Thanks to IGC from Ipswich Schools Central Office

Ipswich Wetland Videos Premier - January 11th

The Ipswich Conservation Commission invites members of the IGC and the general public to view three short videos on Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m. in Room A of the Town Hall. The subject of the videos is the importance of wetlands in Ipswich and their value as a unique and natural resource.

The first video is entitled “Inland Wetlands” and was taken at Dow Brook Conservation Area. Mike DeRosa of DeRosa Environmental Consultants is the featured specialist.

The second video entitled, “The River Zone”, focuses on the Ipswich River and was taken at the Ipswich River Watershed Association headquarters. It features (our own) Kerry Mackin, the Executive Director of the Ipswich River Watershed Association.

The third video is entitled “The Coastal Zone” and was taken at Crane Beach and part of the Great Marsh. It features Kathryn Glenn, the North Shore Regional Coordinator of Coastal Zone Management. Catherine Carney-Feldman, a member of the Ipswich Conservation Commission and producer of the videos, will be the host at this premier. (Catherine gave a fascinating presentation on butterfly gardens in October to our club.)

This premier showing is part of the Conservation Commission’s Speakers Series and will include a short question and answer period. As will all offerings of this series, this event is free and open to the general public.  The snow date is  Wednesday, January 25^th.

ICAM will be showing the videos on Channel 9 starting Friday, January 13^th at 6 p.m.. The videos will also air on Channel 9 on Saturday, January 14^th at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, January 18^th at 8 p.m.  Starting on January 18^th anyone can go to ICAM’s web site, ICAMIpswich.com and call up the videos on their own computer at their convenience.

A Message from Tom Rawinski to the IGC

Here is a message from Tom Rawinski, our November speaker and Botanist USDA Forest Service, sent to Alicia on Dec. 16th. Tom's message reads as follows:

Hi Alicia,
If you would be so kind, please forward the note and attached photo to the Garden Club members - as my Christmas card, of sorts.

Click on photo for a larger view.

I photographed this doe today at the Turkey Hill Conservation Area (in Ipswich--she was one of 5 deer I saw there.  She is certainly a pretty gal. While I get so very depressed seeing what these deer have done to our forests and wildflowers, I will forever admire their exquisite beauty and grace.

I also visited Linebrook Conservation Area and found it to be just as devastated by deer as Turkey Hill was.  Life is full of tough choices, and we simply have to do something about the current deer overabundance problem - the forests are disintegrating before our eyes, and my magic wand seems to be on the fritz lately.

We should really, as a next step, meet with key town officials to discuss the issue.  Perhaps the Weston, MA model would work well in Ipswich, for instance.  And, while I was at Linebrook, I thought that it would be a fantastic place for a couple deer exclosures - for educational purposes primarily - like the ones
you saw at Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Perhaps the Garden Club could spear-head or fund the exclosures at Linebrook via Ross? I'd be willing to provide guidance.

I've cc'd New England Wild Flower Society's Conservation Director, Bill Brumback - he may be very interested in partnering with the Garden Club on such a project. I've also cc'd Mike Simmons who wrote the management plan for Turkey Hill - Mike is presently a grad student at UNH and is one of our seasonal employees at the Forest Service.

Happy holidays,
Best,

Tom

Successful Annual Greens Meeting and Holiday Luncheon

Barbara makes a tight maneuver on her JD with Laura and Susie applauding her driving skill.

Thanks to all who attended IGC's Annual Greens Making and Holiday Luncheon on second day of December. It was a mild and sunny day to create wreaths in Barbara's workshop at her home on the banks of the Ipswich River. So many beautiful holiday decorations for our town's civic buildings and the Ascension Church were made by cheerful members. Everyone enjoyed a scrumptious and healthy lunch after all the wreaths were installed. Enjoy some of the photos from the event below.

Paula, Susie, Laura and Grace all helped plan and organize the 2011 Greens Meeting.

Paige makes wreaths for the Hall Haskell House

The famous Chef Fischbach arrives.

Glittering gold for Ascension Church in recognition for use of Boone Hall during the year.

Grace demonstrates the Midas touch to Therese.

Connie and Barbara M. explain the fine art of making ribbons to Janet and Laurie.

Thanks to Nancy who brought many different kinds of greens to add to the balsam wreaths.

Dianne and Carol prepare a vegetarian holiday banquet.

Market St. island crew includes Laura, Susie, Paula and Alicia.

Ascension Church doors are adorned with holiday gold.

Maureen delivers a wreath to the Ipswich Schools Administration Building.

A holiday greeting at the Ipswich Police station.

The Firehouse is adorned with wreaths at its side entrances.

Paige's wreath decorates the Hall Haskell House.

Will anyone try to take the IGC wreath at the train station this year? Thanks to Rick Clarke and the DPW, we doubt it.

After all the decorations are delivered to the town, Dianne explains the menu to Hope, Ann, Joan, Nancy and Mitzi.

IGC Friends celebrate a morning of work...shown here are Carol, Paige, Annie, Joan, Laurie, Therese and Grace.

Carol's gorgeous Mushroom and Leek Galette could serve as an appetizer or main course.

Hope and Barbara make lunch selections.

Smile, Holan, and Happy Holidays!

Dates with Almonds and Candied Orange Peel

Carol Williams served up an exceptionally delicious and nutritional
treat at the IGC Holiday Luncheon. Here's just how nutritional her
dates, almonds and candied orange peel are:

According to a new study by researchers, DATES are a treat to

eat because they contain so many antioxidants. Antioxidants in

general have been linked to a number of potential health 
benefits, including protection against heart disease and cancer.
For the study,researchers analyzed the antioxidant content of 
more than 100 different food items, including vegetables, fruits, 
nuts, spices, oils and common beverages. Of all the foods and 
beverages studied, dates actually have the most antioxidants
based on serving size.

The benefits of ALMONDS  are due to loads of vitamin 
content in them. Almonds are rich in folic acid and 
vitamin B. Copper content helps in proper development 
of bone and improves nerve functioning. Almonds function 
as powerful antioxidants due to its Vitamin E content. 
It helps in improving blood circulation and lowering of 
cholesterol thereby providing added cardiac protection. 
Not only this, it helps to stabilize blood sugar as well. 
Therefore it can be the best snack for diabetic patients. 
One of the other significant health benefits 
of almonds are due to its laetrile content which 
serves as an anti cancer component.

And what about the ORANGE PEEL? Citrus peel, 
especially orange, contains considerable amounts of 
mineral and vitamins. Orange peel contains more  
vitamin C (ascorbic acid) than its juice. Likewise, the
peel is rich source of vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, 
minerals such as calcium, selenium, manganese, 
zinc...etc. several fold more than its pulp.

So now that we know how beneficial this treat is, here is Carol's recipe:


Plump medjool dates, cut in half if large
Roasted almonds, whole
Candied orange peel, cut into tiny strips
Shredded coconut (unsweetened)


Pit the dates, and remove the hard disk from the stem end. Add coconut.Tuck an almond and a strip of peel into each date and arrange on a flat dish.


Thank you Carol!