'Soil-Building Techniques' the topic of next 'Green Living'

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The spring 2009 “Green Living” seminars and workshops hosted by the Berkshire Environmental Resource Center (BERC) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) will continue Thursday, March 12, at 5:30 p.m. with a workshop on “Soil-Building Techniques” in Murdock Hall conference room 218.

The public is invited to attend this free series, “Good Food: Sustainable Agriculture for the 21st Century,” which aims to inform students and the community why and how to increase the sustainability of our food system. Participants will learn ways to directly contribute to the improvement of agricultural sustainability through hands-on workshops on green gardening techniques. No reservation is required.

A healthy, biologically active soil is essential for healthy plants, animals and people and for a sustainable civilization. Development, roads, conventional fertilizers, pesticides and tillage can destroy soil fertility rapidly. Attendees will earn organic principles and practices that will allow them to care for and improve their soil and gardening success.

This workshop on “Soil-Building Techniques” will be led by Bill Duesing, organic farmer, environmental artist, executive director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) of Connecticut and president of the NOFA Interstate Council.

For more than 35 years, Duesing has worked to promote organic agriculture and greater local food sufficiency in Connecticut and the Northeast through lectures, writings, media and community work. He is author of “Living on the Earth: Eclectic Essays for a Sustainable and Joyful Future.” He was founding president of CT NOFA and founding chair of the New Haven Ecology Project and its Common Ground High School, located on a farm in New Haven.

For more information, go to www.mcla.edu or contact Elena Traister of MCLA’s environmental studies department, (413) 662-5303.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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