 A group of BPC members and friends joined us on Saturday, May 17, at Terra Firma Permagardens (a BPC business partner) for a presentation by Peter Jensen that focused on strengthening our outdoor landscapes to protect our aquifer. Peter, a regenerative agroecologist, explained the importance of understanding the topography of one's property in order to see how and where surface water goes. He showed the group the hugel terraces that were built in 2023. These terraces are now filled with native plants and the ditch in front of them catches water and runoff, soaking into the logs placed under the terraces so that the soil retains the moisture. In terms of promoting a meadow landscape, once it is determined where surface water flows, the grass at that point should cease to be mowed. Instead, mow pathways perpendicular to the hill so that you can walk through the area to be terraced, leaving most of the landscape unmowed to stop the groundwater from becoming runoff. Most importantly, Peter stressed the importance of maintaining a buffer of untouched plantings close to a pond and/or wetland area. The BPC is thankful for Terra Firma Permagarden’s partnership that clearly demonstrates its dedication to protecting our water resources.  It’s official! Brewster’s Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (IWRMP) will include important sections to address the BPC’s concerns regarding wastewater management. In response, the BPC has indefinitely postponed Citizens Petition article 18 to fund a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP). The vote at Town Meeting on May 5 was overwhelmingly in favor of capital funding article 10. Of special concern to the BPC was item 10.1.a which requested $100K for water resource projects including updates to the IWRMP that will now include sections specifically related to wastewater management. During the comment period, John Keith, Environmental Engineer and BPC Vice President, explained the importance of the wastewater sections now added to the IWRMP and why the BPC Board voted to accept the updated IWRMP in lieu of proceeding with the Citizens Petition to fund a CWMP. Following article 10, the Town Moderator immediately moved on to Article 18, the BPC’s Citizens Petition article to fund a CWMP. As agreed, BPC President Susan Bridges began by making a motion to indefinitely postpone the article. She then went on to thank the 100+ people who signed the petition and acknowledged that with their support, the BPC was able to have its article on the warrant. Susan also thanked Peter Lombardi (Brewster Town Administrator), members of the Water Resources Task Force, and the Select Board for working with the BPC to include important sections of a wastewater management plan into the Town’s IWRMP. She repeated John’s comments about the BPC Board voting unanimously to accept the changes to the IWRMP in lieu of moving ahead with a CWMP and stated that this is a win for everyone. She also underscored the BPC’s commitment to work with the Town on water resource protection projects. The BPC is grateful to its members, friends, and the voters in Brewster for supporting this important effort. Pictured below is Susan Bridges addressing the audience and Town Moderator Charles Sumner at the podium.  The Brewster in Bloom Parade took place on Sunday, May 4, which was a picture-perfect spring afternoon. For the third year in a row, the BPC had a float in the parade that started out at Eddy Elementary School and traveled west on Route 6A to Swamp Road. The float was decorated with large pictures of frogs, butterflies, fish, and other pond creatures and supported the parade theme of “Let’s Take a Hike,” encouraging parade watchers to “leave only footprints” when hiking. Pictured below are BPC members Susan Bridges, John Keith, and Marcia Kielb (dressed as the BPC mascot, Shelly the Turtle). John’s granddaughter, Cora, also joined us.  |
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