October newsletter

THANK YOU, COULEE REGION ECOSCAPES! Thank you, Judson Steinbach of Coulee Region Ecoscapes for your wonderful presentation at our September 26 meeting. Judson detailed, in slides and story, the beginnings of the business, its commitment to sustainable and environmentally sound practices, and its “side business” - creating and connecting diverse communities to make lives better.

Judson talked about CRE’s work on the Community Food Forest at the La Crosse YMCA and their recent completion of an outdoor classroom/memorial at Myrick Park. He talked about changes in design and plant selection as effects of global warming grow. And he offered plants to those who attended.

We will post a link to the slideshow presentation as soon as it’s available. In the meantime, you can view a portfolio of the organizations work and services at their website: www.couleeregionecoscapes.com/

REMINDER - Our HIGHWAY CLEAN UP will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3. Meet at the pumping station just west of the intersection of River Valley Drive and Gillette Street to get vests, gloves, and bags. Questions? pbwilson-at-centurytel-dot-net 

TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN ACTIVISM  The Sierra Club and other state and national organizations need all of us to step up and get more involved as our natural resources and environmentally sensitive gems are under assault from all directions.

If you are a member of the Sierra Club, that’s a great first step. Now, it’s time to do more. Here are a important actions that need your support.

MINING  Senator Tom Tiffany has introduced a sweeping Mining Give-Away Bill that removes Wisconsin's prove-it-first protections, undermines our wetland laws and sidesteps many of our existing safeguards. As our Mining Chair put it, "These giveaways to the mining industry are nothing more than direct subsidies that reduce operating costs while putting Wisconsin's sustainable tourism and agriculture at risk from pollution.” Learn more about the issue and call your representatives to stop this destructive bill. sierraclub.org/wisconsin/issues/mining

CAFO MORATORIUM  The Sustain Rural Wisconsin Network is leading efforts to pass a CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) moratorium. “Wisconsin’s industrial animal factories generate more manure than crops can safely use as fertilizer leading to excess phosphorus and nitrate levels in the soil and groundwater. As a result, our local streams, lakes, and waterways are quickly becoming damaged beyond repair.” Learn more and join with SIerra Club and other environmental groups’ members to push for a moratorium. sustainruralwisconsin.org/advocate-for-a-cafo-moratorium/

GLOBAL WARMING  The Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 initiative is a way for mayors and communities to target a quick move to renewable, non-polluting energy use. Start a Ready for 100 push in your community, or, if your leaders have already signed on, offer to meet with them to help plan and implement a transition to renewables. Climate scientists say we have about 10 years to change! Learn more: sierraclub.org/ready-for-100/cities-ready-for-100