December 2 – 15, 2019
Mount Washington — When the recent snow and hard freeze sent me indoors, I was ready to research connections between local environmental concerns and urgent global issues and calls to action. Serendipitously, I received the sublime image, “Cherry Blizzard,” from renowned photographer Tom Zetterstrom. The photograph is one of 30 in Zetterstrom’s upcoming exhibition, “Homage to Ice and Snow: vintage silver prints from three portfolios,” at the Five Points Gallery in nearby Torrington, Connecticut. Tom is the consummate advocate for nature, as described by Eleanor Charles in the New York Times, Nov. 12, 2000: “As a photographer of trees and an activist in their protection, Tom Zetterstrom has probably done more to promote their beauty and value than Joyce Kilmer*.” “Homage to Ice and Snow” opens this Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, and is up through Jan. 18, 2020. http://www.fivepointsgallery.org/
Works of art and education that stir and strengthen a community’s sense of identity between nature and humanity further environmental sustainability. Social and political actions are also necessary. Tom Zetterstrom points out that invasive plants and insects are the most significant threats to the health of trees and forests. In the interest of controlling aggressive invasives in the tri-state Berkshires, Zetterstrom’s home region, he is engaged with the Great Barrington Conservation Commission. For reporting on a recent meeting, including videos, focused on efforts to ban the herbicide glyphosate, go to https://theberkshireedge.com/wetland-expert-urges-ban-on-use-of-roundup-weed-killer/ The discussion will continue at follow-up GB ConCom meetings. Check https://theberkshireedge.com/ for meeting dates and agendas.
Please consider taking these additional actions, one national the other for cole crop gardeners:
– Beleaguered Endangered Species Act (ESA), information and petition drive https://www.audubon.org/news/more-1600-scientists-call-congress-fully-fund-wildlife-protection
– Gardeners take note: according to UMass Vegetable Program**, both the imported cabbage worm and the cross-striped cabbage worm, which was formerly restricted to the south, overwinter as pupae in our garden soils. If you can still get to areas with remnants of any member of the cabbage family, remove completely and actively compost.
Resources
Tom Zetterstrom http://tomzetterstrom.com/ and http://www.fivepointsgallery.org/
*“Trees” by Joyce Kilmer https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/12744/trees and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Kilmer#%22Trees%22
**https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/caterpillars-in-brassica-crops
https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/cross-striped-cabbage-worm
https://www.almanac.com/pest/cabbage-worms
