This committee has begun several new initiatives:
• Developing small books of nature in our town currently with photos of various significant or interesting trees in town. They are currently available at the visitors booth upon entrance into town and we may possibly leave them at some local inns if there is an interest. There is a map included; addresses of where to find them and short descriptions of the trees and/or interesting facts about them. The next booklet may be about leaves.
• We sent soil samples from the soil/compost area at the Transfer Station and had it tested and it was found to be free of any pesticides and herbicides.
• A sign was made and put up at the compost section of the transfer station discouraging the use of pesticides and herbicides in plant material discarded at the station.
• We would support the suggestion at our annual plant sale of providing small trees or whips in addition to the perennials and annuals sold. Or we could take orders for small native trees to be sold.
• We are exploring better ways to get the Rockport School Children involved in understanding the importance of trees and our world and would like to possibly do something on Arbor Day 2023.
• We would like to explore the possibility of finding out if the town could start to sell biodegradabletrash bags instead of plastic ones. They are out there but the town would need to adopt a new policy about the use of those type of bags.
• Currently we are discussing and researching the use and encouragement of installing rain barrels for our gardens. This is in response to the terrible drought this summer and stricter water bans in our town and surrounding towns. Initially we would start with installment of one or two barrels and use the water for the town gardens. But eventually it would be great to encourage residents to purchase and install rain barrels to collect fallen rain instead of depending on town water.