50 one-gallon buckets represent HALF of the average American’s daily water use. Did you know? Water scarcity affects 2.7 billion people at least once a month, each year? Or that, according a recent government report, within the next 10 years 40 out of 50 states in the U.S. will experience water shortages in some portions of their states? In fact, by 2025 two-thirds of the world’s population may be facing water shortages. A water footprint is the measurement of how much water

A Maryland farm was for sale. To protect it from development, she bought it. A simple act, but one that marked the beginning of a series of events that led to the founding of the non-profit Accokeek Foundation, designation of the first national park created to protect historic vistas, and using the landscape of that historic vista to engage generations of visitors in the natural and cultural heritage of Piscataway Park. As soon as Congresswoman Frances Payne Bolton bought thi

A female eastern bluebird guards her nest. Credit Bonnie Simpers. This week is going to the birds, literally. Sunday marks the beginning of the Accokeek Foundation’s Bluebird Monitoring season as the faithful Bluebird Monitor volunteers return to repair and prepare the trail of 20+ boxes on the Ken Otis Bluebird Trail. After Sunday, these volunteers will be performing weekly nestbox checks until August to ensure Piscataway Park has a thriving native cavity nester population,

“Merlin in Piscataway Park” photo shared by MJ Garcia. I began writing this post, hours ago, prepared with facts and statistics about the abundant species of birds found in North America, and then also about the specific species identified locally in our area. I wanted to include all of the data I’ve collected about the issues critical to the protection and survival of birds I found in order to share a brilliantly written, thought-provoking piece in honor of National Bird Day

Continue reading more about what the new season holds in store for us here at the farm, as Livestock Manager, Polly Festa prepares for her new arrivals… Today I find myself wishing I had the ability to speed up time. I am waiting with baited breath for the coming season. I don’t mean spring; I acutely enjoy the winter–as long as it is not an Upstate New York winter. The season I am so antsy for is the birthing season. The farmers at the Ecosystem Farm get to see their hard wo