Chesapeake Bay waterman were coming close to extinction in 2010 when a group of Chesapeake non-profits got innovative. The bright idea: Training captains who make a living on the Bay to give tours of the water and their craft.     Now, 80 watermen guide tours through the Bay where they make their living, earning extra cash during the slow seasons.     The idea is so bright that the Watermen Heritage Tourism Training Program has won the Maryland Historical Trust...

For every job, there’s an association. Every association has heroes lauded for having discovered how to do the job better. The Bay Gardener, Dr. Francis Gouin, has just been enrolled as a hero of the U.S. Composting Council.     This month, Gouin received Hi Kellogg Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the composting industry in research, teaching and promoting the use of compost by nursery and greenhouse growers and by home gardeners.     ...

Maryland Department of Natural Resources needs you. Every five years, the department creates its Land Preservation and Recreation plan to guide public purchase of land for stewardship and recreation. The next one is due at the end of this year.     “These are public resources,” says John F. Wilson, DNR’s associate director for stewardship. So he wants us to describe what’s needed and to nominate places to meet the public need.     “...

Maryland Watermen’s Association celebrates its 40th birthday at the association’s annual East Coast Commercial Fishermen’s and Aquaculture Trade Exposition Jan. 18 to 20 in Ocean City.     Commercial and recreational fishermen will find a marine extravaganza at the Expo: boats, engines, fittings, fishing gear, equipment, clothing, aquaculture demonstrations and even maritime art and cuisine. Nearly 100 exhibitors show their wares, from model boats to real ones...