The Garden Club of Santa Barbara
Conservation
The purpose of the Conservation Committee is to keep The Garden Club of Santa Barbara (GCSB) membership well informed on current conservation issues; to promote respect and responsibility for natural resources and environmental stewardship; to encourage GCSB to identify and carry out conservation work locally; to provide environmental education programs for youth and the general public; and, with the Executive Board's approval, to work with other conservation agencies and organizations whose programs complement those of The Garden Club of America (GCA). The Conservation Committee also works closely with GCA’s National Affairs and Legislation Committee (NAL). NAL keeps GCA member clubs like GCSB current on federal legislation and policy initiatives that relate to the mission of the GCA, identifies advocacy opportunities based on the GCA's Position Papers, and plans and executes the annual NAL Conference in Washington, D.C. The GCA has been involved in advocacy since its earliest days. The first Position Papers were created in 1989 to support advocacy by providing a cohesive and consistent message for member clubs and GCA national committees. The Position Papers summarize the issues that are priorities to the GCA. GCSB has been an active force in the education of environmental awareness and the preservation of natural resources. The Conservation Committee works to promote healthy land, water, and air and to help educate and inspire nature-based solutions to conservation issues. The committee supports educational field trips to learn about recycling of our trash, water, and plastics. Recent field trips included visits to Planet Protectors, El Estero Water Resource Center, and the Charles E. Mayer Desalination Plant, the Tajiguas Landfill and Resource Center, and the MarBorg Recycling Center. We keep our members informed and aware of our local community conservation efforts. Additionally, the committee is directly engaged with legislative advocacy consistent with GCA Position Papers. GCSB Conservation Committee members annually attend the NAL Conference and maintain connections with state and federal legislators providing encouragement, feedback, and/or gratitude for key conservation initiatives. |
The preservation of native habitats is a concern of NAL and Conservation committees
The committees follow water issues and restoration projects. |
On Friday, October 13, 2023 the Conservation Committee, other Garden Club members and guests made a field trip to visit Planet Protectors, a nonprofit organization in Santa Barbara that reduces the quantity of refuse going into landfills and ultimately into the environment. Planet Protectors achieves their goal by diverting recyclable waste (primarily type 2 and 4 recyclable plastics) back into manufacturing through action, education, and community engagement. It was founded by Sasha Ablitt of the Ablitt’s retail dry cleaning business in Santa Barbara. |
Planet Protectors Field Trip October 13, 2023 |
El Estero Water Resource Center and the Charles E, Mayer Desalination Plant January 20, 2023 |
The Conservation Committee, other GCSB members and guests visited El Estero Water Resource Center and The Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant on January 20. 2023. Superintendent Thomas Welche led the El Estero tour where we learned of the plant’s treatment of wastewater including their ability to recycle up to 30% for municipal irrigation and other use, freeing up more potable water from elsewhere for drinking. Then Superintendent Greg Paul of the Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant presented a video and slide explanation of the desalination process to turn seawater into potable water, followed by a tour of the plant. It was an informative and beautiful morning!
| Tajiiguas Landfill and Resource Center October 17, 2022 We visited the County of Santa Barbara Tajiguas Landfill and the new state of the art recycling, repurposing, and waste management facility. The newly constructed education facilities and location provided an in-depth look at how our county is managing its waste. The ReSource Center converts commercial and residential waste into resources by recovering recyclable materials, transforming organics into landscape nutrients, and creating renewable energy in the process. With this new technology, approximately 60% of additional waste from our trash cans is diverted from the landfill, bringing our region’s diversion rate above 85% while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. |
Garden Club of Santa BarbaraFounded in 1916, the Garden Club of Santa Barbara is still governed by its founding purpose, “encouraging the knowledge and enjoyment of gardening, the art of floral design, the protection of our environment and native plants, the preservation of the historic and horticultural richness of our community and the active support of our civic projects”. |
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