July 31, 2020

East Gippsland Bushfire Appeal

This year we need your help to purchase 1500 trees for our

East Gippsland Bushfire Appeal

 

Tree $4.80 + guard $3.50 = $8.30

750 trees X 2 sites = 1,500 trees

Current status (Monday 17th August 2020) = 380 trees

 

This past summer was one of the most challenging Australian seasons ever and as winter settles in, many people are feeling a sadness that’s a little hard to articulate. It’s something that is felt to a greater or lesser degree as the skies turned red, the landscapes burnt and the wildlife perished.


Number of trees



 

 

Thank you to @photoholgic for this image.

 

There are words for this feeling now; eco-sadness, eco-anxiety, ecological grief, solastalgia. The feeling that the world is disappearing, the knowledge that humans are the cause, the devastating loss of place, and the overwhelming sense of powerlessness.

But it is not all desolation. When the very land beneath our feet is shifting, the the stability of true connection to other humans is needed more than ever. Collective grief can lead to collective action. And where there is action, there is always hope.

 

Resident wombat family.

 

Here at Fifteen Trees, despite our grief for the changes all around us. There are incredible people and communities doing wonderful things for our natural environment. Doing something, anything, helps channel that sadness into positive and meaningful action.

 

You can be a part of this grass-roots bush recovery!

 

Right now there is movement into action in supporting two fire affected organic garlic farms in East Gippsland VIC. In Covid19 times, food security has never been so important. And secure organic food (untainted by pesticides and herbicides) surely is something worthwhile supporting. It is so important to be able to buy Australian garlic and not be limited to overseas varieties on the shelves.


Number of trees



Organic & biodynamic farmers have been heavily impacted by the bushfires across many areas of south east Australia. They need our help to revegetate and restore native bushland that was damaged by the January fires.

 

 

Blue Sky Organics is a family venture located in the East Gippsland located on the Murrindal River, VIC. Their small team consists of Madeline, Talsy, Jaklan, parents Chris and Christine Watts and grandparent Ian Watts.

 

Ontos Farm is run by Fred Koch, Neroli Hadfield and Sooyra at W Tree, 25 kms north of Buchan in East Gippsland.  They grow a wide range of produce on the land. The January fires affected the property to the point that there is no garlic to sell this year.

 

 

 

Fifteen Trees is working with ORICoop (Organic Regenerative Investment Cooperative) to raise the funds needed to purchase 750 trees (+ tree guards) for both farms. The trees will be indigenous to the district and sourced from independent plant nurseries. At both farms, the trees will be planted along creek banks to restore burnt vegetation. These creek banks are a priority as the trees will stabilise the banks (roots hold the soil together), provide habitat to native wildlife and help keep the creek water clean (so important for down stream ecology).

 

 

A tree guard helps protect the new seedling and gives it a protection from grazers, in particular rabbits and kangaroos. Inside the plastic sleeves, a microclimate helps protect them from harsh UV, drifting sand, frost, and wind. Once the seedlings survive their first summer and get the opportunity to develop a strong tap-root, their chances of survival skyrockets.

 

Tree $4.80 + guard $3.50 = $8.30

750 trees X 2 sites = 1,500 trees

Current status (Monday 17th August 2020) = 380 trees

Trees planted = 100 at Blue Sky Organics 2020/ More trees earmarked for 2021

 

You can support by:

  • Sharing this page,
  • Purchasing trees,
  • Gathering a few friends to collectively purchase trees as a side-fundraiser (we can promote too, so ensure you tag us on Facebook (15trees), Insta (15.trees), Twitter (fifteen_treesAU) and LinkedIn (ColleenFilippa).

 

Thank you to the following generous supporters to date:

  • Blue Sky Organics
  • Christine Watts
  • Julie Atkinson and Okido Yoga
  • Louise Callaghan
  • Katrina Gething
  • Lorraine Belbin
  •  Wendy Frere
  • Alison Shaw
  •  Michelle Bonner
  • Sheridan Blunt
  • Linda Cunningham
  • Sabrina Robertson
  • Leona Lees
  • Claymore Thistle
  • Sarah Brennan
  • Carla Martinez
  • Melinda Tant
  • Rebekah Lo
  • Jan Souter
  • Steve Blume
  • Melissa Lane
  • Sofia Fiusco
  • Bronwyn Sutton
  • Lucy Bloom

Number of trees



 

 2021 – UPDATE – 2021

Alas, we couldn’t get our trees planted in East Gippsland this year, so we did the next best thing …  we planted the remaining 280 trees in Central Gippsland. The trees were planted by Mt Worth and District Landcare on Grand Ridge Rd, Strzelecki Ranges, VIC.

 

 

This year we have focused on the west-facing slope for our tree planting day with local Landcare members. All trees are guarded due to the number of wallabies and wombats that are present. These plantings are creating habitat for native animals. We have really noticed an increase in the number of wallabies, echidna, and birds.

Thank you to the wonderful supporters of Fifteen Trees for your assistance in our local revegetation projects in the Gippsland District.

Rob East | Secretary | Mt Worth & District Landcare Group

 

Words – Colleen Filippa and Sarah Hart.

RECENT BLOG POSTS

13/03/2024
The Year of the Tawnys.
28/02/2024
Spotlight on Koala Clancy Foundation.
01/02/2024
Eco-friendly Fundraising Ideas.