Happy Spring and Earth Day to you!

Hello friends,

It’s April; the birds are busy making nests and singing their praises of the return of the light. Here at BCAG, we are thinking about hope, fresh home-grown produce, and fun April events.

Here are our topics this month:

• Pint Night!

• Action Alert for SB 228 and 208

• The Victor Community Garden - Register now!

• Our impressive Bitterroot Youth and the Envirothon Event

Pint Night!

Oppose State House Bills 228 & 208

SB 228:

This bill would ban local governments from prohibiting the use of petroleum fuels. We oppose this bill because we believe the state legislature should let local governments make their own decisions about their communities.

Please contact the House Transportation Committee members and ask them to OPPOSE SB 228.

SB 208:

This bill would disallow local governments from prohibiting the use of natural gas. The bill also disallows local governments from prohibiting any specific energy source within their building codes. We oppose this bill because we believe that local governments should have the right to make decisions about advancing a clean energy future when that is the will of their constituents

Please contact the House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations Committee and ask them to OPPOSE SB 208.

Victor Community Garden is now taking registrations

Gardeners:

Come join in the fun of growing your own food. Grow free, fresh, healthy vegetables grown your way.

Pollinators abound in the garden, with fruit trees and a diverse native flower garden in the center of the gardening area.  We have a shaded picnic area, and we also have an innovative composting outhouse that we built, designed by water systems designer Roger DeHaan, with nearly all of the materials donated by local building supply businesses. (That compost is not for use in the garden, however.)

The garden is located on 5th Ave., just west of the town of Victor.

We offer:

• 20' x 20' plots with excellent sun exposure surrounded by a deer-proof fence.

We provide: 

• Compost, mulch, and tools.
• An automated watering system that waters every night
• A paid garden manager who is always happy to help new gardeners.

We require:

• organic methods
• an annual fee of $35 per plot for the year/season.

The garden was started in 2011 when Sustainable Living Systems received grant funds and formed an agreement with the Bitterroot Church of the Nazarene to develop one acre of their pasture land for a community garden. A well was dug, a deer-proof fence was built, and an automated sprinkler system was installed. The garden was opened for business in April 2012.

To reserve a plot, give Jill a call at 406-360-1751 or contact her here.

Volunteers:

To celebrate Earth Day and to make a contribution to the health of the earth by cultivating soil health, come join us at our annual spring Work Day, where we work together to get the garden ready for the season, digging out grassroots in the paths, and loosening the soil in the plots. This will be on Saturday, April 22, starting at 10 am and going until we give out. Bring a digging tool, food, water, and dress for variable weather conditions. The Victor Community Garden is on 5th Ave., just west of town

What does gardening have to do with climate?

BCAG is passionate about the Victor Community Garden for many reasons, especially the positive impact on emissions. The manufacturing of plastics/packaging and transport of produce emits substantial C02 - growing our own food is a meaningful way to lower our carbon footprint and get a lot of other benefits besides.

Here is an article about the environmental benefits of growing our own food. It is one way we can take positive action and make a difference.

Youth in the Bitterroot: Envirothon Event

On the evening of March 15, ten somewhat nervous but highly prepared science students gathered in the Hamilton High School library to present their climate solutions for the Bitterroot Valley before an audience of BCAG supporters, parents, and teachers. 

Science teacher and Envirothon coach Marie Antonioli began the evening with an overview of the purpose of science education at Hamilton High and the Envirothon Teams program. She asked, “How do we inspire the next generation to take better care of the earth than our generation did?” At HHS, the answer through science education includes:

• Build scientific knowledge and skills that go with that
• Build competency
• Work hard and collaboratively
• Have fun
• Boost confidence with positive feedback
• Spark passion

Ms. Antonioli said “passion” is what she hopes will carry young people forward into correcting the problems in society and the environment. She also described the extensive extracurricular work the students take on in Envirothon, to attain the knowledge and skills needed, including working with mentors from the local scientific community on climate change impacts.

That night, both HHS teams gave effective and engaging presentations on the effects of drought on the Bitterroot Valley, the stakeholders affected, various strategies for mitigating the impact on local natural resources, and even a 5-year plan for evaluating their success. Following the presentation, the audience asked questions and gave feedback about how the presentation could be even more impactful.

BCAG is proud and hopeful, because local youth are participating in climate issues and applying their bright minds to climate action.