Lisa Cove, Village Board Trustee, contributes $20 to the Vernal Pond Tip Jar at Lindsay Graham’s lawn sale on behalf of our 2025 project. Photo Credit, Cathy Gipner.
Would you be against
- having Vernal Ponds in your neighborhood?
- learning about why Vernal Ponds are important?
- spending an hour with a Wetland Expert learning about our local plans and how you can be involved in your neighborhood?
Vernal Ponds, Damselflies and other Wetland Treasures
You may think I’m crazy, but I see the bio-psycho-social-spiritual benefits to us all of Vernal Ponds. For example, they provide:
- Wildlife habitat, without which amphibians and invertebrates could not breed.
- Forest health, where amphibians control insects and provide food for other animals.
- Biodiverse habitat for rarer plants and animals.
- Flood and erosion control by trapping water and sediments
- Water purification, flitering out pollutants and providing drinking water for forest creatures.
- Carbon sequestration, mitigating greenhouse gases.
- Endless opportunities for beauty, education and enjoyment for young and old alike
Yes, I have recently written about these benefits, but we have new readers, and new urgency, as A Frog House is almost halfway to our goal of raising $8,000 for our first pond, with $3,481 in the ear-marked savings account in the bank.
And what about dreaming of a lovely cooling breeze rippling water and new wetland plants poking their heads up to check out the weather?
Let’s Think Positively
Coming up very soon there are local and national elections that are at stake, bringing a lot of heat to already burning excesses. Wouldn’t it be nice to rest our minds thinking about what greenery, designs, personalized brick overlooks, benches and muscle power you would like to contribute for a lasting legacy for those who come after us?
Speaking of politics, here is a list of candidates who are distinctive advocates for the environment. Our own Samra Brouk (Democratic Party) New York State Senate, representing District 55 is running for re-election. For ten years she cut her leadership teeth on educational, environmental, and senior services initiatives in her own community and across New York State. She is Chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee, which has everything to do with her former interests. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Working Together We Each Can Make a Huge Difference
The population of the Town of Pittsford is 30,617 and of the Village of Pittsford has 1,500 residents. If a mere 12,000 people gave $1 or 1 hour each anytime, we could have 3 vernal ponds this spring for all residents and visitors to enjoy.
The Village Board is excited. A Frog House is excited. I have given up a trip to Borneo this year and tapped more than you want to know into my retirement fund for our mission of Advocacy, Collaboration and Education for frogs in the past 6 years.
How Will You Be Involved?
We would like to have grant writers, donors, volunteers, sponsors, social media fans, guests, audiences and enthusiasm.
Please sign up here to get the zoom link for wetland expert Tom Biebighauser discussing Vernal Ponds on Tuesday evening, September 24, 2024 at 7 pm.
Or, if you miss the evening zoom event, the Village Board is kindly repeating the program on Saturday, October 5, at 9:30 am. Have morning coffee with the mayor and trustees and the rest of us by signing up here.
If anyone wants to help write a grant, the deadline for Fresh Water Futures is on September 30. Write me at Margot@AFrogHouse.org.
Or come to A Frog House through October, from 1 to 5 pm, and get gifts and/or plants and/or help your kids make a pollinator milkweed seed ball for a donation of any size.
Perhaps you especially would like to celebrate with Broadway Stars Carole Demas, Ian Herman, and Stuart Allyn on November 9 for A Frog House second annual Gala Fundraiser. Read about them and sign up for this event here.
Maybe you would like to give through Giving Tuesday on December 3.
During the cold winter months, talk to your family, friends, garden, environmental and any other clubs about joining this community effort with designs, planting concepts, sponsorships, donations … put your creative thinking caps on.
Come Play With Us in The Water
Please join us to help create the Vernal Ponds in Pittsford!
- Register for Tom’s zoom presentation on September 24 and/or October 5
- Get your tickets for our 2nd Annual Gala Event on November 9
- Volunteer
- Donate
