Green Training on St. Patrick’s Day
Do you remember the goats at Blueberry Park? Do you want be just like a goat? Okay, maybe not, but here’s an opportunity for you to learn the skills to do some good… like a goat. Okay, the goat thing doesn’t work. Here’s the press release:
Tacoma, March 17, 2007 — Goats ate their way into the spotlight as invasive species removers last August in Blueberry Park. This weekend, human volunteers will take over as restoration specialists at the first formal hands-on training organized by the Green Tacoma Partnership. Appropriately the green event will take place on St. Patrick’s Day morning. Dozens of Tacoma residents will join together in the first of a series of free workshops focused on restoration techniques and managing work parties.
The Green Tacoma Partnership was launched in 2005 out of concern for the declining health of Tacoma’s parks and open spaces. The partnership is a collaboration of the City of Tacoma, the Cascade Land Conservancy, Metro Parks Tacoma, Tahoma Audubon Society, the Pierce Conservation District, plus other leaders from educational, environmental, civic and business communities. Natural areas in Tacoma face the threat of losing native species as they struggle to compete with invasive species such as English ivy, Scott’s broom, Himalayan blackberry and holly. With the risk of losing significant forested canopy and biodiversity within the next 20 years, the Green Tacoma Partnership will provide more resources to groups already doing restoration while encouraging more citizens to join in the efforts.
This first workshop will begin with a tour of Blueberry Park led by Charlotte Valbert, the coordinator of Blueberry Park Volunteers. Participants will learn about the history of the park, including the use 280 goats brought in last summer to clear areas overrun by invasive species. Participants will also receive training on the safe use and care of a variety of tools including loppers, shovels and the Weed WrenchTM. Additional workshops throughout the year will include the topics of working and planting on steep slopes, invasive removal techniques for specific species and managing large work parties. Each workshop will take place at a different park or natural area that has been adopted by a dedicated group of volunteers.
Event sponsored by: Blueberry Park Volunteers, MetroParks Tacoma, Tahoma Audubon, Cascade Land Conservancy, and City of Tacoma
What
Habitat Restoration Trainings Kick-off
When
Saturday, March 17, 2007
9:00am to 12:00pm
Where
Blueberry Park – E 74th St. and E. D St, Tacoma, WA
For Information at www.greentacoma.org
6 comments
C crenshaw sepulveda September 18, 2008
Why can’t Russell be bailed out like the other financial institutions? Looks like the federal government is tossing around a lot of billions lately.
E Erik S September 18, 2008
The “problem” there is that Russell isn’t on the verge of bankruptcy, at least as far as I know. The federal government is unlikely to intervene to “save” Russell from moving to Seattle/San Francisco/etc. Maybe we should be hoping they hit harder times?
A altered chords September 19, 2008
I do not believe they are either large borrowers or lenders. They are largely “advisers” Sort of like Sassy McButterpants of the retirement fund industry. In that capacity, I imagine, they are extremely busy lately.
If the current liquidity crisis is not averted, it will become very difficult for anyone to borrow the $$ needed to construct a highrise for anyone in Tacoma, Federal Way, Seattle, Timbuktu. We will become like gnats frozen in amber for a little while.
S Squid September 19, 2008
AC@3, you just nailed Russell’s new tagline “The Sassy McButterpants of the Retirement Fund Industry.” I can see it in airport ads the world over.
D Douglas Tooley September 22, 2008
Stewardship of real estate assets is going to be a topic in the weeks ahead.
This application should be a good way to jump start those discussions.
Talking about specific projects such as this with all the info can be risky, but I do gather that all of the issues weren’t worked out here. But again, I’m very definitely looking at ths from the periphery.
On the one hand, corporate welfare is what got us into this mess. On the other, it is also our only hope, now that the government has taken over the economy.
A altered chords September 22, 2008
@ Douglas Tooley.
By “this mess” if you mean the meltdown of the financial markets, then I do not agree that it was “corporate welfare” that got us into the mess.
Corporate welfare is bad. That is not my point.
My point is this: It was the mortgages made to underqualified buyers and the unrealistic optimism of continued rising real estate prices that got us into “this mess”.
You’ll note that nothing melted down until housing prices declined.