The opportunity to play an active role in protecting the communities, natural spaces, and people of Fairfax County is an opportunity I will never forget. I will always be a Virginian and Bailey’s Crossroads will always be home- Fairfax County has shaped who I was as a child and who I am as an adult. …

To get everyone ready for the weekend, we wanted to share some good environmental news. There are serious environmental issues that must be dealt with, but we can still celebrate good things that have happened. The End of Coal: The push to end the use of coal power just got another significant backer, General Electric. …

Text excerpt from City Nature Challenge Website: What is the City Nature Challenge? The City Nature Challenge is an effort to explore urban nature and document biodiversity in cities around the world. Over 60 cities in 14 countries worldwide are planning to participate. It’s time to show how much biodiversity is in our backyards in Fairfax County! Join the …

The kids are running around the neighborhood playing Pokémon Go with their phones again. It’s great that they’re out of the house getting exercise, but you wish that they could funnel their enthusiasm into something a bit more… constructive. Well, we’ve got a creative solution to your concerns! iNaturalist is a phone app that essentially …

July and August are definitely the best months to get to the Farmers Markets in this area. According to the Virginia Harvest Calendar http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/producechart.pdf published by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services this is when most of the produce is being harvested, so you will find great abundance and variety at the Farmers …

  In 2005, Richard Louv coined the phrase “Nature Deficit Disorder” in his book, Last Child in the Woods, to describe the host of behavioral problems he attributes to humans, especially children, spending less time in the outdoors. Highlighting this trend away from connecting with the natural world, a recent National Aquarium commercial shows a …

Fires set by groups of young people “hanging out” in the woods in Fairfax County are posing a real threat to the environment. Typically, small groups of students, usually high school age, will find wooded areas to congregate, often during the school day. Many times they have brought snacks and beverages, sometimes alcoholic beverages. Not …

In 2008 the United Nations proclaimed June 8 World Oceans Day. This year the theme is Our Oceans, Our Future. The conservation action focus is “encouraging solutions to plastic pollution and preventing marine litter for a healthier ocean and a better future.” According to the Oceanic Institute, oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth’s surface and contain 97 percent of the …

Keeping our yards weed-free: It’s more than just a desire to “keep up with the Joneses” and not have the ugliest yard in the neighborhood. I would argue that most suburban homeowners in our area strive to maintain a beautiful yard because it is a pleasure to come home to a blooming weed-free paradise after …