MEET OUR GUIDE
McKay Jenkins is a writer, professor, urban farmer and ecologist. He has published nine books and many articles and essays about the natural world and social justice. His forthcoming book The Maryland Naturalist (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024) is a collection of natural history essays that will serve as the primary text for the Maryland State Master Naturalist Certification Program. His most recent previous book, co-edited with Sue Barton, is The Delaware Naturalist Handbook, published in 2020 by University of Delaware Press. The book, written for a general audience, has chapters on everything from environmental justice and watershed ecology to entomology, climate science and nature photography. It also serves as the curriculum and primary text for Delaware’s statewide Master Naturalist Certification Program, which Jenkins helped design, currently training hundreds of ecological restoration volunteers every year.
Continue reading at https://mckayjenkins.com/bio/
ABOUT THE SITES AND PROJECTS WE'LL VISIT
Nepali American Community Cultural Center
"The Nepali American Cultural Center has secured funding through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation WILD grant program for design of green infrastructure improvements at 12231 Harford Rd, Glen Arm, MD. The improvements will reduce water use and increase available water supply using underground rainwater cisterns, improve air quality, reduce atmospheric CO2, and improve habitat using reforestation tree planting, improve water quality, increase groundwater recharge, and reduce erosion using bioretention and stream restoration practices, and increase recreational opportunities and improve community cohesion through installation of nature play and trails for engagement."
Rock Rose Food Justice Project
"Rock Rose Food Justice Project is a volunteer-run farm that grows crops in over 20 crop rows, 8 outdoor raised beds, and a greenhouse. In the fall months, they grow kale, chard, turnips, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, and tomatoes. In between seasons, farm volunteers amend the land with compost made from leftover farm products, like unused carrot tops. Although nothing goes to waste, the farm imports small amounts of compost to top up their in-house supply.
The farm is functionally organic, never using insecticides or herbicides. Instead, they rely on the city-installed chain link fence to deter animals, and a team of dedicated volunteers to keep crops healthy. A self-made rainwater capture system provides much of the farm’s water supply, alongside water deliveries made by the City.
Rock Rose Food Justice Project is run and farmed by volunteers from the community. The farm donates the crops it produces to two local food kitchens - Soul Kitchen and Love and Cornbread, organizations that use the farm’s donated food to create meals that are given to residents experiencing food insecurity. The farm also hosts students from schools ranging from kindergarten through college, as well as individuals and groups from the city and surrounding areas. Visitors learn about farming, food justice, and volunteerism while taking part in age- and ability-appropriate farm activities.” https://www.ejji.org/urban-farm-profile-rock-rose-food-justice-project
Stillmeadow Community Fellowship
"Serving southwest Baltimore with the restoration and development of 10 acres of land; The property of Stillmeadow Community Fellowship. Working with a myriad of Federal, State, City & Community Organizations. In four short years, Stillmeadow PeacePark has risen from the sadness of unhealthy invasive vines and the ash tree epidemic that continues across mid-Atlantic forests.
Sustainability measures
➤ Solar: In spring of 2021, we installed solar panels in order to become more energy efficient.
➤Cisterns: When Frederick Ave flooded in 2018, Stillmeadow discovered how runoff from our properties could contribute to flooding. We took fast action and added 4 large cisterns and 3 rain barrels, that hold up to 600 gallons of water, to our property with the help of the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Blue Water Baltimore.
➤ Community Gardens: Stillmeadow’s community lies in a food desert. We sought to provide fresh fruits and vegetables by starting a free access community garden."
https://www.stillmeadowpeacepark.com/blog-2-1/blog-post-title-two-7e3c4