Creating healthy ecosystems, healthy lives.
When we invited proposals for Whidbey Climate Fund grants, we weren’t sure whether we’d get any response. To our delight, we have received NINE great proposals to restore community resilience and reduce climate pollution, right here on Whidbey. Sadly, we can only make three full awards with our current funds - though your contribution could enable us to fund more next year!
Over the next month, our team of scientists and community organizers will select the projects that offer Whidbey Island the widest range of benefits. We hope to fund community education, carbon pollution reduction, community connections, and improved ecosystem health for our “life support” systems - our water, soil, farms, and air. Awards will be announced at the end of November.
Here’s a sneak peek at the proposals we’ve received. We put them into two categories, both worthy.
Nature-based solutions that work for people
Repair three acres to functioning wetland, thereby improving wetland habitat, aquifer health and carbon sequestration, while engaging the local community in the work.
Expand native plant seed beds in collaboration with the National Seed Strategy (who knew?) so that there are adequate plants for restoration of ecosystems.
Test a more efficient process of on-farm biochar production to lock away carbon, and enrich soil, while partnering with regional carbon market makers, to lay the groundwork for a supplemental income stream for local farmers.
Pilot an on-farm process to turn “waste” into renewable fuels and offer workshops to spread this process widely.
Support a local collective in testing a kitchen-to-farm composting process that, if adopted widely, could get organics out of our waste stream, build soil health and reduce greenhouse gasses.
People-based solutions that work for nature
Encourage more efficient use of our existing housing stock to address affordable housing. “A resource shared is an impact halved.”
Help a community building get rid of fossil fuel and become a resilience center with their own solar and battery backup power.
Encourage walking over driving by making sidewalks wider and hosting car free zones.
Expand a reuse and recycling center to accommodate more families on the journey to zero waste.
It’s humbling to see the amazing work that’s going on right here on Whidbey. Some of these proposals come from well established organizations; others from groups that are just coalescing now or forging new relationships with existing non-profits, in response to this funding opportunity. One thing our evaluation team has already decided: Next year, we will host a proposal fair, where we invite all proposers to share ideas, make connections, and vet ideas before they finalize their proposals. As we perused the proposals, we wished we could be talking to the applicants all in one place, cross-pollinating and envisioning our climate resilient future together.
Thank you to the visionaries who submitted proposals and to our friends and neighbors who have contributed so far! With your help, we can fund more projects next year! We dream of having three times as much to distribute, so we won’t have to turn down great ideas. Next time you purchase any fossil fuel - for your tools, bbq, car, plane trip, (even if you have an EV, do you ride the ferry?) please contribute to the Whidbey Climate Fund. And encourage your friends to do so as well. This island is our home. Let’s ensure its health and resilience.
This island is our home.
Let’s ensure its health and resilience.
