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What
do Broombusters do?
Our contribution is to get out with loppers in May and June and
cut down the flowering plants wherever we see them. This will not
eliminate the broom from the Island, but hopefully will contain
its spread - until a better solution comes forward. We have had
great support from some townships and the Ministry of Transportation.
We welcome anyone and everyone to join us, no matter where he or
she lives. Email or call to find out how you can help, and what
support is available, in your town and community. If no one is currently
active in your area, please email or call. It is very easy to get
Broombusters active in your area. 2007
Projects
Broombusters:
1. Organizers community clearing days.
2. Connects with townships and ministries to organize broom pick
ups, Broombusting weeks, drop off days, etc.
3. Chooses target areas, so that neighbors can get together to remove
and prevent the spread of broom. Broom tends to just run down the
street, and it is only when neighbors communicate and join together,
that this type of spread can be controlled. Broombusters acts as
a comunication central for coordinated activities.
4. Posts pictures and information on line about other broombusters,
which encourages us all!
5. Posts information that can be downloaded and shared, as neighbors
talk to neighbors, and groups talk to towns.
6. Most "broombusting" is done by individuals on their
own time. However, we all watch each other at work. The piles of
broom on the roadside assures us that we part of a collective effort
to save our native species, protect pasture lands and forests.
Cut broom in bloom.
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Our mission is to prevent
the spread of Scotch broom.
We are totally a volunteer group. You’ll see broombusters
walking along the highway and cutting down single broom plants and
new infestations; clearing their own and neighbors properties; clearing
walkways and paths. We only work at this task while broom is in
bloom.
It seems like Scotch broom has the ability to look down a road and
say, “I can take over this town...” - and quite often
it succeeds. However, the residents who live in that community can
stop the spread - by cutting down one broom at a time. The work
is not hard, but it requires that everyone work together. And that
is not such a bad thing!
Our goal is
• to enable, connect, and empower people to take on the task
of controlling Scotch broom.
• to be a communication
board for towns and communities to publish their activities
• to protect the
native plant species and animals of British Columbia; to protect
and reclaim pasture and forest lands.
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The Story
Broombusters
started the way all movements start. A group of friends were talking....
This group was at the Errington Market, a small thriving farmers
& crafts market in a wooded park in Errington. Standing beside
Sunshine’s stall with herbs and oils, the conversation turned
to Scotch Broom. “It’s everywhere!” “A catastrophe.”
“It’s so much worse than last year.” On and on.
Joanne Sales decided to find out what was being done about it. Many
individuals were cutting broom on their own property, and a few
groups were removing broom from specific parks. But other than that,
there was not much being done about Scotch broom in Spring 2006.
Scotch broom seemed to be slipping through the cracks - EVERYWHERE.
It was quickly apparent that if the people of the Island wanted
to keep scotch broom from taking over the Island, they would have
to show that it was a priority - and start cutting it themselves.
And they did.
Joanne Sales conceived of the idea of Broombusters. She made tons
of phone calls. Everyone was concerned about the broom problem,
but the quickest responses to support the Broombusting effort came
from the town of Qualicum Beach through Wendy Mauer, and the Ministry
of Transportation through Bob Hickman. As a means of communication,
the broombuster website was put up: www.broombusters.org. Soon,
Broombusters had hundreds of emails flying all over Vancouver Island,
talks on local radio stations, a television story, and articles
and pictures in local papers. A dedicated core group of about thirty
people did most of the organized cutting in the Oceanside area in
2006 - leaving piles and piles of broom beside the roads which were
picked up by the Ministry of Transportation or the town crew of
Qualicum Beach. Home and farm owners cut and burned massive amounts
of broom on their own properties. Another group of Port Alberni
residents organized and completed a large broom removal on a hillside
beside the hospital... And then the broom went to seed. Cutting
had to stop for the 2006 season.
In 2007, there was much more going on to counter the broom sourge.
There were many more individuals, garden clubs, groups and towns
involved. Each effort was unique and self directed. All efforts
were respected and welcome!
In 2008, the
effort will continue. Broombusters has applied for a grant to help
with publicity and tools. Hopefully, soon, every committed communities
will have tools available during the 8 weeks of spring when cutting
broom is most effective.
Broombusters is so loosely organized that all you have to do to
join is cut broom! However, there is great need for people to step
forward to get the energy going in their own community, town, and
neighborhood.
Many thanks to all volunteers, known and unknown - and to you!
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