Trust for Working Landscapes

The topic of the 9^th annual Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference is something most of us know little about and take very much for granted, but which is critically important to our civilization’s survival: dirt. This half-day conference will educate participants about various dirt-related topics including local soil types, amending and working fertile soils, protecting soils from erosion, the consequences (both bad and good) of erosion in various contexts, the impact of herbicides and pesticides on our soils and local sites containing industrially-polluted toxic dirt. Attendees will also have an opportunity to hear keynote speaker David Montgomery, University of Washington professor and author of the bestselling book Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations, and to see the Island premier of Dirt: The Movie!.

The Truth About Dirt will be held at IslandWood on Sunday, November 15, 2009 starting at 1:00 p.m. The conference is organized by the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and the Association of Bainbridge Communities with support from the Trust For Working Landscapes, Sustainable Bainbridge, IslandWood and the Natural Landscapes Project. Public support for this conference also provided by the City of Bainbridge Island and the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District.

After the close of the conference guests will be invited to linger and chat over a glass of wine, beer or other beverage from 5:30-6:00. A supper will follow in the IslandWood dining hall for those wishing to attend for an additional fee. Registration cost for the conference itself is $15 through Nov. 6 (further discounted for K-12 students and teachers), and $25 thereafter.

For questions please call Connie Waddington at 842-9483. To register go to www.bi-landtrust.org or call the Land Trust office at 842-1216.

All Star Volunteers: Kia Micaud, Rob Ferguson and Marek Kubin.
Additional volunteers and contributors who made the fair a success:
Charlie, Iwona and Ola Kubin, Dana Berg, Christan Berg, Matt Smith, Janny
Hawkins, Marilyn Mandala, Tom Backer, Amy and Anya Zimmer, Walter and Rose
Gallager, Colleen Austin, Lisa Berg, Dave Balas, Audrey and Emma Covert,
David, Robin and Anna Cinnamon, Tucker Rogers, Tom Brewer, Thomas Richter,
Holly and Rob Christian, Sholpan, Jonathan, Abdul-John, Jennifer and David
Hager, Joe Van Dyke and the Recliners, John, Amber and Clara DuWors, Micah
Hadenfeldt, Roger and Sarah Townsend, Todd Erhler and the 5th graders and
parents, Jackie DeGrow, Alicia and Ethan Meyers, Dawn Snyder, Bruce White,
Jeremy Muth, Cross Sound Church, BHS and Earth Service Corps, Dennis and
Bob Cedarwall, Sharon and Ross Boundy, Jeff Krueger, Cary Chamberlin,
Sally Maron, Debbi Lester, Perennial Vintners, Bainbridge Island Vineyards
and Winery, Brian MacWhorter, Betsey Wittick, Greg Baker of Seattle Heli
Tours, Mike Hale of Hales Ales, Jocelyn Waite of Pegasus Coffee, Molly
Bogardis of Haven Farm, Heidi and Jeff of Blackbird Bakery, Mike of
Bainbridge Bakers and Cream of the Crop Ice Cream.