Quaker Earthcare WitnessMini-Grants 2012/2013

Bill Holcombe, Outgoing ClerkIn Transition

Maia Wolff, Incoming Rising Co-clerkPacific YM

2012 Project Highlights

• West Knoxville TN MM Rain Capture

• Columbia SC Organic Garden

• Silver River MO Sustainable Orchard

• Charleston SC Urban Garden

West Knoxville Rain Shed• West Knoxville TN Meeting Rainwater Project

– Tool shed collects rain water– 6 X 6 shed with 4 gutters– Rain water flows into 4 existing barrels– Meeting adults built shed; children painted

• Shed Located near Meeting Garden– Shed located 400 feet from meeting garden– No water source nearby– Saves on costly water import and metering– Rainwater: far less costly, sustainable, and low impact

Columbia, SC Organic Garden

• Columbia SC Meeting Project Goals: – Create organic garden on meeting house grounds– Restore top soil lost to erosion and runoff– Maintain garden and Meeting House grounds

• Organic Garden Benefits to include:– Restore and improve soil quality– Prevent erosion and runoff– Serve as focal point in relation to larger community– Demonstrate and promote sustainability and harmony with Earth

• Q Mini-grant notification came 3 days before new Meeting House commemoration

Garden & New Meeting House

Garden in Full Bloom

Silver River, MO Sustainable Orchard

• Silver River, MO Worship Group – Part of Possibility Alliance Intentional Community– Alliance practices permaculture principles– Group Goals: to live simply and set sustainable example– Group functions with guidance of Kansas City Penn Valley Meeting

• Sustainable Orchard Project– 5 year plan for orchard development– No pesticides or commercial fertilizers to be used– Use of compost & holistic herbal sprays – Forest edge system will:

• Create food• Support wild life• Renew existing land

Charleston, SC Urban Greening

• Charleston, SC Friends Meeting Project – Enhance existing inner city community garden area– Location: Local urban low income area– Charleston Friends meeting very small and technically challenged

• Garden Benefit include:– Beautification of Julien Divine Community Center– Enhance partnership with meeting & local seniors and neighbors– Serve as focal point in larger community

Charleston, SC….Before

Charleston, SC….After

2013 Projects

David Schaad Viet Nam Work Study

Sarasota FL MM First Day Garden

Casa des Amigos Energy Management

Weare NH MM Uganda Tree Planting

Green Street PA MM Runoff Capture

Milwaukee Meeting Community Compost

David Schaad Viet Nam Work Study

• First Grant Awarded in 2013 Due to Timing – Multiple Funding Sources for David’s Trip– Sponsored/Supported by

• West Hills Friends Church Portland, OR• University of Montana Climate Change Studies Dept.

– Trip to Viet Nam included• Conversations with Mekong Delta people• Field Research

• Work Study

• Progress of David’s Reports & Actions – First Presentation Held at West Hills in June 2013– Potential Presentation Sharing at QEW Chicago October 2013

25 Attended with Fresh Raspberries from Meeting House Canes

David Presents to West Hills

Sarasota FL First Day School Garden

• Students Prepared Application – Working Vegetable Garden next to Meeting – Students Applied to Meeting and then QEW– Food will be consumed locally– Local Group Assisted with Location & Approval

• Early Funding Due to Seasonal Timing – Students Work Day– Sustainable Methods Used– Complimentary Planting to Control for Pests– Assistance from Member—Drip Irrigation

Hard at Work in Sarasota FL

Progress in Sarasota FL

Casa des Amigos Energy Management

• Casa des Amigo in Mexico City– Committed to Social/Earth Justice– Destination for Friends & Other Guests Traveling to Mexico– Thousands Visit Every Year

• Casa Committed to Sustainability – Solar Water Heater Roof Installation– Documentation will accompany project

• Standing Invitation to QEW members/All Friends

• Second QEW Award to Casa des Amigos

Weare NH MM to Assist Uganda YM Tree Planting

• Uganda YM Tree Planting– 2013 Plans for sustainable tree planting – Trees to include bananas & passion fruit– Trees will yield marketable fruit in 5 years or less– Project includes education/training for Local Friends

• Marian Baker of Weare NH MM– Travels to Uganda every summer– Rich relationships/track record on the ground– Funds with match will be hand carried– High confidence in area where investments can be risky

• Multi-Year Project potential for long term participation

Green Street PA MM Rain Garden• Multiple Partners to Insure Maximum Impact

– Green Street MM Green Team– Green Street Friends School– City of Philadelphia– AKRF—Local Engineering Firm– Tookany/Tacony Frankfort Watershed Partnership

• Multi-Purpose Rain Garden– Most cost-effective way to manage storm runoff– (Urban storm runoff is second largest source of waterway pollution)– Native Plants will be featured in a high visibility location– Educational opportunities for students and local residents– Model for other urban & suburban communities

Bonus PS: Sustainable 19144 Project• Susan Christian is Point Person for Green Team

• Susan to lead Sustainable 19144 (Zip Code)– Local Initiative

– 48,000 residents

– High poverty area

– Links to Transition Town & Perma-culture

• Potential Actions Include– Gardening & Composting

– Weatherization & Other Housing Improvements

– Local Currency

– Land Trust & Non-Profits Development

– Education at local levels in all Sustainability Events/Projects

• Susan Invites our Support

Milwaukee Meeting Community Compost Site

• Multiple Partners to Insure Maximum Impact– Milwaukee Friends Meeting– Kompost Kids (local non profit)– Lifeways Early Childhood Center– Local Residents

• MFM will– Acquire materials– Compost Meeting property– Involve First Day Schoolers– Engage Kompost Kids and local neighborhood – Foster widespread & ongoing participation in composting

How YOU can take part:• CONTRIBUTE to mini-grant funding with a

fund-raiser or by direct contributions• Serve on our Working Group (WG)• Find a YOUNG PERSON to serve on our WG• Encourage new Applicants• Contact Bill Holcombe at bholc7@hotmail.com• Contact Maia Wolff at