Give Now to Double Your Impact | |
Recognizing the importance of WEAN's work in this moment, two generous community members have challenged us to raise $100,000—and they'll double it! When you give today, your donation will be doubled by this matching challenge.
By donating now, you help protect the future of Whidbey and Camano Islands and support our advocacy for critical ecosystems here and across Washington State.
| Don't Miss It! Public Hearing Sept. 25 | |
The Island County Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing for the 2025 Public Participation Plan for their Comprehensive Plan update process on September 25th at 2 pm. Participate in person or online. View the agenda and learn how to participate.
The Comprehensive Plan update will impact our lives for years to come and robust public participation is vital. Please attend to learn how you can help shape the vision for Island County's next chapter.
We have opportunities to contribute by noticing and naming any missing stakeholders on this draft public engagement plan, by providing input to planners about the need to make the website and other information sources navigable, searchable, and clear, and by providing any other suggestions that will support a healthy planning process.
| Looking Back at Not In Our Parks | By Marianne Edain, WEAN Founder |  | |
Some people hold mortgage burning celebrations. WEAN is celebrating the final payment to our attorneys in the Not In Our Parks case, made this week. It is finished.
Back in 2017 we learned quite by accident that the US Navy was asking Washington State Parks for permission to use our shoreline parks for sneak/spy training, using park visitors as subjects. In 2019 the Navy submitted its permit paperwork to State Parks. They were asking to use 28 of our parks.
We knew this was going to be a tough fight. You simply don’t go up against the US Navy without some serious adverse consequences. Our first move was to discuss the very likely legal case with our attorneys. We asked for a ballpark figure and they gave it to us: $75k - $100k. Gulp.
Starting in 2019, we invited other organizations to join us in a coalition to fight this case. Many stepped in. Some donated money. Some did research. Some attended meetings and hearings. Some submitted comments and documentation. And all of them informed their members and friends. They made a huge difference. We simply could not have done it without all their support.
Click here to read the full story on our blog and learn about this legal victory.
We were honored by the organization World Beyond War with the 2022 Organizational War Abolisher award. We’re still trying to understand all of the spreading ripples of our action. We believe they are positive.
| 20 Years Later, WEAN Case Cited in Skamania County Conservation Win | Video: Conservation Northwest's work on wildlife crossings | In 2003, WEAN won a Growth Management Hearings Board case preventing SPU from developing in the sensitive coastal forest at Camp Casey. This case was recently cited in a decision granting invalidity in a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) case brought by Conservation Northwest (CN) in Skamania County. Skamania County had rezoned about 150 acres for more intense development (recreation) in an area where millions of dollars have been spent providing wildlife crossing of I-90. CN won on all SEPA issues and the Hearings Board invalidated the rezone. |  | |
Coupeville Library hosts Designing, planning, and building for a zero-energy future, Sept. 26, plus other Climate Week events Next week!
Sightline presents a Q & A: Can Cascadia adapt to more smoke and wildfires?, Sept. 27 Next week!
Union of Concerned Scientists presents After Oppenheimer: Learn how to call your member of congress, Sept. 27 Next week!
Salish Sea Cooperative Finance's Whidbey Island Social Hour and Member Meeting, Oct. 4. Non-members interested in the co-op are welcome to attend.
Kicking Gas Presents Uncommon Electric, a new event series at the South Whidbey Commons. Kicking off on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 6-9 pm, this will be the first of many opportunities to gather, learn, take action, and connect in an informal family-friendly setting. DJ Portals of Creation will spin some electro jazz, funk, down beat, and world music. Save the date!
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Join us Thursday, October 19 for EVER GREEN at WICA | |
Join us at WICA for EVER GREEN, a 30 minute documentary about WEAN's history of environmental advocacy, followed by a community conversation about the film and current environmental challenges and opportunities.
Tickets are $18 and the screening begins at 7:30 pm.
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USL Action Today
Today, September 22nd, United Student Leaders will host the #EndFossilFuels School Walkout and Rally in front of the basketball court at the Community Park at 1:45 pm, in solidarity with the Fridays for Future movement calling for stronger legislation surrounding the climate crisis, Students will meet with community members and listen to speakers before marching through the park and along Maxwelton Road.
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Whidbey Island is ‘kicking gas’ in push for all-electric homes by Ta'Leah Van Sistine, Everett Herald
The summer food went weird: searing heat reshapes US food production by Cecilia Nowell, the Guardian
Anger is most powerful emotion by far for spurring climate action, study finds
by Ajit Niranjan, the Guardian
Facing rising waters, island nations call on polluters to step up by Molly Quell, Courthouse News
When good intentions turn out badly by Xaxnar, Daily Kos Community
We thought we were saving the planet but we were planting a time bomb by Claire Cameron, the New York Times
Greta Thunberg could face jail term after second blockade of Swedish oil port by Olivia Rosane, Common Dreams
In our blood: how the US allowed toxic chemicals to seep into our lives by Kyle Bagenstose, the Guardian
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Featured Plant:
Vaccineum ovatum
By Marianne Edain, WEAN founder
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Evergreen huckleberries are part of a large family that is well represented in the Pacific Northwest, the Ericaceae (Heathers). Salal, Madrone, Kinnick-kinnick, Rhododendrons, Heathers, and Huckleberries are all in the Ericaceae family. One thing they have in common is that they all like acid soils – of which we have a lot. Many of them produce edible fruits. Madrone and Kinnick-kinnick berries are mildly sweet and quite high in vitamin C. Salal berries are blah, but work well combined with Oregon grape, which is very sour. There are eight species of Huckleberries in our region, of which two species are common on Whidbey and Camano: Vaccineum parvifolium/Red huckleberry and Vaccineum ovatum/Evergreen huckleberry. Another Vaccineum you probably know is the domestic blueberry.
The reason I bring up the Evergreen huckleberry right now is that they’re ripe. The berries are very much not obvious on the underside of those evergreen leaves, but if you look, they’re there. It takes a whole cluster to make a mouthful, but they’re delicious. Well worth picking. To quote from Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast “They begin to ripen in early autumn but they remain on the bushes until December, and are still treasured today as winter berries, said to taste better after the first frost.”
They’re considered an excellent landscape plant because they’re evergreen, and birds and squirrels will thank you for the winter food. If you don’t already have them on your property, consider adding one or two. There’s something very satisfying about stepping out your front door and munching a handful of huckleberries, especially in the cold season.
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