The UDC Van Ness farmers market does not operate year-round, but its food waste drop-off stand now does. The Department of Public Works has bins and staff outside the UDC Student Center on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Another change you might have missed is that the sites accept more than vegetable scraps. […]
Be informed! Upcoming meetings on Ward 3 public safety, neighborhood issues, a stormwater control project, and more
Want to question DC agency leaders about the efforts to curb crime and improve public safety in Ward 3? To get the latest on what’s stalling DC Water’s Albemarle Street project? To dig into another erosion control project in the Soapstone Valley? The coming week is stacked with meetings on these topics and more. The […]
It’s time to start giving your young trees some extra TLC
by Marlene Berlin Summer, officially, is still a couple of months away. Summer temperatures, on the other hand, will be here soon. Hot and dry are not a good combination for young trees, especially street trees. So it’s time to get into the habit of giving them some extra care. Casey Trees, from April through […]
February in the Neighborhood: Take out the big trash, and clean up the forest
Did you know? When a resident of a single-family home wants to throw out an old couch, the DC Department of Public Works will come and collect it for free. But for DC residents in apartment buildings and condos, getting rid of bulk trash requires calling and paying a junk hauler, or hauling it yourself […]
Save the trees! At three local parks, volunteers are doing that and more – by attacking invasive weeds.
One day over Martin Luther King weekend, a few expert Weed Warriors and a large number of less-experienced volunteers gathered in the wooded area behind the Politics and Prose parking lot to pick up trash and free dozens of trees from invasive English ivy. And whether they realized it or not, they played a role […]
Where the Soapstone Valley sewer rehabilitation project stands
by Marlene Berlin On the whole, there has been a lot of progress on the Soapstone Valley sewer rehabilitation project, which began in March 2022. Stream restoration, intended to protect the streambed and sewer infrastructure from erosion, has been completed. And on the 114-year-old main sewer line, all segments except one, parallel to Connecticut Avenue, […]
We can assist migrating birds with the flick of a switch
by Julia K. Stevenson The great southern bird migration is under way. Tens of millions of birds pass through Washington, DC during the fall (heading south) and spring months (northbound). The majority of birds fly at night, navigating by stars in the night sky. However, as these beautiful creatures follow the Atlantic Coast flyway and […]
This fall, leave the leaves on the lawn and flower beds. It’s better for wildlife – and our wallets.
by Kathy Sykes It’s that time of year when we think we need to rake leaves and “clean up” the garden. But think again. Contrary to popular belief, one of the best ways to help your garden and the environment is to leave the leaves. There are many reasons one should adopt this approach. Leaves […]
The invasion of the ‘tree snatchers’
by Adam Sieminski Winter creeper (Euonymus fortunei) is a tenacious, perennial, and evergreen plant that grows as a sprawling groundcover or climbing vine. Those qualities make it attractive to many local gardeners – but the plant is invasive and damaging to trees. Introduced from Asia more than a century ago, this species is becoming a pest […]
Meet Your Neighbors: Thanks to this Weed Warrior, invasive plants don’t stand a chance
by Marlene Berlin John Burwell has appeared on our pages several times over the past three years for his work as a volunteer caregiver of our daylighted and restored streams, Broad Branch and Linnean. For example, we recently wrote about the signs he designed, built and posted at these two parks. Burwell’s home is actually […]