Sweep Out the Broom! Weed Abatement Without Roundup

Want to know more about French & Scotch broom and other weeds, how to understand their role in the recovery of an ecosystem, and how get rid of them without further toxifying your property? Come to “Sweep Out the Broom: Weed Abatement Without Round-up” at the former site of the Norton Buffalo Hall (5704 Chapel Drive, Paradise, just behind 511 Pearson Rd) on Sunday, October 18th, from 9 to noon for a workshop/workday focused on weeds and urban gardening, sponsored by the Camp Fire Restoration Project, Paradise Community Guilds, and Butte Local Food Network. The event will be both live and livestreamed—in-person participants will practice safe social distancing and wear masks. Numbers will be limited to 10 per workshop, with three workshops occurring simultaneously. Groups will rotate at the top of each hour. Livestream participants will be assigned to a new workshop every hour and will have an opportunity to submit questions. Matthew Trumm, permaculture design specialist with Treetop Permaculture and founder of Camp Fire Restoration Project, will facilitate a workshop entitled, “Sweep Out the Broom: Weed Abatement Without Round-up.” Jennifer Petersen, coordinator of the Paradise Community Guilds Gardens, will facilitate a workshop called “Urban Gardening: Growing Your Garden in Small Spaces.” Dan Joseph, Paradise Community Guilds Building and Grounds coordinator, will facilitate the hands-on portion of the workday. In-person participants are asked to bring garden gloves, rakes, shovels, or other garden tools and be prepared to get your hands in the dirt! Janeva Sorenson, Operations Director for Camp Fire Restoration Project, said, “The ‘Sweep Out the Broom’ workshop is the first of a COVID-safe series that will be our fall Ecosystem Restoration Camp. We’ve had to modify somewhat this year, but we’re still working to help the ecological recovery of the communities affected by the Camp Fire and now the Bear Fire.” Upcoming workshops will be on Traditional Ecological Knowledge in collaboration with Mechoopda educators Ali Meders-Knight and Mel Figueroa in October and on property remediation with bioamendments, including a plant and tree giveaway and other goodies, in conjunction with Regenerating Paradise and Paradise Revival Fest II, November 7th and 8th, the second anniversary of the Camp Fire. Tickets for the “Sweeping Out the Broom” in-person event or livestream are free and available at Eventbrite.com (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sweep-out-the-broom-workshops-and-workday-tickets-120593651859 ). For more information, call Susan Dobra of the Paradise Community Guilds at 877-4995 or email susan@regeneratingparadise.org.