Month: June 2019

Unfortunately, we must say good bye to a friend and ardent PCWEA supporter, Andrew Bliss.  Andrew announced last week that he has accepted a job in Westminster, Colorado.  We wish Andrew much success in his new job.  He will certainly not need any luck.   Andrew has proven to be a zealous promoter of environmental conservation.  Career-wise in Central PA, Andrew worked as Community Outreach Coordinator for Capital Region Water, Harrisburg PA.  We met Andrew in 2014, when he worked for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as PA Grassroots Coordinator.

Andrew served as president of PCWEA from 2016 to 2018.  During his administration, he brought professionalism and excitement to our organization.  Of his many programs and successes, he guided the organization in obtaining and implementing a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) environmental education grant.  With this grant PCWEA conducted a series of educational seminars focused on outreach and education for differing segments of our watershed community.  One of these seminars, which Andrew personally coordinated, brought author Thomas Hylton to Harrisburg to speak about the importance of trees in improving the livability of our cities and towns.

Andrew also served on PCWEA’s Board of Directors for over 5 years.  During that time, he continually developed new and thoughtful plans to help grow PCWEA.  Andrew’s optimism and frequent smile provided the organization with the impetus to improve and become stronger.

Prior to his heading west, PCWEA awarded Andrew with a certificate of our appreciation and a new PCWEA polo shirt  (Photo upper right).

Our April members’ meeting was held at Milk & Honey Farms near Linglestown. Owner Tim Wallace invited us to survey the property and the decision was made to donate 30 trees from our nursery, to help reforest a wooded area where numerous ash trees had been lost to the emerald ash borer. 

We walked the farm with Tim and other volunteers, enjoying the sunny early spring day and the lovely scenery at the base of Blue Mountain. The farm borders a headwater tributary of Paxton Creek. “Wolf” a baby goat provided comic relief and cuddles. Photo at right was taken during the meeting.

Milk & Honey Farms is home to a small herd of pygmy goats, an 8-hive apiary that produces raw honey, a flock of free-ranged egg-laying chickens, and fruit trees and vegetable plots. Since 2017 the farm has supported individuals and families in need, donating produce to the Military Share program of the Central PA Food Bank, Bethesda Mission, and other small local food banks.

On May 19^th, farm volunteers braved heat, humidity, and insects to plant young white oaks, crab apple, and elderberries before thunderstorms rolled in. Wire cages were installed around the trees for protection from deer and other threats. We plan to monitor the success of this method compared to the more commonly used plastic tubes that can eventually end up in our creeks and rivers.  See Photos Below

Livening up the Wetlands Festival, our very own Bryan Genesse on ukulele, with assistance from member Randy Allen.