Quaker Earthcare WitnessMini-Grants 2012

Bill Holcombe, Outgoing ClerkHousatonic (CT) MM NYYM

Maia Wolff, Incoming Rising Co-clerkPacific YM

2011 Project Highlights

• Miami Monthly Meeting Native Garden Project

• Al Alto Bolivia Tree Planting Project

• Kenya Munyu Youth Group Sericulture Project

Miami MM Native Garden• Goals:

– Beautify grounds with native plants– Create native landscape to attract butterflies, bees and birds– Lower energy use—no watering required– Sustainable garden for education of local children

• Local community involvement; partners include:– TREEmendous Miami– Native Plant Society of South Dade– Tropical Audobon Society

• Buildings & Grounds enlisted support of:– First Day School Children ages 4 to 13

– Children & parents of neighboring Bilingual Coop Pre-school

Miami MM Garden Planting: Happy Helpers

Miami MM Garden Early Learning

Miami MM Children Discover a Lovely Fungus

Miami MM Child Beholds a Beautiful Spider Web

Miami MM Garden Video

• https://vimeo.com/29686567

El Alto Proyecto de Arbolizacion• Goals:

– Initiate tree planting in treeless high altitude environment– Beautify grounds around the church– Over 100 trees planted– Demonstrate possibility of trees survival at altitude

• Local community involvement; partners include:– Local Youth Group of Young Friends– Mayor’s Office donates trees to project

El Alto BoliviaTree Planting Project

First ever tree planting in one of America’s highest populated places.

El Alto: Lining Up the Job

El Alto: Laying the Ground Work for Tree Planting

El Alto: Community Pitches in to get Planting under way

Kenya Munyu Youth Group• Goals:

– Involve Youth Group in agriculture development & education– Develop existing tree nursery using indigenous trees– Initiate sericulture (silk worms) and apiary (bees) projects– Plant indigenous trees and strawberry plants worms feed on– Develop business to redress poverty among locals

• Other Benefits include:– Educate Local Youth Group of Young Friends– Involve Friends and Advancement for non-members

• Oh that only we had Photos showing this model Project

2012 QEW Mini-Grants

• 2012: Grants up to $350 grant applicants match from their budget or by fund-raising

• Grants Awarded:– Sand Point, ID Meeting “Nest” Improvement

– West Knoxville, TN Meeting Rain Shed

– Columbia, SC Meeting Organic Garden– Silver River MO Worship Group Sustainable Orchard– Charleston, SC Community Garden – *NE YAFCWG (!) Sustainable Power Generation*

Sand Point Idaho Meeting• “Nest” Renovation:

– Children’s space improvement– Space created from old garage and storage area

• Project Involved Entire Meeting– Source of pride– Group Accomplishment

• Q Minigrant to Increase Energy Efficiency – Insulation will increase R value of floor

– $250 will be matched by member contributions

West Knoxville Rain Shed• West Knoxville TN Meeting Rainwater Project

– Tool shed will collect rain water– Detailed plans for 6 X 6 shed with 4 gutters– Rain water will flow into 4 existing barrels– Meeting adults will build shed; children will paint

• Shed to be Located near Meeting Garden– Shed will be 400 feet from meeting garden– No water source nearby– Will save on costly water import and metering– Rainwater will be far less costly, sustainable, and low impact

• $175 Mini-grant for Materials

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

Silver River, MO Sustainable Orchard

• Silver River, MO Worship Group – Part of Possibility Alliance intentional community– Alliance practices permaculture food production– Group looks to live simply and set sustainable example– Group under 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, & companion planting guilds– Plan to create forest edge system to:

• Create food• Support wild life• Renew existing land

Charleston, SC Community Garden

• Charleston, SC Friends Meeting Project: – Enhance existing inner city community garden area– Location: Local urban low income area

• Grant has been completed using largely snail mail– Charleston Friends meeting very small and technically challenged– Small meeting: $100 request

• Garden Benefits to include:– Beautification of Julien Divine Community Center

– Enhance partnership with meeting & local seniors and neighbors

– Serve as focal point in relation to larger community

Charleston, SC Garden Before

Charleston, SC Garden Before

Charleston, SC Garden After

Charleston, SC Garden After

How YOU can help:• CONTRIBUTE to mini-grant fund with a

fund-raiser or by direct contributions• Serve on our Working Group• Find a YOUNG PERSON to serve on our WG• Contributions of carbon offsets for trips can be

donated to QEW for the Mini-Grant Fund. • Application resides: <www.quakerearthcare.org>. • Contact Bill Holcombe at bholc7@hotmail.com