candid tales of 10 NWF staffers from around the country; armed with their cameras in the Great Lakes, California, South Dakota, the Pacific Northwest, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC, these 10 staffers will share with you their individual trials, epiphanies and stories as they unfold in their daily adventures.

A Big Brown bat eating a meal worm. Photo credit: MABlevins, 2012

As I’m no expert on bats (I fall under the “Oh, they’re so cute!” category), I’ve asked the National Wildlife Federation’s Naturalist David Mizejewski to shine some light (no pun intended) on these fascinating, flying friends.

1) Should we be alarmed to see bats in our neighborhoods?

David: There are several species of bats common to the DC area so this sighting is not anything to be alarmed about. Bats play an important role in the ecosystem by preying on insects, some of which are pests (beetles and moths in particular, and also to some degree mosquitoes).

2) But what about seeing a bat during the daytime?

David: Bats are indeed nocturnal but just seeing one in daytime doesn’t mean anything is wrong with it.

3) What should we do if we see a bat in the daytime?

David:The rule of thumb when encountering any wild animal, at any time of the day, applies here: it’s ok to watch and appreciate, but never approach or try to handle it –let wildlife be wild.  If you follow this rule, you’ll never have a dangerous encounter with wildlife.

A Big Brown bat. Photo Credit: MABlevins, 2012

4) What should we do if a bat does indeed look “sick?”

David: If you see clear signs of illness such as erratic movement, loss of fear of humans, aggression, mouth foaming, etc. leave the area and report it to animal control.

5) How can we help bats?

David: Bats can use all the help we can give them.  We’ve trashed their habitat, and now an epidemic called White Nose Syndrome has wiped out about 6 million bats in just the last few years.  One easy way to help bats in your neighborhood is by putting up a bat box.

So regardless of what side of the “batty” spectrum you’re on– love them or fear them–you can become an animal ambassador by educating others on how to help protect bats (and yourself) if one ever lands itself on your window. Because as much as we all wish that bats were vampires (like those in the HBO series TrueBlood), bats are simple yet important creatures–and at the end of the day, merely misunderstood.

Wildlife-Friendly DMV: Keep it Local, Keep it Wild

Wildlife-Friendly DMV connects wildlife enthusiasts in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia to local wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation. I will share with you the wildlife and nature where I “roam,” and bring to life the stories of people around our region who speak up for wildlife.

Wildlife-Friendly DMV connects wildlife enthusiasts in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia to local wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation. I will share with you the wildlife and nature where I “roam,” and bring to life the stories of people around our region who speak up for wildlife.

Balcony before its makeover.

…Till now.

I was told by Urban Organic Gardening expert Mike Lieberman that in gardening, “you don’t need a green thumb, just two opposable ones.”  His words struck a chord with me, and they were the only encouragement I needed to face my fears and (attempt) to build an urban garden.

Step 1: Evaluate

The first step is evaluating– what kind of space do you have (either inside or outside) and what kind of sunlight does your space get (or will you use an indoor lamp)?  I have a great outdoor balcony that gets 6-7 hours of morning sunlight.

I decided to plant jalapeños, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes and mint, along with onions (bulbs) and flowers.

Step 2: Plan

The second step is planning.  What kind of plants and veggies do you want to grow? A smart question to ask yourself to answer this is, “What are the vegetables that you eat most often?”  Based on this, I’m going to grow cherry tomatoes, jalapeños, mint and green peppers, and onions.  I’m also going to grow flowers and a money tree (the tree is an indoor plant but can also be put outside in warm weather).

The other half of planning is deciding what tools you’ll need, and that requires a shopping list.

My items: seeds, soil, small shovel and planters. 

Additional items for indoor planting: an indoor lamp

Balcony after the makeover: will also include two additonal large planters (and the hanging baskets will have soil/flowers in them after the last frost). The lamp is solar powered.

Step 3: Shop

“Shop till you drop” as the saying goes, and with my shopping list in hand, I did just that at the local Home Depot.  While shopping for my supplies, I learned that all the vegetables that I wanted to grow (except for the onions because I got bulbs), needed to germinate.  Because of this, I also picked up biodegradable cowpots to germinate my seeds in. 

Step 4: Plant

1) For the seeds that need to germinate: I set up my station of seeds, cowpots, soil and shovel.  I then filled each cowpot w­ith soil and then placed 2-3 seeds in each one (if more than one sprout comes up, that’s okay—you can transplant them into a new container). Water is the next step, and over the next 6-8 weeks, the mint, bell peppers, jalapenos and cherry tomatoes will germinate. 

What the seeds need most: warmth and moisture. I have to make sure they are watered regularly, and remain warm (though that doesn’t mean they need lots of sunlight, as that can actually dry them out).  I used plastic bags to make a greenhouse effect.

2) For the flowers that don’t need to germinate: I will plant those AFTER the fear of a late frost has passed; I bought California poppies and Dianthus to plant, along with onions.

Step 5: Wait

Homemade labels: old corks, Q-tips and paper. Make a slit in the cork on one side. Punch a whole in cork on the other side. Cut one end of the Q-tip off; put into hole. Tape paper onto Q-tip like a flag & write name on paper.

So on this Leap Day, I too challenge YOU to take a “leap” into the dirt, seeds and sunshine, by becoming an urban gardener—the environment (and your belly) will love you for it.

Think you have what it takes to become an urban gardener AND create a NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat? Take the challenge and email blevinsm@nwf.org with your story and pictures to be featured in an upcoming Wildlife-Friendly DMV post.

Wildlife-Friendly DMV connects wildlife enthusiasts in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia to local wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation. I will share with you the wildlife and nature where I “roam,” and bring to life the stories of people around our region who speak up for wildlife.

Today, January 23, 2012, marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year is considered the most important of all traditional Chinese holidays, and is known as the “Spring Festival“ in China.  Each Chinese New Year also represents a different zodiac sign (such as the Rabbit or Tiger), and this is the Year of the Dragon.

Dragons are mythical and mysterious creatures, and are known for their intense power and symbol of good fortune.  As a “dragon” myself (you can decide what year I was born in: 1904 * 1916 * 1928 * 1940 * 1952 * 1964 * 1976 * 1988 * 2000), I’m equally as mystified by these enchanting creatures.

This Komodo dragon's name must be Drool... Yikes! Komodo Dragon/ Photo by Flickr's Adhi Rachdian

1) Komodo Dragons

Weighing in at an impressive 300 pounds and reaching up to 10 feet long, Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth.  If you run into a Komodo dragon — say on your daily jog — it’s important to know they can run up to 11 mph in short bursts.

What does this mean for their prey?  The only way to avoid a Komodo dragon is running (quickly) into a tree or high spot. If the prey is bitten, but does escape, they will be dead within 24 hours due to the venom in a Komodo’s bite that “rapidy decreases blood pressure, expedites blood loss,  and sends the victim into shock, making them too weak to fight.”

Survival tool: A jet pack

2) Leafy and Weedy Sea Dragons

Leafy Sea Dragon by Flickr's 斗室‧亞Len

Survival tool:  Camouflage-detecting snorkeling gear

3) A Real-life Dragon?

What should you do if you have an encounter with a real-life dragon like this one? (Click here).

Survival tool: RUN.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Please note: Komodo dragons, leafy dragons and weedy dragons do not live in the continental United States. 

Wildlife-Friendly DMV: Keep it Local, Keep it Wild

Without warning, it’s the holiday time and I begin humming the 1963 classic, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Written by Eddie Pola and George Wyle, and performed by Andy Williams, this Christmas song perfectly sums up the holiday cheer that I experience each year: friends and family, and lots of food, caroling and parties.

Roosevelt Island Park in Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of WorldIslandInfo

And this year, my wish list for Santa Claus has drastically changed. I don’t want electronics, clothes or gift cards; instead, I want to see a bald eagle and wild ponies. And the best part about this wish list? It can come true!

5 places to see Bald Eagles and Wild Ponies this holiday season:

Roosevelt Island, Washington, DC
I know that our nation’s capital is not known for its wildlife –unless politicians count—but you would be surprised how many creatures call Theodore Roosevelt Island home. Named after our most conservation-minded president, this Potomac River island is open to visitors who can stroll through the marsh and woodlands and see deer, ducks and a variety of birds including bald eagles and great blue herons.

Located within the borders of D.C. but only accessible by land in Virginia, Roosevelt Island also offers hiking and biking trails for outdoor fun.

Wild ponies at Assateague Island National Seashore. Photo courtesy of Dean Wissing.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland
If your Santa wish list is like mine and a bald eagle sighting is #1, then the Blackwater National Wildlife Refugeis the best spot in the region. It’s the go-to place in Maryland to see an abundance of bald eagles not only in winter, but throughout the whole year.

The refuge hosts a healthy breeding population of bald eagles and high concentrations of wintering eagles drawn by migratory waterfowl each winter.

An American Bald Eagle perched on a tree in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service.

With 550 wilderness acres in 14 parcels known as the James River Park System, the James River offers visitors lots of animal varieties—see nesting bald eagles, a great blue heron rookery, cormorants, ospreys, hawks and maybe even a peregrine falcon.  Explorers of the James River could also encounter deer, beavers, river otters, foxes and coyotes.   

Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia
If you like birds, birds and more birds, then the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Lorton, Virginia is the place for you. The Refuge was created to protect bald eagle nesting, feeding and roosting habitats along the Potomac River. There’s also more than 1,200 nests for great blue herons, along with an endless variety of ducks—quack quack!

Enjoy the holiday season and don’t forget to take advantage of the wonderful wildlife in your backyard!

Wildlife-Friendly DMV: Keep it Local, Keep it Wild

‘Tis the Season from Wildlife Promise:

• 5 Gifts Birds Are “Tweeting” About This Holiday Season
• Shift Your Gift Into a Gift For Wildlife This Year
• Reindeer: 12 Fascinating Facts About These Amazing Creatures
• Habitat Certification and Other Gifts for Gardeners
• The Northern Cardinal: Find Out About the Bird That Most Symbolizes the Season

I walked into the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland and instantly turned into my 8-year-old self; all giddy inside, I rounded the corner in anticipation of my first animal sighting.

And there she was: Calypso. A 450-pound green sea turtle.

Meet Calypso: a 450-pound green sea turtle who lives at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. MBlevins/NWF

At first, I didn’t notice that Calypso only had three fins, as it didn’t stop her playful demeanor. She swam amongst the sting rays and zebra sharks, cruising around—almost like she was saying hello to all the aquarium guests.

Through Calypso, I saw how the work of the National Aquarium and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) can come together to protect and restore the wildlife and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay.

Joining Forces to Support the Chesapeake

In November 2011, the National Aquarium in Maryland became NWF’s newest affiliate (an affiliate is a voluntary relationship between independent statewide organizations which support the purposes and objectives of NWF). The partnership will link conservation efforts from Appalachia, to the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Specifically, the Chesapeake Bay is home to hundreds of native plants and wildlife, as well as important wetlands that support migrating birds and other species. In 1999, the National Aquarium realized it needed to strengthen the connection between the natural world and its visitors.

“Our conservation program [at the National Aquarium] helps make that wildlife connection not only in our building, but out in the region through large scale projects and community involvement,” said Laura Bankey, Director of Conservation at the National Aquarium.

This is a floating wetland outside of the Aquarium in the Baltimore Harbour. The wetland is man-made from all recycled materials. MBlevins/NWF

Education for All Ages

Through educational tools, inside and out of the classroom, the National Aquarium brings schools and communities together to learn about the Chesapeake Bay.

At the Aquarium itself, visitors can instantly learn about Maryland and the Bay area. The outside landscape has Bay themed plants and natural habitats, including native plants found on the Chesapeake coast like ferns, trees and grass-like plants. Inside, the second floor of the Aquarium features four Maryland exhibits that demonstrate how water unites different parts of the natural world; from the mountains to the sea.

Out in the “field,” locals and volunteers have learned the importance of the Bay—for animals and humans alike. In fact, I learned that channels in the region are dredged for boats, and the materials –traditionally dumped into the ocean—are used to recreate wetlands, such as areas in Blackwater and Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

In more than 12 years, the National Aquarium’s conservation efforts have resulted in 155 more acres of wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay. Each acre has 18,000 plants that were planted by hand for a total of 1.4 million plants.

“It’s about being able to connect local citizens and students to the areas that they are most likely to care about,” said Bankey.

“What animal weighs 450-pounds and eats nothing but vegetables?”

Click here to view the embedded video.

As I weaved through the Aquarium taking in the jellyfish, dolphins, snakes, frogs and endless amounts of exotic fish, I couldn’t help but overhear a group of student’s chatter about finishing the scavenger hunt first –one kid whispered to her competitor that she wouldn’t give away any of her answers.

For students, the National Aquarium provides opportunities to learn about the species and habitats that exist right in their own backyards. From September to February each year, Maryland students (Pre-K-12) can visit the aquarium for free. Outreach education with the Aquarium includes terrapins in the classroom, planting native plants, maintaining fish and plant ponds, and a variety of classroom presentations such as marine mammals and squid dissection lab.

“There are animals down the street that you may not know are there and we are helping kids make the connection that these animals in that water rely on healthy environments, like good quality of water,” said Bankey. “And your health is tied to this too—we all need to do our part to create a healthy Chesapeake Bay and be healthy neighbors.”

Protecting the Chesapeake for Years to Come

An animal ambassador is a rehabbed animal that is unable to live in the wild, but helps to educate the public. MBlevins/NWF

At 2:30 p.m., volunteer divers feed Calypso her daily diet: romaine lettuce and Brussels sprouts. For Breakfast, she ate green peppers.

As I watched Calypso bob her head for the Brussels sprouts, I learned that turtles traditionally don’t use their back fins for swimming (they serve mostly as rotors for navigation), but to help compensate for only have three fins, Calypso uses all three fins equally.

It’s through animal “ambassadors” like Calypso and the National Aquarium’s conservation efforts that students—and adults—are learning how education and volunteering goes a long way in protecting species, wetlands and habitats in the Chesapeake Bay region.

This new “wildlife-friendly” friendship has created a united front on behalf of every single creature that calls the Bay region home. And though Calypso is only one example of an animal ambassador in the National Aquarium, she will always be the 450-pound green sea turtle that opened my eyes to what can be achieved when two organizations work toward the same goal of protecting the Chesapeake Bay.

Wildlife-Friendly DMV: Keep it Local, Keep it Wild