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PCEI was started by an explosion halfway around the world.
In 1986 when the Chernobyl nuclear reactor blew up, folks living close
to the Hanford nuclear power plant in eastern Washington were pretty
nervous - and for good reason. As executive director Tom Lamar
explains, "The construction of the two was fairly similar, they were
built about the same time, and there was a lot of concern about both
them. If Chernobyl could blow up, people felt Hanford could blow
up."
The community formed a new organization (with the leadership of 1986
Founder MaryJane
Butters), initially called Hanford Watch. Tom says, "Within a
couple of years, they closed the reactor and things started changing at
Hanford." At this point, with other organizations concentrating on
Hanford, PCEI shifted its focus to the transportation of nuclear and
other toxic waste, and then to local concern about pesticide use, which
ultimately led to a change in the way the organization approached
environmental issues. As Tom remembers, "First, pesticides were part of
our toxics issue and then we realized, if we're going to deal with
toxics, we need to deal with the farmers. So, right away we started
trying to open lines of communication between farmers who were using
the pesticides and people who were concerned about the pesticides."
"PCEI started working on what they called at the time 'alternative
agriculture.' The program was later called sustainable agriculture and
then it was called community food systems." The
evolution of the name reflects the expansion of the Institute's
understanding and definition of the issue. "A big part of what we are
doing is looking at the whole picture. It's not just the issue of what
the farmer is doing - right or wrong - but what the consumers are doing
that affect the market for the farmers. So if somebody is complaining
about a certain kind of agriculture, is that person putting their money
where their mouth is?"
PCEI's Community Agriculture program focuses on consumer education and
support of family farmers. "We do a lot of advocacy for
locally-produced food, and help people understand the added costs of
buying from outside the community and not adding value from within."
The Institute has also established a very popular community garden with
plots rented by local people.
Although the organization's focus has continued to evolve, the
underlying purpose has been consistent. "We've had the same mission
statement for quite a while, which is to increase citizen involvement
in decisions that affect the region's environment." The Institute has
grown into one of the most successful organizations in the region. In
addition to Community Agriculture, they have programs in Watershed
Restoration, Environmental Education, and Transportation. |
Photo: Geoff Crimmins |
"Everything we've done so far has been because the people in the
community have said, 'This needs to happen.'" For example, in 1990, Tom
remembers, "A lot of people were saying, somebody should do something
about Paradise Creek. So, we started
doing something about Paradise Creek. We started with annual cleanup
projects. We began an Adopt-a-Stream program and started organizing
around that issue." This was the origin of their Watershed Restoration
program, which has engaged church and school groups, civic service
clubs like the Lions and Elks, and fraternities and sororities in
hands-on restoration work. The program has also contributed to the
local economy. "We buy from local nurseries, helping create a strong
market for native vegetation. We hire local contractors and workers,
and our budget for that program is close to $300,000."
"Folks come out for community service projects; at-risk-youth and
others do something for the community and gain skills. They plant
trees, install erosion control fabrics, and much more. They provide the
labor, and get to learn about the stream in the process. Most people in
the past considered it a drainage ditch, but as people help and watch
us re-open the flood plain and restore the creek to its natural
meanders, the community places new value on the creek. Now there is
interest in creating a linear park along the stream with trails and
benches."
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In addition to restoring the natural flood plain and sinuosity of the
stream, the Institute has installed wetland cells to handle wastewater
from a treatment plant, and biofiltration swales to treat stormwater
from parking lots, roads, and houses. Eight acres of constructed
wetlands now handle 5% of the city's water treatment flow, and PCEI
is monitoring the outflow to measure its effectiveness at keeping
nutrients and other contaminants out of the creek.
"This work improves our quality of life and gives people a reason to
want to live here and reinvest in the community. We have used community
contributions to leverage outside funding from state and federal
pollution prevention contracts. We're also seeing policy shifts in the
local government as people begin to recognize the value of the stream
and its related resources. In the past the city was concerned with
flooding, and would spend money each year deepening the channel. Now
their values have broadened, and they are implementing a new stormwater
management plan and erosion control ordinance to protect the stream's
ability to handle those peak flows."
Restoration and addressing non-point source pollution is the
environmental aim of the Paradise Creek project, but the Institute has
a larger goal. "Our work is to try to turn it into a community building
exercise as well. In the long run, because we're using volunteers, and
getting people involved on an emotional level, it has the long-term
benefit of being a more sustainable project. People become invested in
the work." |
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