Air Quality Crisis Last Week: What Happened?

 

Resource: Ben Garver Berkshire Eagle June 7 2023 

https://www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/columnists/clarence-fanto-the-bottom-line-wildfire-smoke-worst-in-20-years-northeast/article_bbeea1ac-055d-11ee-b30d-4fc85295f248.html 

If you went outside last week, you likely noticed the smog enveloping Pittsfield. The smog persisted for a few days and made the air smell like smoke. This was caused by particulate matter, or PM 2.5. This particulate matter is a mixture of various chemicals and some of them are harmful. These were carried here by wind from the ongoing Canada forest fires. Canada is experiencing an increasingly high volume of forest fires this year, and it’s expected to get worse. It’s believed that these fires were the result of a dry season and more frequent lightning strikes*. While the Pittsfield smog has dispersed for now, there’s a high chance that we’re going to encounter more air pollution as the forest fires continue to burn.  

 

Fires in Quebec 

Resource: https://globalnews.ca/news/9762553/canada-wildfires-rain-air-quality/ 

PM 2.5 is something we encounter in our everyday lives, though not in levels as high as last week. Cars and industry release a large amount of PM 2.5, but not enough for our air quality to be considered dangerous. However, with the forest fires, we reached 190 on the Air Quality Index, which we usually score 30 on. The more PM 2.5 in the air, the higher the number goes. Readings under 50 are considered healthy and above 150 is considered unhealthy**. This can cause health issues in the short and long term. In the short term, it can cause discomfort, coughing and shortness of breath. In the long term, it can cause respiratory and cardiovascular damage. 

However, humans aren’t the only organisms affected by wildfire pollution. Many of the effects on humans are also applicable to animals. Respiratory and cardiovascular problems can be found in animals that suffer long-term from PM 2.5 exposure. It’s even more damaging to small animals, who can have a spike in mortality rates when exposed to PM 2.5***.  

The PM 2.5 is also being deposited into our soil and water through acid rain. When it rains, most of the pollutants in the air are captured by the rain and then deposited in the soil and into natural bodies of water. This can increase our water’s acidity and the number of carcinogens present. The quality of water has an effect on humans, although the impact is larger on ecosystems and animals, who rely on the unfiltered water to survive****. 

 

Resource: 

https://www.kqed.org/science/1970688/long-term-health-effects-of-wildfire-smoke-feared-with-covid-as-wild-card 

It is likely that we’ll see more smog in the immediate future, so it’s important to know how to stay safe through this. You can check our air quality on Airnow.gov. When the levels of pollutants rise to unhealthy levels, try to stay indoors, wear a mask if you have to go outside, and avoid outdoor physical activity as much as possible. If you can filter the air coming into your house that would be ideal. Close your windows and use fans or air conditioners with filters. Trees and plants will also filter the air so if you have houseplants that’s even better. If you have pets or livestock, it can be beneficial to have emergency plans for when this happens again. Consider making plans to safeguard young children, seniors, and immuno-compromised individuals.  

Although, this disaster can serve as a wake-up call to a lot of us. Third world countries are being affected by environmental issues already; some countries have instituted successful programs we could learn from. Hopefully, citizens will advocate for programs addressing global warming, and push for much-needed accountability. Can we move forward upholding and enforcing environmental laws that are already in place? 

 

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/margaret_mead_100502  

 Contributors:

Logan Osorio

Logan Sargent

Works Cited: 

*https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-08/how-did-canadian-wildfires-start-smoke-spreading-united-states/102454424 

** https://www.airnow.gov/  

***https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac30f6/meta 

****https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects-acid-rain 

 

Transplanting plants in the Quad on 5/24/2023

You are Invited!  Take home a bit of BCC! — Transplanting plants in the Quad on 5/24/2023

From: Christina Wynn

Hi there…

As you know, the quad will be under construction for the better part of the summer as we make accessibility improvements to our campus. BCC Student and Green Team member Roberta Hayes and others are spearheading a project to transplant plantings from the quad, and she needs some volunteers to help.

In that spirit, please join us….

When: Wednesday, May 24th (the same day as the picnic at Paterson), beginning at 8:30 AM

Where: BCC Quad

Who: All BCC campus groups (students, staff, faculty)

Why: You are invited to put on their gardening clothes and work with Roberta to move plantings before the construction starts. For their efforts, volunteers can take home a bit of BCC. Roberta will help guide you through the transplanting process and provide information on how to best care for the plantings you take home. No gardening experience is necessary, and we will provide gloves and shovels. If you’d like to take plantings, please come with a strong cardboard box so you can carefully take them home.

Click here to let us know if you’d like to help!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

My thanks,

Christina

Christina L. Wynn

Interim Vice President for Administration & Finance

Berkshire Community College

Green Team Wish List for Tools and Supplies Summer 2023

Tool List Update

These are the tools and supplies we use every day — outdoors —for many Green Team tasks.

Green Team is currently looking for two types of tools, for Summer 2023 garden and landscape projects, and the Pollinator Pathway Project!

1. Spading forks, four-tine, on strong wood or fiberglass d-handles, preferably new or gently used. 

 

2. Garden shovels for transplanting, long handled, on strong wood or fiberglass d-handles, preferably new or gently used.

 

 

The brands we have used before are “Fiskars” and “Husky”, yet if you have good tools you would like to donate to BCC Green Team, any sturdy brand is great!

 

If folks have questions please feel free to reach out and let Green Team know.

Thank you, and please send questions and suggestions to Roberta Hayes:

roberta_hayes@student.berkshirecc.edu

Thank you for your participation and interest in the Green Team of Berkshire Community College.

Green Team Blog—Garden Tool Wish List Update

Community Cleanup Event – April 29 @11am

Last year’s community cleanup event was such a success that the BCC Green Team has decided to try and make this a yearly event. Local schools and parks will be our focus, and our spring community cleanup event for 2023 has been all planned out.  We will be joining forces with the folks at the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) so a big thanks for doing a majority of the planning and letting us join them.

When: Saturday, April 29 at 11 a.m. (rain or shine!)
Where: Durant Park and Riverside Park (John St, Pittsfield MA, 01201)
What to bring: Weather appropriate clothing (jackets, hoodies, sunglasses, etc.)
Also: There will be a demonstration tree planting at 11 a.m.

We will be taking photos throughout the event so remember to bring your best smile! If anyone has any questions please feel free to reach out and let me know.

Green Team Announcement: Discover Books

Green Team would like to share our announcement about a collaborative re-purposing/recycling project on the BCC campus.

Book Bin

We now have a Discover Books donation bin on campus!

This bin can be used by anyone in the community and will accept any sort of book in just about any decent condition.  Your efforts are especially welcome right now; we just began the CR2ZW/RecycleMania season ( …more on this, soon!)  We hope to retain our tradition of a high score for the “Campus Race To Zero Waste”, a national competition.

Books collected via Discover Books are sold, donated to various charities, or turned into pulp (to help make house insulation, paper products, etc.).  For more details on Discover Books, please   check out their website,  and  https://www.discoverbooks.com/About-Us-Mission-and-Beliefs-s/2519.htm

“ Resale, Redistribute, Recycle ” is basic to the mission of Discover Books, and they even have a blog, to encourage people to read and connect – through books:  https://www.discoverbooks.com/Blog-List-of-All-Topics-s/102962.htm

Berkshire Community College’s new bin is located adjacent to the loading dock behind the Susan B. Anthony Building, next to the row of bins, at the east end of the row.  If you have any concerns before putting a book in, please feel free to contact Green Team.  If you place a book in on accident, have second thoughts about a textbook you might think you need to use again, or if you think anything else dropped in the door of the bin, feel free to let us know, we can help.

Discover Books Process

Book Bin 2Discover Books Location

This collaboration between BCC Green Team, BCC Library, with help from Facilities, has been over a year in the making.  A huge thank you goes to Richard Kovarovic —  for his diligent work on getting this in place.  It was a long process — and he took the lead; helping Green Team tremendously.  Rich K. worked in the BCC Library until recently having left for a new role at the Dutchess Community College Library.

Please reach out if you have any questions.  Thank you for donating!

Thank you for participating in this new initiative.  Your help makes Green Team efforts

even more effective and impactful.

Green Team Logo

Sunflowers are Awesome — Here’s Why!

   

Sunflowers.   Growing sunflowers can be one of the most rewarding endeavors when

planting a garden.  For many, the sunflower is one of the first seeds many children may

have planted at a school or community garden, or even a farm if you grew up in a rural

community.  An easy plant to grow — tolerant of drought, beneficial to ecosystems,

providing a nutritious food source for people and animals, a boon for pollinators –

the list of why sunflowers are great is a long one.  Sunflowers are an important plant

worldwide – and have a fascinating story – a story that is still evolving.

 

Would you like to learn more?

Here are topics in the full files you can download:

(with some examples)
  • Sunflowers in History and Sunflowers today.
  • Sunflower products benefit people worldwide.
  • Sunflowers grown at home and commercially are a versatile and sustainable crop.

 

  • Sunflowers are pollinator friendly.
One of the most promising plants for pollinators of all types, farmers have for decades in the U.S. planted companion fields adjacent to huge food crops such as corn.  They are a food source for an uncountable number of bird species, rodents, small and even large mammals.  They provide links of all types for food webs.  This is true not only on massive farms but also in your backyard.  Sunflowers of course offer nectar and pollen, and not only are they a resource for wild and managed bees – they are crucial to butterflies, moths, flies, hoverflies, beetles, and myriad other important wildlife.
  • Sunflowers as a symbol of hope amidst tragedy.
Early during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, a video on social media shows a Ukrainian woman bravely on her own confronting heavily armed Russian soldiers – telling the latter to “take these seeds, put them in your pockets so at least sunflowers will grow when you all lie down here” – on Ukraine’s soil.
The sunflower, an ever important traditional facet of Ukrainian culture, has since become a global symbol of hope, resistance, and unity. 
        
Photo-copyright-2022—Hakan-Akgun–SOPA–Light-Rocket–Getty Images —– Photo-copyright-2022–Ukraineworld.org—articles-ukraine-explained–putin-misread-ukraine —– Photo-copyright-2022–Reuters-Images-UK —– Photo-copyright-2022—Diane-BeZucha—Wisconsin-Public-Radio—Protest–Russian-born-students–University-of-Wisconsin-and Wisconsin Educational-Communications

 

Download the first two “Planting For Pollinators”;
“Sunflower Resources” and “Sunflower Tips and Suggestions” files here:

Resources to Learn Much More About Amazing Sunflowers

Sunflower seeds – Tips and Suggestions

 

….. Thank you for growing sunflowers …..

Questions?  —  Want to learn more about “planting for pollinators” at B.C.C.? —  Want to learn about seed saving technique and seed sharing for next year?  —  Would you like to receive Green Team posts via e-mail? — Would you like to be sent the two new “planting for pollinators” full documents? —  Please e-mail:  roberta_hayes@student.berkshirecc.edu

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

Green Team Wish List for Tools and Supplies

July 20 2022
Tool List
 
These are the tools and supplies we use every day — outdoors —
for many Green Team tasks.
 
Tool List
1.
Rakes,
regular size,
plastic w wood handle is best and most lightweight, and good for
for all the larger areas
Rake—regular-sized–for-all-clean-up-needs—from-home-depot
.
2.
Rakes,
small size,
for all the small spaces, for example, under trees and in between shrubs.
fiskars-shrub-rakes–from–home-depot
.
3.
Pole Pruners,
small size,
These are needed for the many thickets we work in, as well as for
branches overhead,
Safer to use in many cases,
and makes more efficient use of time
Pole-Pruner–regular-sized—compact-and-extendable—from–Home-Depot
.
4.
Hand Pruners
Bypass pruner type
(not ratchet pruner type)
These will be used almost constantly, better to purchase good ones
so they last.
bypass–hand–pruners—fiskars-brand–about–ten-dollars
.
5.
Loppers
Regular sized, about 28 inch.
for tree branch cutting
One of the safest ways to cut all branches and small size trunks
that we can reach easily.
Loppers—regular-sized–28-in—from-Home-Depot
.
6.
Saw
To saw by hand without use of power tools
Best for all tight spaces and all spaces generally.
Safest and easiest to use — type of – hand saw for trees and branches
.
7.
Crow-bar or Rock-bar
A safe way to remove invasive plants and (big) roots,
safer than a shovel
and it lasts longer
 Rock-bar—-basic–medium-sized—this-one-is-from-home-depot
8.
Tool storage shed
For safe and easy storage of and access to tools on campus
Outdoor-tool-storage–small–made-of-resin–can-be-locked–has-floor-built-in
9.
Padlock and keys
Use to lock up tool cabinet and keep supplies secure
Strong–rust-resistant

Thank you to community members of Berkshire Community College.

Please contact the Green Team if you are able to help us get these tools and supplies.

Please email to Roberta Hayes or Christian Tenczar

ctenczar@berkshirecc.edu

roberta_hayes@student.berkshirecc.edu

Community Cleanup Event Photos

Our Community Cleanup event at Stearns Elementary School was a huge success! Thanks for everyone who was able to come out and help! Overall we had a pretty good turn out and we were able to pick up a good amount of trash from Stearns Elementary, about 10 bags total!

We picked up all sorts of food wrappers, face masks, inflatable snow tubes, old baseballs, hair ties, bottles and cans, and many other discarded objects. Great work everyone!

Here’s a collection of photos from the event.
(click on any photo to see a larger version)

Community Cleanup Event

Greetings BCC Green Team members!

All of the details of our Community Cleanup event have been set, we hope you can come join us for part or all of the cleanup!  Here’s everything you need to know below.

When: Saturday, April 23, 10am until around noon
Where: Stearns Elementary School (75 Lebanon Ave, Pittsfield, MA 01201)
What to bring: Weather appropriate clothing (jackets, hoodies, sunglasses, etc.)

Our BCC Facilities team was amazing and agreed to help out by providing gloves (the blue surgical type) for picking up trash along with trash bags for putting everything in.  Thanks Chris and Tammy!

Rain Date: Wet trash is gross, not to mention it can be unsafe to handle.  If we have to postpone due to rain our new date will be the following Saturday, April 30 at the same scheduled time.  If it comes to that I will send an email to everyone to let them know by 8am the morning of the event.

We will be taking photos throughout the morning so please bring your smile.  If anyone has any questions please let me know, thanks!

Green Up Your Work Space

Green Team’s Green Up Your Workspace – Berkshire Community College – hopes to add its own kind of “new improvement” to renovations on campus. Every positive action with sustainability in mind, no matter how small it may seem, can make the air we all breathe -and our environment- that much healthier.

Adopt a plant for your work space!

Several B.C.C. community members both on campus and off campus are growing these plants now since 2019, and more are available. The next two plant species people have requested most often are Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum or Spathiphyllum montanum) and Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum). If you have plants that need dividing and would like to trade or donate them to Green Team, please get in contact.

To sign up and receive your own plant cuttings and to learn more about future phases for “Green Up”, please e-mail: roberta_hayes@student.berkshirecc.edu.

All you need to provide is a clean glass jar, like a mason jar, for us to put the cutting into.

Download the complete Green Up Your Work Space Guide!

Download Care Sheet for your Work Space Plants!