The Greenville Pioneer - 2022-01-14

18 The Greenville Pioneer • Friday, January 14, 2022
Be A Better Gardener
Ecotypes: Native plants and their adaptability
By Thomas Christopher
For Capital Region Independent Media
Did you know the native red
maple tree you bought from
your local nursery may have
originated with a clone collected
in Florida? Or that the native
meadow seed you planted likely
was collected in the Midwest?
So, what does that matter?
Over millennia, truly local
plants have evolved to flourish
in the local conditions and to
harmonize with the local wildlife,
Sefra Alexandra explains.
These locally evolved plants
are what scientists describe as
ecotypes.
Sefra — an agroecological
educator with a master’s degree
from Cornell University and
international experience as a
plant collector, she calls herself
“the Seed Huntress” — points
out that using local ecotypes is
more likely to produce plants
that bloom precisely when their
local pollination partners need
them.
In the case of monarch butterflies,
for example, the local
milkweed ecotypes flower
when the butterflies are migrating
through that area; planting
non-local ecotypes may cause
the butterflies to linger too
long, or it may produce a premature
bloom that peaks before
they arrive.
Unfortunately, nurseries do
not typically advertise the provenance
of native plants, and too
carefully supervised to avoid
stressing the remnant wild pop-
hopes that the impact of the
often locally sourced native cle of preserving and promoting ulations. These seeds are then Ecotype Project will be felt far and lasting impact on issues
The Greenville Pioneer • Friday, December 20, 2019 13
plants are not available at all. locally sourced native plants planted out in “founder plots” outside Ecoregion 59. Pollinators,
and gardeners and farmers, GCA. Tom’s companion broad-
that are most important to the
If Sefra has her way, though, a along the lower Connecticut on organic farms across the region.
could benefit from similar efcast
to this column, Growing
program she is coordinating for River corridor (Ecoregion 59
the Connecticut chapter of the on the U.S. Environmental Pro-
The seeds borne in the forts in any area of the country. Greener, streams on WESUFM.
of a change.
Qualified households may now
apply for Home Energy Assistance
Pro¬gram (HEAP) grants, a federally
funded program that provides
both reg¬ular and emergency financial
assistance to help pay heating
and utility bills.
The grants are available
through local Department of Social
Services (DSS) offices and
Offices for the Aging. Customers
of Central Hudson Gas & Electric
Corp. who receive a HEAP benefit
toward their ac¬count will also
be issued a monthly credit on their
bill for a max¬imum of 12 months
based on service type and amount
of HEAP benefit.
“We’re pleased to offer additional
assistance to families who
may be struggling and depend on
HEAP benefits, and encourage all
eligible households to apply,” said
Anthony Campagiorni, Vice President
of Customer Services and
Regulatory Affairs.
Campagiorni explained that
qualified families using electricity
or natural gas as their primary
heating source may receive a regular
HEAP benefit $350 or more,
depending on family income and
size guidelines, applied toward
their Central Hudson account.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Agroecological educator Sefra Alexandra says local plant ecotypes are more
likely to produce plants that bloom just when their local pollination partners,
such a butterflies, need them.
Begun in 2019, the Ecotype
Project pursues a complete cy-
wildflowers, a process that is
“In addition to these grants, eligible
customers will also receive a
credit on their utility bills that provide
further assistance in lowering
their energy costs,” said Campagiorni.
The bill credit is based on the
type of heating source and income
level.
He added that qualified households
receiving a HEAP benefit for
non-utility heating fuels such as
oil, propane, wood/wood pellets,
kero¬sene, coal or corn are also eligible
for a monthly credit on their
electric or non-heating gas bill.
“We’re happy to provide bill
discounts to customers who heat
with these fuels, as well,” said
Campagiorni.
Customers should email their
HEAP Notice of Decision Letter to
Central Hudson at CareUnit@cenhud.com
to be enrolled and receive
the bill credit.
Regular HEAP grants for the
fall and upcoming winter are available
between now and Mar. 16,
2020, or until funding is exhausted.
Emergency HEAP grants will
be available between Jan. 2 and
Mar. 16, 2020. These benefits are
designed to meet an eligible household’s
immediate energy needs.
Home heating assistance
grants now available
Real, Reputable,
Trusted. Your News
Media.
portant to gather seeds of the
An additional benefit, the
Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement
(HERR) program, is
available to assist income qualified
homeowners in repairing or
replacing their primary heating
equipment when the systems are
inoper¬able or unsafe. Applications
for HERR are accepted
through Sept. 30, 2020, or until the
funding is ex¬hausted.
To apply for HEAP and HERR
benefits, customers may contact
their local DSS office, call (800)
342-3009, or visit www.mybenefits.ny.gov.
In¬dividuals who are
60 and older and do not receive
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) benefits may
contact their local Office for the
Aging to learn of the eligibil¬ity
requirements by calling 800-342-
9871 or by visiting www.aging.
ny.gov.
For more information on
HEAP eligibility requirements
and benefits, visit www.Central-
Hudson.com/HEAP or http://otda.
ny.gov/programs/heap/program.
asp; and for more on all of Central
Hudson’s assistance and billing
programs, visit www.CentralHudson.com,
and click on “My Account.”
widest range of genetic types,
including early and late blooming
specimens. These harvests
are cleaned and processed with
equipment maintained by the
Northeast Organic Farming Association,
and the results made
available to growers through a
farmer-led collective known as
“Eco59.”
Some of the seeds go to
farmers to plant their own pollinator
habitats, others to gardeners
and members of pollinator
pathways, and still others to local
nurseries growing plants for
ecological restoration projects.
Sefra is a believer that good
work needs to be celebrated,
and she has publicized the Ecotype
Project with annual “BOA-
Tanical expeditions.” For these
she takes a party of citizen scientists
paddling down the Connecticut
River with a cargo of
ecotype plants to plant along
the shores, either reinforcing
wild populations or creating
new founder plots.
Although she has travelled
far and wide in pursuit of locally
adapted plants herself and
is a member of the Explorers’
Club, she wants to make the
point that you don’t have to fly
to the Himalayas to mount an
expedition — there are plenty
of opportunities for exploration
and botanical (and BOATanical)
adventures in your own
backyard.
In a similar vein, Sefra also
CMH unveils
where.”
To this end, the Connecticut
chapter of the Northeast Organic
Farming Association has
published on its website (ctnofa.org)
a “Getting Started Tool
Kit” with protocols for seed
saving and growing, as well
tips for planting and thumbnail
guides to the different wildflower
species it has included
in its founder plots.
For more information about
the Ecotype Project and Sefra
Alexandra’s adventures as the
Seed Huntress, go to the Berkshire
Botanical Garden’s Growing
Greener podcast, at thomaschristophergardens.com/
podcast.
Be-a-Better-Gardener is a
community service of Berkshire
Botanical Garden, located in
Stockbridge, MA. Its mission, to
provide knowledge of gardening
and the environment through
a diverse range of classes and
programs, informs and inspires
thousands of students and visitors
each year. Thomas Christopher
is a volunteer at Berkshire
Botanical Garden and is the author
or co-author of more than
a dozen books, including Nature
into Art and The Gardens
of Wave Hill (Timber Press,
2019). He is the 2021 Garden
Club of America’s National
Medalist for Literature, a distinction
reserved to recognize
those who have left a profound
Northeast Organic Farming Association,
“The Ecotype Project,”
tection Agency map). The cycle
begins with the collection
founder plots are harvested
when ripe — this typically involves
“What we’re really trying to
do with the Ecotype Project,”
org, Pacifica Radio and NPR
and is available at his website,
could mark the beginning of seeds of 17 species of local
The Greenville Pioneer • Friday, January 17, 2020 several visits as it is im-
Sefra said, “is create a replica-
https://www.thomaschristoph-
13
ble 3D model for biopsy ecoregions every-
technology
ergardens.com/podcast.
HUDSON — Medical and community leaders joined in Hudson
recently to Hannacroix unveil state-of-the-art 3D breast biopsy Rural technology that
officials at Columbia Memorial Health say will significantly improve
the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for breast cancer patients
Greene and Columbia counties.
Cemetery seeks 2020
mowing donations
The stereotactic 3D biopsy system, known as Affirm, will provide
more precise targeting of tissue abnormalities identified through
CMH’s 3D mammography capabilities, yielding earlier and more
accurate detection of breast cancer. The technology was acquired
through HANNACROIX the generosity — of The community Hannacroix members Rural Cemetery, who contributed which is to located
the Columbia
on Route
Memorial
411 in Dormansville/Westerlo,
Health Foundation.
is seeking donations for
the 2020 mowing expense for the cemetery.
“This life-saving 3D biopsy technology, paired with our 3D mammography
service, provides our patients with the most advanced diag-
Whether you have a loved one buried there or would just like to
give a donation, it would be greatly appreciated, organizers said. They
nostic
also thank
care available
all who have
in locations
helped
that
in the
are
past.
comfortable, convenient and
close Organizers to home,” said need CMH your help President to keep and the CEO cemetery Jay P. maintained. Cahalan. Contributions
In addition can be to sent offering to: Hannacroix 3D mammography Rural Cemetery, and 3D biopsy C/O Linda services, Smith,
CMH Treasurer, has significantly 115 State Route augmented 143, Westerlo, its radiology New and York pathology 12193. expertise
through its affiliation with Albany Medical Center. The Albany
Med and CMH radiology and pathology services are now fully integrated,
which means that mammograms, and all imaging and diagnostic
studies, are interpreted by the region’s leading experts.
“Each year in the U.S. more than 268,000 women are diagnosed
with breast cancer,” said Tariq Gill, M.D., chief of Radiology at CHM.
“This technology, now available right here in our community, is a tremendous
step forward in our ability to detect and diagnose early stage
breast cancer, significantly improving the likelihood of successful
treatment.”
Columbia Memorial Health Foundation Vice Chair Anne Schomaker
said: “This technology is truly a gift of life made possible
through the tremendous generosity of our donors. We are grateful beyond
words to our supporters who continue to rally around CMH to
ensure its essential mission can continue and expand.”
WE WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU!
The Greenville Pioneer wants to hear
from you. Send information about upcoming
events and news to news@
greenvillepioneer.com.
(We need to have announcements
at least two weeks in advance.)
THIS PUBLICATION
SUPPORTS REAL
NEWS. — Approaching 1 year in business July 9th, 2019 —
WE ACCEPT ALL N.Y.STATE DEPOSITS
THE PUBLIC NEEDS THE TRUTH;
NOT SOCIAL MEDIA HEADLINES & FAKE NEWS.
Drop Off Service
NO Waiting at Machines
We Count for You!
Want to Help with Raising Money —
Invest in Energy Efficient Double
Hung Windows This Fall and SAVE!
Invest in your
home's energy
efficiency this fall
and save at GNH!
For a limited time
#SupportRealNews
only, 2200 Series
Smarter Windows
Double Hung
Replacements are
ONLY $169.OO!