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Quote of the Week
"Over longer time scales, the human influence dominates"
While that statement might well refer to almost anything on Earth, this
quote is from the just-released 4th National Climate Assessment,
specifically in regard to predicting future climate change with any precision.
In the short run, uncertainly in the models and basic science limits the
ability to make exact predictions, but over the long run all that really matters is what we do. See also this figure — where the orange blob, "scenario uncertainty," refers to the question of what sort of scenario is operating, i.e., what people do.
B.Y.O. Spotlight
We
will be using this space to highlight programs and promotions from
local businesses that help encourage and reward the B.Y.O. spirit. If
you see something while you're out, or are a business owner who is
already doing something great, let us know!
Now at Cronig's:
B.Y.O. for Bulk Foods!
Cronig's Market has now made it easy to B.Y.O. container for bulk foods
like beans, grains, dried fruits and nuts, and everything else in their
many bulk bins. Check out the instructions, and look for the new scale and printer located just inside the entrance to their down-Island store.
It's a great, simple way to reduce the use of thin-film plastics, one of the most difficult materials to recycle on our island.
Winter Walk at Wakeman
Maeve Moriarty, Emily Houser, and Finn Moriarty (L-R) try to keep their shoes dry during our November Winter Walk. See the rest of the photos or learn about the revolutionary history of the area known as "Red Coat Hill".
Conservation Calendar
One Big Home: Film Screening & Discussion
Saturday, Dec. 1, 3:00, West Tisbury.
The West Tisbury Library hosts a free screening of the film One Big Home,
followed by a discussion with those involved in the passage of a bylaw
regulating house size in Chilmark: Thomas Bena, Jessica Roddy, Chris
Murphy, Joan Malkin, and Steve Bernier. Refreshments will be served.
Note: Background on the VCS perspective on "high impact residential development" can be found in this 2013 newsletter. Scroll to page 10 for a short story on the Chilmark bylaw, then to page 11 for our testimony to the MV Commission.
Guided Walk at Polly Hill
Saturday, Dec. 8, 10:00 am, West Tisbury.
Join PHA staff for a look at plants in the
winter landscape, when they display unique foliage color, textures,
structure, cones, and berries. Meet at the Visitor Center and dress for the weather. $5 (free for members), no pre-registration required. For more info, call (508) 693-9426.
Book Talk: The Nature of Martha's Vineyard
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 7:00 pm, Vineyard Haven.
The Vineyard Haven Library hosts a slideshow presentation and signing session for Suzan Bellincampi's newly released book, The Nature of Martha's Vineyard. The
book is a retrospective of her newspaper columns from the past two
decades, illustrated with photographs by Tim Johnson. Refreshments will
be served, for more info see Library website or call (508) 696-4210.
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Take Back the Tap
Do you need that bottle of water? A handy flowchart.
Two years ago, following on the heels of the campaign to ban single-use
plastic checkout bags, VCS began working on what we saw as the obvious
next step in waste reduction. When considering all the factors, it was
the enormous number of single-serving, disposable plastic water bottles
that, after plastic bags, were the next most egregious and unnecessary source of waste.
However, the issue of disposable bottles presents a different sort of
challenge than disposable bags. Plastic bags could be seamlessly
replaced with alternatives that are not only better for the environment,
but also better at the core function of a bag: getting your stuff home from the store. We were confident then, that should it pass at Town Meeting, the bag ban would grow to be overwhelmingly popular.
Unlike plastic bags, though, much of the public today has a sincere
preference for bottled water. The realization that we must decrease the demand
for bottled water is the conceptual underpinning of the “Take Back the
Tap” initiative. Our research revealed that the factors motivating
people to buy bottled water generally fit into two categories: quality
and convenience. To address concerns over the taste or cleanliness of
tap water, we began educational efforts (such as the “Tap Water Challenge”
during Zero Waste Week at Tisbury School). However, it is the second
issue — convenience — that may pose the greater challenge. Life moves
quickly, even on Martha’s Vineyard, and to keep pace, we have grown to
rely on a degree of convenience unimaginable a century ago.
This is why we believe the most important accomplishment to date of the
Take Back the Tap program has been the installation of water bottle
refill stations across the Island. These machines get at the root of
both sets of motivators, quality and convenience, by providing chilled,
filtered water — not just for free, but also more quickly than buying a
bottle from the store or vending machine. Thanks to a generous anonymous
donor, refill stations were first installed in all of our schools, and
more recently we have been expanding into other high-traffic public
places. Stations can now be found at the Boys & Girls Club, the MV
Ice Arena, the Agricultural Hall, the Oak Bluffs and West Tisbury
Libraries, and the Edgartown and West Tisbury Town Halls, with more
locations still to come. The goal is to create a highly visible network
that will immediately decrease the need for bottled water, while over
the long haul demonstrating to residents and visitors alike that we are
very fortunate to have excellent drinking water on our Island — we
should be using it!
Next Winter Walk: Sunday at Waskosims Rock 
Photo by Brendan O'Neill
Our next Winter Walk will be a special collaboration with the Martha's
Vineyard Land Bank at their Waskosims Rock Reservation. This Sunday
(Dec. 2) at 1:00 pm, Land Bank Ecologist Julie Russell
and VCS Executive Director Brendan O'Neill will co-lead an interpretive
hike at this jewel of the Vineyard's conservation land, sharing insights
on the ecological features and land use history of the property, as well as how it came to be saved from a much different fate than what we see today.
VCS involvement at Waskosims, an area located in the heart of the Mill
Brook Watershed in Chilmark and West Tisbury, began over 40 years ago
with the sponsorship of a study to test the feasibility of permanently
protecting the land. Over the years, VCS advocacy fended off various
subdivision plans, and established a protected Special Place designation
for 22 acres, including Waskosims Rock itself. In 1990 the Land Bank
stepped in, purchasing 145 acres of the property for $3.5M, conserving
the land in perpetuity. Since then, MVLB acquisitions have expanded the
Waskosims Reservation to nearly 185 acres.
Parking
will be off of North Rd., about one mile from the State Road end. Watch
for the yellow flags and VCS signs on the south side of the road.
Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and be prepared for a
walk of 1-2 hours. We hope to see you on Sunday!
The MV Land Bank is a public governmental entity created for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, and managing protected lands. The
Vineyard Conservation Society is a private non-profit membership
organization pursuing its environmental protection mission through
advocacy, education, and land preservation.
An Environmental Perspective on the Grass Debate
The politically complicated – and unfortunately divisive – question of
whether to use natural grass or artificial turf on our Regional High
School’s athletic fields has resurfaced.
Though the issue may have appeared settled last year when the High
School adopted a 10-year grass-only policy, that decision has not
precluded the School's Facilities Sub-Committee from “discuss(ion) of
all options for amendments to policies” (see meeting minutes and Gazette coverage).
VCS recognizes that these decisions are complex and involve the
consideration of many factors that are outside of our environmental
protection mission, including student health and safety, athletic
competitiveness, and, of course, the financial impact any of the
proposed projects would have on Town budgets and tax assessments. Our
chief objection to artificial turf is, in contrast, fairly simple: at a
time when so much is being done to reduce plastic waste and pollution on
our Island, it would be disappointing to see a contradictory addition
of one or more enormous plastic carpets. These would periodically need
to be hauled off-Island, disposed of, and replaced, all the while
shedding microplastics into our groundwater and oceans – just like the
bags and bottles our Island is working so hard to keep out of the
natural environment. For more detail on the environmental perspective,
please see our written testimony to the School Committee. |
