Deep in the rolling hills and valleys of Davidsonville, eco-minded people got together last night for another Green Drinks event. What is Green Drinks, you may ask? Essentially, it’s a social event wrapped up in the idea that when earth-friendly folks meet, great things can happen. A.k.a. it’s fun and beneficial.
I wrote about the founders of Green Drinks in Annapolis (see “Green Drinks in Annapolis”), but I wanted to experience the social event for myself. So, I trekked to Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville, walked through hues of flowers, and ended up having a fantastic time and learned quite a bit.
As soon as I got inside, a hand and warm smile extended to me. It was Lynne Forsman, one of the brilliant ladies who started Annapolis’ Green Drinks. She showed me to the sign-in table (everyone wears name tags) and helped me find my watershed on a map. Plenty others were already there and had tagged their watershed on the map.
Amongst the bustle of people enjoying wine and catered food, there were tables stacked high with literature on certain causes, foundations, and companies. Among these, I first talked to Marylanders Plant Trees, a program that posits the importance of, well, planting trees. Under the Department of Natural Resources, this program seeks for Maryland residents to plant more trees for a greener, more sustainable world. To encourage Marylanders to plant, DNR offers $25 discount coupons per purchase of one tree. “It has to be a native tree,” Scott Hymes, DNR’s Public Outreach Manager, says, “So it benefits the environment.” DNR can track what trees people purchase too. Once buyers purchase the tree, they can register it at www.trees.maryland.gov. “We have a goal of one million trees,” Hymes says. It’s an ambitious goal, but much needed to help the state of Maryland’s counties. What’s more, when you purchase a tree, you not only help the environment, but also help the economy. The participating vendor locations, like Homestead Gardens, receive credit for being part of this program. Talk about two ways to go “eco”: ecology-friendly and economy-friendly!
Tree-mendous Maryland, another of DNR’s programs, was also at Green Drinks. “You can give the gift of trees here,” Lindsay Major, Tree-mendous Coordinator, says. This program works fairly easily. In order to give a tree, send a $40 check to DNR and note who or what the tree honors. Like it says on their literature, donating a tree is a great way to remember someone’s birth, retirement, or anniversary. Visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/forests/treemendous for additional information or to buy a tree for someone special. Have you heard of naming stars in someone’s honor? Well, gifting trees is renewable, tangible, and beneficial for the Earth.
While jotting down some notes and figuring out where to stop next, Bonnie Persigner approached me. Persinger was there to promote Save Open Space in Anne Arundel County, a group that opposes Councilman Benoit’s 15-12 bill that will take away 25% of Anne Arundel’s open space. “He wants to put parking lots and basketball courts there
Soon enough, I met another eco-friendly person at Green Drinks. Robert Benzinger, founder of Eco-Armour, goes to Green Drinks to socialize. “It’s great for networking,” he says, “Last time I talked with a guy who has a solar panel company.” Benzinger, too, has an green business. Eco-Armour only uses botanical products, which means no preservatives or harsh chemicals. “We have two products: shaving foam and mosquito repellent,” he says. The shaving foam does double duty; it not only acts as a boundary between skin and razor, but it also cleans the razor. In cleaning the razor, you’ll ultimately use fewer razor heads. “There’s less razor heads going into the Bay, which is good” Benzinger says. If you’re interested in Eco-Armour products, head to www.ecoarmour.com or watch QVC–Benzinger’s products are soon to be featured there.
My next stop was at the National Wildlife Federation table. Birds are integral to the health of the Bay. As part of the natural ecosystem, the state of the Bay would be greatly affected without birds. Julie Curd, owner of Wild Bird Center of Annapolis wants to ensure that these little friends have a safe, bountiful habitat. To make an efficient wildlife habitat for birds, you need the following: 1) native plants or seeds, 2) water in a birdbath or pond, 3) shelter in the form of a birdhouse or thicket, and 4) shrubs to raise young birds. Work to certify your backyard as a wildlife habitat and help protect the Bay. Check out Curd’s website for additional information on bird life and her store: www.wildbird.com/annapolis. If you want more information on how to certify your yard as bird-friendly, contact Jeanna Beard at jbeard@annapolis.gov or Marissa Wittlinger at mdwittlinger@annapolis.gov.
Though I didn’t get a chance to converse with all the groups there, I jotted down their names. Below, you’ll see the names and contact information. Check them out and learn about what good people are doing to protect your area!
Project Clean Stream: www.allianceforthebay.org
•Seeks to establish connection between residents and the water surrounding them
Watershed Stewards Academy: www.aawsa.org
•Hopes to educate and reduce nasty storm runoff in Bay
South River Federation: www.southriverfederation.net
•Desires to promote health of Bay via law
Veteran Compost: www.veterancompost.com
•Turns kitchen scraps into compost: “From combat to compost”
Patuxent Riverkeeper: www.paxriverkeeper.org
•Advocates for clean water in Patuxent River and its fellow waterways
Historic London Town & Gardens: www.historiclondontown.com
•Provides area for recreation and learning about environment
Later on in the night, Forsman and her business partner, Elvia Thompson, thanked and encouraged the crowd for being part of their mission to initiate a greener world. Thompson even quizzed the crowd on subjects like when to fertilize your yard (fall, if at all) and how to recycle certain items. Forsman encouraged everyone to use the recycling containers set up in the back.
Last night marked the third time Green Drinks took place at Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville. If you missed this green socializing event, there are more to come! Upcoming events include: Annapolis Maritime Museum Oyster Roast, Digestive Wellness Class, Rally for Clean Water, London Town Garden Workshop: Vegetated Building Systems, etc. You can find more green events on Forsman and Thompson’s site, www.annapolisgreen.com. In making the world a little greener, you’ll probably see other colors too!
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