The Winter 2023 episode of Shenandoah Valley Ever Green features topics that describe the natural systems at work even through the coldest seasons. Local farmer Pedro Aponte and JMU librarian Liz Chenevey highlight seed-saving activities in the Shenandoah Valley. President of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition Kyle Lawrence discusses the advantages of winter hiking and biking. UVA Astronomy professor and current president of the American Astronomical Society Dr. Kelsey Johnson provides some tips for winter skywatching. Dr. Amy Goodall discusses 2 sparrows that migrate to the Valley each Winter, and high school teacher Hannah Bement describes the native planting project that her students are installing at the Shenandoah County Landfill.
Special thanks to the Virginia Foundation of the Humanities and Sarah McConnell who shared their recording facilities in Charlottesville for this episode.
Reporters: Sam Game, Jackson Hephner, Jacqui Himmel, McLaren Reed, Sidney Roth
Executive Producers: Ryan Alessi, Tim Thomas
Sound: JMU Libraries Media Production Services
Editing by Ryan Alessi
Bird song: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-throated_Sparrow/sounds#
All music for the program is performed by the group “Many Nights Ahead” with recording by Gene Bowlen at Cross Keys Studios.
Graphic Artist: Annie McGowan
The Winter 2022 episode is funded by a partnership with the Harrisonburg Citizen and through a Faculty Engagement Grant awarded by the Faculty Senate of James Madison University.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT
Seed-Saving in the Shenandoah Valley:
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Trail Guide - https://www.visitharrisonburgva.com/area-trails/
Winter Migratory Species
JMU Professor Dr. Amy Goodall has provided these photos from her personal collection of sparrows that over-winter in the Shenandoah Valley.
Native Plants in the Shenandoah Valley
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation offers useful start-up tips for planting native plant species here: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/nativeplants
As well as a useful guide for plants to use in the yards and gardens of the Shenandoah Valley and the Appalachian Plateau: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/document/mtn-nat-plants.pdf