A non-profit dedicated to the conservation, development and sustained use of our natural and community resources Serving Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby and Walker Counties in Alabama
5. ARTICLE ABOUT CAWACO GOES VIRAL!
6. Workshop Announcements
7. Affordable Greenhouses for schools,beginning farmers
PROJECT UPDATES
LITTLE SHADES CREEK TREE PLANTING
On March 19 and 31, Little Shades Creek in Vestavia got a little help from some friends. In the section of the stream that extends between Cherry Tree Lane and Morgan Road in Vestavia, the stream segment needed some maintenance. Cawaco reached out to the Nature Conservancy's Urban Watershed Coordinator, and former Cawaco Five Mile Creek Facilitator, Francesca Gross to coordinate tree planting and bank restoration.
48 volunteers came out to plant trees. Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood worked on the bank restoration. Volunteers included Vestavia Hills High School students and boy scouts, home owners, and Vestavia officials. When all was said and done, 950 trees were planted along Little shades Creek to help stabilize the banks. THANK YOU to all the volunteers and to The Nature Conservancy for their efforts to restore this beautiful treasure in Vestavia!
ELETRATHON RACE AT BARBER MOTORSPORT PARK
Video of Electrathon Race, April 8, 2015. Thompson HS car (kit funded by Cawaco RC&D) Click here to view online.
The fourth annual Electrathon Race at Barber Motorsport Park was held on April 8, 2015. Sixteen teams competed to see who's car could go the most laps around the track in an hour. The 115 car from Walker County Center of Technology came in 3rd. (Note the Cawaco logo)!
Cawaco Wins Project of the Year Award; Senator Greg Reed Wins Legislator of the Year
We are delighted to announce that Cawaco received the Project of the Year Award for the "Tannehill Wastewater Treatment System" at the Alabama Association of RC&D Council's Annual Meeting, which took place April 1-3.
Senator Greg Reed of Walker County received the Legislator of the Year Award. Senator Reed has worked tirelessly in Walker County, and has taken time to personally visit with us and the Curry Fire Department, the ARC of Walker County, and the Walker County Center of Technology, to name a few. We are very honored to work with Senator Reed, who takes personal interest in Cawaco projects, and in the communities throughout Alabama in which he serves.
Joe Love Inducted into the Hall of Fame
Long time Board Member and conservationist Joe Love was recently inducted into the Alabama Association of Resource, Conservation & Development Council's Hall of Fame.
Joe Love is a native of Cordova, Alabama, located in Walker County.
Joe was unavailable to accept the award in person, but Paul Kennedy of the Walker Area Community Foundation was present to accept it on Joe's behalf and added a few words about Joe. “Joe has always made time to assist when asked, to provide leadership when there is none and to actively promote conservation programs. Joe has made a difference."
Read more at the Daily Mountain Eagle.
Last month, we got a call out of the blue from a reporter wanting to do an article about Cawaco for a website called RootsRated. RootsRated is a website designed for outdoor enthusiasts and lists the best places to hike, bike and climb in cities all over the US- as submitted by locals.
Reporter Natalie Cone said, "I was looking for a local non-profit to do a story on, and I picked your organization, because you seem to be the most outstanding non-profit in Birmingham.”
To see what Natalie wrote about us, take a peek here. And when you are done reading about how wonderful Cawaco is, check out the RootsRated website to find fun stuff to do in your hometown, and places all over the country!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Outreach Meetings have been scheduled for each county in the Cawaco Area. The next scheduled meeting will take place April 30 at Palisades Park in Blount County.
INVASIVE PLANT WORKSHOP
Thanks in part to a grant from the Alabama Invasive Plant Council, Cawaco will be hosting an Invasive Plant Workshop on August 7, at the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. This workshop is FREE.Topics being covered include invasive plant identification, eradication and maintenance, landscape escapees, and native reintroduction. There will be a demo immediately after the workshop. Two volunteer days at the Preserve will take place in the fall. For more information or to register call Patti Pennington at 205-623-0457 or 205-705-9955. CEUs will be offered to attendees.
