Public science and nature learning are keeping us busy at Filbert Street Garden this season. For years we’ve hosted a SEARCH air pollution monitor for Johns Hopkins University, and we are looking into hosting a weather station, pictured here, for a new JHU study. Through our activity in Community of Curtis Bay Association, we’ve been attending meetings of CHARMED, Center for Community Health: Addressing Regional Maryland Environmental Determinants of Diseases, another Hopkins research group which is partnering with Curtis Bay to work on air pollution and environmental justice issues.

In late April/May, we raised awareness for City Nature Challenge, an annual international bioblitz which was coordinated in Baltimore by the National Aquarium. The Baltimore area placed 59th in world cities for number of wildlife observations.

In mid-May we hosted the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and state and community partners for SoilSpot, a free soil screening event. Participants had the opportunity to test their soil for lead and other heavy metals, and discuss how exposure to those metals in your soil could impact their health. We’ve invited the agency to return for another event this year!