broombusters

Springwood Middle School Earth Day 2008

Port Alberni Broom Cutters

Which approach is best for your community?
Below are descriptions of how a few communities have approached the Broom problem.

ALL OVER THE ISLAND: The Ministry of Transportation is welcoming involvement from any residents in their region - which is just about everyone on Vancouver Island - and is helping out in two major ways. They are offering insurance under the Adopt a Highway Program to those individuals who register; they are also willing to pick up and chip the cut, dry broom that volunteers leave along side chosen highways and roads. (Single plants can be left to decompose.) The Brandon Lake workers are working on larger fields of broom on highways; the community is focusing on smaller and new infestations to prevent the spread of broom. At the moment, Broombusters.org is the communication connection between the communities and the Ministry, however, we are all looking for leaders in different communities to help organize the cutting and pick up.

Advantages of this approach: Anyone anywhere can clear a highway, and help prevent the broom from moving down the road. It does not require moving the broom - only cutting it.

Port Alberni
Port Alberni is observing a Broombusting week. Residents can drop off cut broom, from anywhere, free of charge, at the City property on the south end of Anderson Avenue (across Ship Creek Road) during that week. A local garden club cut a big hill beside the hospital in 2006 and intends to keep that hill cut.

Advantages of this approach: People can cut broom on their own property - or anywhere. It’s easy to advertise and promote. People can cut broom any time, and then, at the end of the broom cutting season, they have a place to dump their broom. There are also no insurance concerns. The disadvantage is that many people don’t have access to a truck to move the cut broom - which leaves a lot of willing hands unable to work.

Qualicum Beach
Qualicum got involved in spring 2006, and will continue. The town and residents decide where they want to remove broom. New roads & areas were chosen each of 5 weeks. Residents could go out and cut the broom any time during the week, and lay it beside the road (not on the shoulder.) Then on Monday morning, the town crew from Qualicum will come by and pick up the broom beside the road. In 2006, there were two group broom cutting Saturdays. A large section of Memorial Hwy was cleared of broom.

Qualicum got involved in spring 2006. Broombusters.org served as the communication link between the town and residents who wanted to cut broom on a particular road. New roads were chosen each of 5 weeks. Residents could go out and cut the broom any time during the week, and lay it beside the road (not on the shoulder.) Then on Monday morning, the crew from Qualicum will come by and pick up the broom beside the road. There were two group broom cutting Saturdays. A large section of Memorial Hwy was cleared of broom.

Advantages of this approach: Residents can work at their own speed, when they have time available. Long work days are not possible for many, because of time or physical retraints. Also, people work in their own neighborhoods, creating a sense of ownership, and enjoying the fruits of their labors all year long. It does not require moving the broom - only cutting it.

Contact person:
Joanne Sales - joanne@glasswing.com - 250-752-4816

The Sunshine Coast
Plans are in the making. Contact Lyrae.
Contact person:
Lyrae - lyrae@telus.net - 604-885-4384