The Earth Ethics Action Team (EEAT) has the mission of “greening” WES. This includes greening the WES grounds. As a recent step in this direction, we created an insect garden last year outside the large basement classroom. It now includes a row of Butterfly Weed and a row of Joe Pye Weed.  This summer we planted a third row, consisting of roots of Swamp Milkweed that will lie dormant until they sprout next spring. The garden provides food for insects and hummingbirds. We hope eventually it will provide a home for Monarch butterflies. Meanwhile, it removes pollutants and carbon from the air, and it’s attractive. 

When it comes to “green,” however, the star performers are trees. They cool the air through transpiration and they sequester carbon in their roots, trunks, and branches. Unfortunately, during the past few decades, WES has lost several beautiful trees: one near the site of the current insect garden, another in the green space that separates the two small parking lots in back, and a third where the addition now stands. 

EEAT has decided to replace them. To do so, we consulted with Cece McCrary, who is an urban forester with Casey Trees, a non-profit organization whose mission is “to restore, enhance and protect the tree canopy of the nation’s capital.” Casey Trees will provide trees and plant them free of charge. 

We selected three locations where trees would add the most value and would have adequate room to grow to maturity. The first location is in front of the building on the north side of the sidewalk that leads to the entry of the building; the second is by the picnic tables near the insect garden; and the third is in the patch of green between the two small parking lots in back.  

We have chosen three attractive native species that would fit the space available. Casey Trees will plant them for us this autumn. Although it will take decades for them to reach maturity, it is satisfying to imagine the benefits they will bring.

EEAT also has the goal of greening WES through informative and inspirational workshops. The most recent example was the online Drawdown Workshop that we co-sponsored earlier this summer. Drawdown is a hopeful concept. In place of the demoralizing goal of slowing the increase in greenhouse gases, drawdown sets our sights on the uplifting goal of actually reducing the amount of carbon already in the atmosphere. Its positive message is: We are not doomed; there are effective methods for reversing climate change. The following link introduces this concept. https://www.pachamama.org/engage/drawdown Actually, planting perennials and trees—things we are already doing on WES grounds—are examples. If you’d like to learn more about EEAT, contact Rich Reis at rich.reis1@gmail.com.