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Dear EarthTalk: Why do eco-advocates consider backyard gardens so crucial to conservation?— Paul Murphy, Butte, MT
Backyard gardens might seem like just a hobby or a way to make a home look nice, but they actually play a much bigger role in conservation. As cities expand and natural habitats shrink, small green spaces like home gardens can provide essential food and shelter for wildlife. This idea falls under garden ecology. This is a field that looks at how gardens function as ecosystems. Homeowners can make a real difference in supporting biodiversity by choosing the right plants and maintaining these spaces with care.
Backyard gardens help is by supporting pollinators like bees, butterflies and birds, all which rely on plants for food. In return, they help plants reproduce. “Urban gardens can act as mini-refuges for pollinators, especially in places where natural habitat is disappearing,” says Dr. Susannah Lerman, research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service. First of all, without enough green spaces, pollinator populations decline. This then affects everything from wild plant growth to food production. Gardens also create small patches of habitat that connect larger green spaces. This makes it easier for wildlife to move around safely.
Not all plants offer the same benefits. Native plants that naturally grow in a specific area are the best choice for conservation gardening. They require less water and maintenance since they’re adapted to local conditions, and they provide the right food and shelter for local wildlife. On the other hand, non-native or ornamental plants look nice but can do more harm than good, aggressively taking over native habitats.
Garden ecology research also shows that diverse gardens help improve soil health and support a wider variety of species. A mix of trees, shrubs, and flowers at different heights can create a more balanced ecosystem. The more plant diversity a garden has… the more kinds of insects, birds, and small mammals it can support. Some homeowners even participate in citizen science projects e.g. they can track the species that visit their yards to contribute to conservation research.
Making a garden more wildlife-friendly doesn’t require a complete overhaul. One can start by planting a few native species, reducing pesticide use, and letting part of their yard grow more naturally. Even small changes can make a difference. For example, leaving fallen leaves for insects to hide in or providing a water source for birds. Backyard gardens may not seem like much, but when enough people take the right steps they become an important part of conservation efforts.
EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk.
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Acclaimed author Susan Choi opened the Hotchkiss Library’s fall series, reading from her new novel, “Flashlight.”
Leila Hawken
A rare opportunity to engage with the studied, meticulous process through which a recognized, award-winning author turns a core idea into a full-length work was the order of the day when the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon invited Susan Choi to speak on Saturday, Sept. 27. The program kicked off the Fall Author Series planned by the library, with two more authors scheduled for October and November.
A winner of the National Book Award, Choi based her talk on her recently published work, “Flashlight,” and the happy news that it has moved from the longlist to the shortlist for a Booker Prize.
“We’ll just be here together,” was the tone set by Choi in the informal talk. She spoke without notes and welcomed audience questions in conversation.
Choi began by reading an excerpt from the very beginning of her book —what had once been a short story published in The New Yorker. A father disappears. The story unfolds over time, memories, and the culture of nations, examining mysteries and catastrophe, all acting in concert to impact characters over decades.
“How memories shift over time” was something Choi said her book explores.
“It was challenging,” Choi said of the writing process and the research involved in depicting 1970s Japan, not yet westernized. “Mysterious things had happened in that era,” she said.
“I was interested in how long these things had gone unexplained and whether the characters who populate the narrative would come to understand those real mysteries,” Choi said.
“How lives are formed by circumstances we don’t understand” was an idea that invited exploration as Choi wove her narrative.
A background as a professional fact-checker informs and influences Choi’s meticulous research and writing process, with a strong emphasis on historical accuracy.
“If we are exploring our shared human history, I can’t get it wrong,” Choi said.
Next up in the Fall Series at the library is Peter Kuper, insect illustrator, who will describe his creative process that led to “Insectopolis: A Natural History.” The talk is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 5, at 4 p.m.
The final program in the series will feature Aleksandra Crapanzano speaking about her cookbook, “Chocolat: Parisian Desserts and Other Delights,” and offering a cooking demonstration on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 4 p.m.
Advance registration is advised and can be made on the library’s website: www.hotchkisslibraryofsharon.org
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"Sold out" signs were a common sight through the summer as visitors to the Millerton Farmer's Market bought up their favorite produce and baked goods.
Photo by Aly Morrissey
MILLERTON — As the Northeast Community Center’s farmer’s market heads into its final outdoor months, organizers say there are still a few tricks left in their bag. With autumn underway, the market will continue its new tradition of monthly themes to bring structure and fun to a season that doubles as a family-friendly outing, a place to meet friends and a chance to enjoy local music.
October will be “Spooky Month” at the market, and visitors can expect fall-themed crafts and maybe even a tarot card reader. Halloween will come early on Saturday, Oct. 25, and Katie Cariello, NECC food programs coordinator and market manager, said costumes are encouraged. Kids will be invited to go trick-or-treating around the vendors’ tables.
Looking ahead, November will be “Gratitude Month.” On Saturday, Nov. 8, the market will host programming in honor of Veteran’s Day and spend the month thanking their vendors and other community members.
Cariello is wrapping up her first season as the market manager and has enjoyed working with a small but collaborative team of vendors. “Our vendors are a tight knit group,” she said. “It’s always so lovely to see them collaborating together during the market.” Rather than competing for sales, Cariello and her team have observed a camaraderie that sets the tone for the community-oriented market.
For example, The Baker’s Wife — a small artisan bakery and mill in the Hudson Valley — has supplied bread to a few vendors so they can enhance the display of their products. You can also hear the vendors promoting each other, adds Cariello.
Attendance has spiked and plateaued at different points throughout the summer, but NECC said attendance isn’t always a good indicator of sales, with some vendors selling out on days when attendance was lower. Either way, Cariello and her team are grateful for the foot traffic through Veteran’s Park. “Customers of all kinds, whether they are weekly, visiting or come through once a month, all bring value to the market.”
But it’s not all about the produce and food. Cariello said one of her favorite aspects of the market is actually the NECC crafts table. “A point of pride is when a kid asks to stay and color while parents go purchase their vegetables and baked goods,” she said. “I’m happy we have created a safe and inviting place for families.”
With eyes toward expansion, NECC tested the waters this summer with a secondary market in Amenia, though the organization collectively decided there wasn’t quite enough momentum to continue with that initiative. “Launching a small town farmer’s market can be tough,” Cariello said, offering that while not entirely successful, there were positive aspects that came out of the pilot program. “A lot of good ideas were generated and the experience will positively inform community events moving forward.”
Cariello is grateful for the market’s longtime and new vendors and the relationships she has made in her first year at the helm. “They are the literal bread and butter of the program!”
Accessibility remains a central focus for the market, which continues to expand programs that make fresh, local food more affordable. Through the Double Up Food Bucks program, shoppers using SNAP benefits can double their spending power up to $50, turning $50 in tokens into $100 worth of market food. The market is also working to better support use of Farmers Market Checks, which are provided to seniors, WIC recipients and veterans. So far this season, the market is on track to redeem $1,000 in nutrition incentives — its benchmark goal — though organizers say more outreach is needed to ensure community members know these resources are available.
The NECC Farmer’s Market is always on the lookout for new vendors. If interested, an application is available on the NECC website and prospective vendors can contact the market manager at farmersmarket@neccmillerton.org.
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“New York Minute” by Matthew White contains over 150 images and illustrations by the author.
Provided
On Saturday, Oct. 4 at Hillsdale General Store, design devotees, urban romantics, and those who’ve ever glanced up at a clock tower in New York City will find their time well spent. Literally. Designer and author Matthew White will be on hand to celebrate the launch of his new book, “New York Minute: Public Clocks That Make the City Tick” (Abbeville Press), a lavish ode to the unsung sentinels of the city: its public timepieces.
If the title sounds nostalgic, that’s intentional. In “New York Minute,” White — one half of the storied design firm White Webb — turns his discerning eye to more than fifty clocks scattered throughout the five boroughs. Think sidewalk-level curiosities, soaring church towers and those quietly majestic lobbies. It’s architectural tourism with a personal twist.
The book, featuring a foreword by New York magazine’s design editor Wendy Goodman, is gorgeously produced, but it’s White’s storytelling that elevates it and makes it, shall we say, timeless. These clocks aren’t just decorative; they’re witnesses. “Every time I went out photographing, it was a perfect New York day,” said White. “It made me fall in love with New York again, in a different way.”
His chapters unfold not by neighborhood, but by where the clocks live architecturally — on façades, rooftops, or nestled within unexpected public spaces —offering a fresh look at a city already so mapped and mythologized. White’s favorite? The Grand Central Terminal clock. He describes it with reverence: “It’s not just a clock. It’s a public art piece. It’s the largest sculptural group in the city and home to the largest installation of Tiffany glass in the city,” White explained, his three years of research evident.
White weaves personal narratives throughout, transforming the text into an intimate exploration of time’s cultural and personal significance. Among the photographs, some historical and most taken by the author, White has added his illustrations of each clock, quiet interludes that invite the reader to pause.
Originally from Texas, White moved to New York City at eighteen to attend the School of American Ballet. After five years in New York, he moved to Los Angeles where he met his husband. The two moved back to New York City a few years later and found their second home in Hillsdale shortly thereafter.
After moving to Hillsdale, White got involved in several committees devoted to preserving the history of the hamlet. “I fell in love with the town and started redoing buildings and trying to create a resurgence,” he said. The General Store, now in its 14th year, and The Kitchen Store across the road in its 10th, keep White occupied. Asked about potentially opening a third location, White was clear about his current capacity. “I mean, I would love to if I could. I certainly have ideas, but these two are more than enough to keep me busy.”
Writing this book has not necessarily changed his relationship to time but, he said, “it’s made me more aware of it.”
There will be a second book launch at Johnnycake Books in Salisbury on Nov. 15. At both Johnnycake and the General Store on Oct. 4, you can expect warm, chatty signings — not just pens and inscriptions, but anecdotes, observations, and White’s particular knack for making urban history feel personal and alive. After all, this isn’t a book about clocks. It’s about time, and what we do with it.
The book will be available at the signings and is also available at abbeville.com
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Letter to the editor: Thursday, June 12, 2025