VCS Books & Other Publications
Make the most of your outdoor adventures with these indispensable guides
Walking Trails of Martha’s Vineyard
by Will Flender
Head outdoors, leave the phone behind, and enjoy the tranquility with the 5th edition of the ever-popular Walking Trails of Martha’s Vineyard. Will Flender’s pocket-sized comprehensive guide to Vineyard conservation lands includes trail maps, description of the protected properties and other valuable information.
Edible Wild Plants of Martha’s Vineyard
by Linsey Lee
A beautifully illustrated guide to our wild bounty, Linsey Lee’s Edible Wild Plants of Martha’s Vineyard features descriptions of plants and their habitats along with fascinating information about their use, including traditional folklore and medicine.
Retailers and other locations that have historically stocked VCS books include: The Bunch of Grapes, Edgartown Books, Alley’s General Store, Morning Glory Farm, Polly Hill Arboretum, Fo’c’sle Locker (Menemsha), Cronig’s, the Felix Neck gift shop, the M.V. Museum, and the Allen Farm store.
Coming soon: our online store, where both books will be available for purchase (at cover price plus $5 shipping). In the meantime, feel free to contact us to arrange payment and mailing info.
Lawn Fertilizer REgulations for Homeowners
During the 2014 Town Meetings, voters of all six Island towns approved a new bylaw that would regulate the sale and use of lawn fertilizer. Importantly, the regulations apply to everyone – homeowners as well as professional lawn care companies.
The bylaw, intended to protect our waters by reducing nutrient pollution, was created by the MV Boards of Health incorporating input from the MV Commission, other elected officials, local landscapers, golf course managers, UMass Extension scientists, and many members of the community, including VCS. While the new rules are thorough and well-considered, and not especially onerous in what they restrict, they are also not necessarily simple to understand for the average homeowner.
Therefore, to help spread the word about how to comply with the new bylaw while maintaining a healthy, non-polluting lawn, VCS has prepared an informational brochure. Look for it in Island garden supply stores, or check it out online. Also, please do let us know if you would be interested in helping spread the word around your neighborhood; we can provide as many copies of the printed brochure as you need.
The VCS Island Adventure
As part of the Connect • Protect • Reflect initiative, VCS has created a new youth questing adventure. Kids accumulate points by choosing activities and questions from the Island Adventure Guide, and in the process connect with new places to love and explore on the Island, reflect on something new or interesting about the outside world, and become inspired to help protect and nurture that world. Download and print your own copy, or contact us to see if we have any print books remaining.
