BroomBusters
Cut Broom in Bloom
Vancouver Island & BC Mainland's Grassroots
Scotch Broom
Containment Campaign
Broombusting Communities:

2007 Broom Cuts

Community Cuts in Parksville
Saturday, June 9. 12:30 - 2:00 Meet across the street from Buckerfields, to cut along Alberni Hwy and the Interchange Exit 51.
Wednesday, June 13. 6:00 - 8:00. Meet near the Visitor’s Center & Craig Heritage Museum on Old Island Hwy, at the Resorts / Industrial Park end of Parksville.
Saturday, June 16. 9:30 - 11:30. More cutting on the Old Island Hwy. Look for broombusters or directions at the Visitor’s Center.
Also, you can cut anytime along the ocean side of Old Island Hwy, from the Interchange to the bridge. If you have loppers, bring them. If not, come anyway.You can call me and let me know that you are coming, or just show up.

Community Cuts in Qualicum:
Thursday, June 7. 7:00. Arrowsmith Elementary School, Old Island Hwy & Bennett.
Saturday, June 16. Finishing up for the year! Location TBA.

Broombusting Weekend June 2-3
Cut Broom in Bloom
Qualicum - Village Way near high school. Sunday - 9:30-11:00
Coombs - Alberni Hwy & Winchester (Butterfly World) Saturday 9:30 - 11:00
Nanoose - Sunday 4-6:00 Northwest Bay Road; Confirm time with Anita Roy 468-5400
Parksville Broombusting Week is June 10 - 17. Call Joanne Sales if you can help! 752-4816

May 27 - 28
Qualicum - Sunday, May 27, 12:30-2:30. During Family Day! Cut broom on edges of parking lots of Community & Civic Park, Center & Pool, and Park Road. Look for us or a note on Civic Center door. We’ll have tools. Come to Family Day and beautify the park. (Family Day: www.qbfamilyday.com)

Also, cut anytime on Island Hwy, Village Way, Memorial.

Nanoose - Cut anytime anywhere on Northwest Bay Road.

Errington-Coombs - Cut anytime on Errington & Grafton.
For group cuts, contact Joanne Sales. 752-4816. www.broombusters.org.

Weekend of May 19 - 20. Tools provided at group cuts, and by request.
For raindates, call Joanne. 752-4816
Nanoose:
North West Bay Road between Petro-Canada and Red Gap. Sunday 2-4

In Qualicum: Cut anytime and anywhere
on Old Island Hwy in Qualicum
For the Hardy: Village Way near Hemsworth
Quiet spot: Arbutus and Claymore, Saturday, 1-2:30

Errington / Coombs:
Starting at Grafton Ave and Station Rd
, Sunday 1-3:00 (look for signs)
Everyone is welcome! We need volunteers of all ages.
May 12 & 13 - Errington-Coombs: Errington Road, from Alberni Highway to Grafton. Sat, May 12, 10:30 - 1:00. Also Sunday - 2:30 - 4:30. Virginia Estates. Sun King and Shawn Roads
Qualicum: Village Way, starting near Hemsworth. Saturday, May 12, 1:00 - 3:00
Nanoose: Sunday, May 13, 10:00 - 12:00. Northwest Bay Road at Roberts Road.
May 6 - Qualicum. Village Way - 10 people cut a large section of Village Way!


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.
Contact people:
First call or email Joanne Sales - 250-752-4816; joanne"at"glasswing.com

Arrowsmith Area: Coombs, Errington, Hilliers, Whiskey Creek
Now signing up Road Guardians! Click here.
Contact: Ali Kerpan or Joanne Sales joanne"at"glasswing.com.

Port Alberni
Port Alberni is observing a Broombusting week June 3-9. 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.
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.
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
 
 


Before the Community Cut in Port Alberni 2006
Broom Cutters in action

Which approach is best for your community?
Every community is different. How your community and neighborhood approaches the broom problem will depend on your community and resources. To aid in your decision making here are what we have observed.

Qualicum Beach:
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.

The Ministry of Transportation is welcoming involvement from any residents in their region, 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. 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 location that the town designates; The dump will waive fees for dumping broom during that week as well. 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.

 

 

 

   
   

 

 

Previous Years Projects: 2006 - 2007 - 2008