Giving Back – Q&A with Butte Environmental Council
Q&A with Miranda Kokoszka, Assistant Director Butte Environmental Council…
What is the mission of the Butte Environmental Council?
Butte Environmental Council was founded in 1975 and its mission is to protect and defend the land, air and water of Butte County and the surrounding region through action, advocacy and education.
What are your main focus areas?
Action: We have a grassroots donation-based community composting program called Drop in the Bucket, and each week, we pick up food scraps from households in Chico to be composted at our local community garden. Finished compost is used as nutrient rich soil for the gardeners and community volunteers. We are also widely known for planting trees in schools, parks and community shared spaces. We facilitate Oak Way Community Garden in Chico, with more than 30 plots that offer community members the opportunity to lease a space to garden, grow their own food and herbal medicine. We’ll also host our legacy 39th Annual Bidwell Park and Chico Creeks Cleanup this year, where we recruit more than 500 volunteers for a one-day event to remove literal tons of trash, recyclables and hazardous materials from our riparian habitats.
Advocacy: Butte Environmental Council advocates for a variety of environmental issues in Butte County and the surrounding region. We stay up to date on community concerns and use our platform to engage the public and educate them about current environmental issues in Butte County.
Education: Our most notable youth education program is the Recycling and Rubbish Education Program, which teaches students about the solid waste stream in Butte County. The Endangered Species Faire is one of Butte Environmental Council’s two largest annual community events in Chico, and it brings together families and children to learn about the importance of conservation, sustainability and environmental awareness.
What’s one misconception people have about environmental work?
One misconception is that environmental work has no impact. I have heard people saying things like there is no hope, the world cannot be saved, there are too many environmental problems in the world that cannot be fixed, etc. If we think about one person taking on the whole world, that statistically would not fix all the environmental problems that we face today. But many hands make light work, and that might be true here, too. If we have people and groups all over the world making a small difference in their own communities, their work does make an impact, and that is why I think that people should focus on what they can control and where they are living. If we shift our thinking to local, community-based solutions, together we can make a change.
How does your work impact the local community?
Our work provides different experiences for community members and our youth, turning into core memories that are cherished forever. The Butte Environmental Council team takes pride in our work, hoping to leave even just one lasting impact.
What is one local environmental issue people should know about?
The overconsumption of local water and the negative effects that excess water use has on our local aquifer, the Vina Subbasin. Our local water table is depleting at extreme rates, causing local wells to go dry and limited water supply to our local ecosystems, causing dramatic negative consequences if we do not limit water use in Butte County and the surrounding region.
Do you offer volunteer opportunities? If so, what kinds?
Butte Environmental Council offers ample volunteer opportunities that can fit a variety of skillsets, interests and personal goals. This includes Drop in the Bucket project support, tree planting, sitting on a committee (fundraising, event planning, advocacy, governance, and garden), membership recruitment, tabling support, sponsorship support, administration, volunteer recruitment, marketing, social media, garden maintenance and upkeep – the list can go on. If someone has an interest, we have a spot!
What keeps your team motivated?
Our team stays motivated through interactions with the public and youth. The feedback and gratitude expressed by the community really motivates the team to keep doing good and making a positive impact on the future generations.
In one sentence, what do you hope people take away from your mission?
Together, we can make a difference in protecting and defending the land, air and water of Butte County and the surrounding region.
