TKF Announces Grant Reduction
Due to the economic downturn, our funding opportunities for the current grant application cycle are very limited.
We welcome your letter of intent but anticipate grant funding in 2010 will be greatly reduced. Thank you for your understanding.
Donate Garden Books & Camera Equipment for a Good Cause
The Maryland Correctional Institute of Jessup (MCIJ) is in need of our help. They are collecting any gardening/plant/tree books for their library as well as video cameras or still cameras to document their gardening process. The warden at the facility has started a very basic gardening program for interested inmates to compost, grow, and plant garden plots within the prison, but their only resource for information is very limited access to the web. TKF recently awarded MCIJ a 2009 grant to create a meditation garden. On a recent TKF staff visit, the inmates expressed their thirst for knowledge of all things garden related. In addition, a small group of inmates expresed interest in learning camera skills to document this whole process. Any books or cameras/equipment you can donate will help feed the inmates desire to learn, improve their gardening and camera skills, and further their interest what is a totally new experience for most of them. If you can help with books or camera equipment, you can drop them off at our TKF Foundation office located at: 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 216, Annapolis, MD 21401. M-F (9am-5pm).
If you’d like to send the books or camera equipment directly, please mail to:
Maryland Correctional Institution of Jessup
Attn: Warden Carolyn Atkins
Gardening Committee
Route 175, P.O. Box 549
Jessup, Maryland 20794
$25 Off your Next Tree
Print out your coupon from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for $25 off your next tree purchase. The coupon is good between April 1 and November 30.
For more information, visit: www.trees.maryland.gov/
To print your coupon, visit: www.trees.maryland.gov/pdfs/coupon.pdf
In Memory of David T. Barnes, 49, of Eastport
Mr. Barnes was a dedicated landscape architect, generous community leader, avid sailor, and spirited world traveler. He donated many hours working to create beautiful community greenspaces in Eastport including several in conjunction with TKF. All of us at TKF will greatly miss his friendship and spirit.
TKF extends its deepest sympathy to Mr. Barnes’ family and friends. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 31 at Severn Sailing Association, First Street at Spa Creek in Eastport. Dress is casual sailing attire. Arrangements by John M. Taylor Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA of A.A. County, PO Box 3471, Annapolis, MD 21403.
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/obituaries/2009/01/1057/David-T-Barnes.html
Congratulations, Mahan Rykiel
Landscape architecture firm Mahan Rykiel Associates recently received two awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects. The firm has designed several of TKF's green spaces. Congratulations to them on their well-deserved awards!
CHANGE Begins with You
How are you changing your community? The Case Foundation wants to know. They are awarding weekly prizes for 250 word submissions. Tell them how you are creating CHANGE at http://change.casefoundation.org.
EPA's New Reduce Runoff Video
The short 9-minute film showcases green techniques that are being used in urban areas to reduce the effects of stormwater runoff on the quality of downstream receiving waters.
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/video.html
How the City Hurts your Brain
Check out the recent article in the Boston Globe that highlights the importance of nature:
www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/01/04/how_the_city_hurts_your_brain
New! Community Greening Resource Network (CGRN)
This new greening network provides a wide range of services to its members: (1) Four annual Give-Away Days (providing seeds, compost, vegetable seedlings, bulbs, perennial flowers); (2) Tool Banks with hand tools to borrow; and (3) Workshops held by gardeners and Baltimore City greening organizations on gardening and greening related topics. CGRN also provides a 20% discount on renting power equipment; the "See Green" Newsletter, networking opportunities, and annual celebrations. CGRN is now accepting applications for 2009! ! Community Garden Membership includes all of the above benefits for $10. Individuals can join to attend workshops and receive the newsletter for $5. You can find an application and more info at www.parksandpeople.org, or contact Sarah Krones at Parks & People Foundation at 410-448-5663 x 114, sarah.krones@parksandpeople.org.
What's your Carbon Footprint?
The Nature Conservancy has a great carbon footprint calculator that measures your impact on our climate. The carbon footprint calculator estimates how many tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases your choices create each year. Go to their website and calculate yours! See how you can help ensure a stable climate for future generations.
Friends of Patterson Park Receives Hathaway Ferebee Award
The Friends of Patterson Park recently accepted the Hathaway Ferebee Award from the Citizens Planning and Housing Association
for their work in the community: organizing volunteers and clean and green initiatives.
It is a notable award amongst community organizations in Baltimore. Congratulations, Friends of Patterson Park, for your well-deserved award!
Neighborhood Design Center Launches GREEN News
Interested in fully embracing green design and sustainable practices? Sign up for the Neighborhood Design Center's new enewsletter, greeNDC! It features thoughtful, environmentally-sensitive projects with NDC's clients in Baltimore City and Prince George's County. Each issue highlights stories, aspirations, and hopes for greener design and therefore better projects. To sign up, email kristeneh@ndc-md.org.
In Loving Memory of Jean Davis Parmele
Jean was a 3rd generation Washingtonian and lived her entire 88 years in the District. She loved gardens and would sit everyday in front of Sunrise Assisted Living on Connecticut Avenue looking at the plantings there. Jean's family has requested that in memory of her love for gardens, donations be made in her honor to the TKF Foundation. The funds in her honor will go directly towards creating and enhancing green spaces in Washington D.C.
League for Disabilities Receives White-Water Feature
The League for Disabilities, a TKF grantee located in Baltimore, recently received a generous gift--a massive water feature. Nearly 16,000 gallons of water now tumbles along more than 85 feet of stones and boulders before disappearing into a hidden underground reservoir at their Therapeutic Sensory Garden. The water feature was generously donated and installed by the Savio Water Feature Institute in conjunction with the National Pond Expo & Conference.
Marcus Appointed President of Newborn Holistic Ministries
TKF would like to congratulate firesoul Todd Marcus of Newborn Holistic Ministries, Inc. He recently transitioned from his role as Program Developer of Martha's Place to the position of President of Newborn Holistic Ministries, Inc. TKF wishes him all the best.
Gamper Spotlighted for Volunteer Work
Tom Gamper, TKF firesoul who has worked tirelessly on developing the Children's Peace Center Satellite Site in Sandtown Winchester, was recently featured as one of the Neighborhood Design Center's spotlighted volunteers for his dedication and hard work to community-building. Great work, Tom!
TKF Receives Vision Award
TKF is a proud recipient of a 2008 Vision Award, given on a yearly basis by The Committee of 100 on the Federal City. The award honors and recognizes the visionary work of people and projects throughout Washington D.C. across a range of disciplines.
The Committee of 100 advocates responsible planning and land use in Washington, D.C. Its work is guided by the values inherited from the L'Enfant Plan and McMillan Commission, which give Washington its historic distinction and natural beauty, while responding to the special challenges of 21st century development. It pursues these goals through public education, research and civic action, and celebrating the city's unique role as both the home of the District's citizens and the capital of the nation.
Congratulations to TKF Firesoul Dr. Mark Bergel
Dr. Mark Bergel, founder of A Wider Circle, was recently awarded with a 2008 Linowes Leadership Award. A Wider Circle's mission is to help
residents of the Washington metropolitan area lift themselves out of
poverty. The organization provides clients with basic necessities – food, shelter and furniture for their homes – but also stresses
the importance of building self-esteem and self-worth.
New PBS Series, Garden Story, Airs
Check out a great new PBS television series called the Garden Story: Inspiring Places, Healing Spaces. To find when it airs in your local area, click here. To purchase a DVD of the program, click here.
Television Producer Carol Dana Wins Emmy
TKF would like to congratulate Carol Dana on her recent Emmy award in the category Magazine Program—for a segment she wrote and produced for Maryland Public Television’s “Outdoors Maryland.” Carol is currently working on a documentary featuring a TKF space at the University of Maryland.
Bean Creative Wins Coveted Webby Award
Bean Creative, TKF's web design firm, has been selected as an Official Honoree for the Religion and Spirituality category in The 12th Annual Webby Awards for their design of TKF's website! With nearly 10,000 entries received from all 50 states and more than 60 countries, this is an outstanding accomplishment. Congratulations, Bean!
Learn More about Our Partners
Our mission would not have become a reality without the dedicated
works of our partners. Visit our new partner
profiles page where many of them will be featured in coming
weeks.
Patterson Park Voted Best Park in Baltimore
Thanks in part to the efforts of one of our grantees, Friends
of Patterson Park, the park has been voted the best in Baltimore
by the Baltimore City Paper. The article cited the
park as being a "model for the whole city" since it
is impeccably maintained and has a myriad of events throughout
the year that are open to the public. Click
here to read the article, and head out to the park to see
for yourself!
