From the Volunteer Coordinator

Two things I think about each day are climate change and loss of biodiversity.  The solutions for both overlap greatly, so in my mind I am coming to view these as one big problem. We can each be part of the solution on our small piece of ground. Here is a link to a conversation between Kim Eierman, founder of EcoBeneficial, and professor and environmental author, Doug Tallamy. Kim and Doug discuss many ways we can support functioning ecosystems in our yards. I invite you to watch the video and share your thoughts with me. What are some small actions  you can take in your yard to support pollinators, provide food for birds, promote water infiltration, sequester carbon and build healthy soil? What was your favorite tidbit from the video?

Share what you learn with a neighbor or friend. Maybe a brief conversation with you will inspire someone else to make similar changes. Too often we focus on environmental problems without offering workable solutions. Let’s change our focus to sharing solutions with our circle of acquaintances. Together we can make a big difference! 

As I write this, I am quite aware that the volunteers and friends of Blue Thumb who will read this are likely to be moving daily in a direction that helps the earth to be more whole. Your voice is what matters, as you have chances to talk to people who might just take some important actions if you will help them find the path. With this now being December, many of us are thinking in terms of kindness and giving. Give the earth some relief by inspiring your “people” to see their role in protecting their local environment. Give your people the benefit of the doubt by wading into conversations that might be a little tricky. Give yourself the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone to be an advocate for healthy ecosystems.   

Then share your results with me. I would like to place an article in the February “From the Water’s Edge” and tell a little bit about your experience with this sharing. I am giving this until February so that you have more than one month to make some positive things happen. Please join me, and I too will make sure that I approach at least one person or entity in an effort to make something good happen for the environment. Please rise to the challenge! I will for sure move into January with a little excitement if I hear back from a few of you. Happy Holidays!

Cheryl Cheadle
Volunteer Coordinator

To our Monthly Monitors:

Howdy Howdy from your QA Officer,

I personally want to wish you all Happy Holidays and a GREAT start to the New Year of 2023!!!! 2023 will be full of fun as Blue Thumb celebrates 30 Years!!! Please stay tuned to future newsletters and our website and Facebook for schedules of upcoming activities.

So I’ll keep this short and sweet:

• Keep up with your monthly monitoring. Please monitor at least 4 times a year.
• Turn in your data: data entry app, scan/email, txt datasheet photos, snail mail, etc.
• Add in the comments info about recent precipitation events and about how much, or super dry conditions
• If you select habitat or flow alteration, say in the comments why
• Take site photos and submit with your data

Kim Shaw
Blue Thumb QA Officer

Make the world a better place!

Friends of Blue Thumb will meet in mid-January and make decisions about grants to offer to member conservation districts and volunteers for educational purposes. So as always, read “From the Water’s Edge,” the information highway used by Friends of Blue Thumb to keep you in the know!

Do you like the idea of giving to a good cause? Consider Friends of Blue Thumb.  Please send a check to:

FBT
P.O. Box 58103
Oklahoma City OK 73112

We are a small nonprofit and are committed to helping YOU do good work to protect our streams and rivers!

The Environmental Education Expo is returning this year on Friday, February 3, 2023. In past years Blue Thumb has had an exhibit at the Expo, which is a one full day event of activities and lectures, and both Blue Thumb staff members and volunteers have provided presentations. Held at the Oklahoma City Zoo, this year’s theme is “The Sustaining Power of Nature.” Blue Thumb can pay the way for a few volunteers to attend; volunteers are asked to staff the Blue Thumb exhibit during breaks. If you have an interest in attending the expo and helping by answering questions and greeting people at the exhibit, please contact Cheryl by December 31.

Keep Oklahoma Beautiful held their Environmental Excellence Awards Celebration at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City on November 18. Of interest to Blue Thumb volunteers are these acknowledgements:

Blue Thumb volunteer Karen Chapman (Cleveland County) was named an affiliate champion after being nominated by the City of Norman. Karen was honored for tireless efforts in stream monitoring and litter collection on Bishop Creek in Norman. Karen also makes connections with local elected officials and is a voice for stream protection on social media. Thank you for your hard work!

Blue Thumb volunteer Brian Bovaird (Tulsa County) and his education program at the Tulsa Garden Center were winners in the K-12 Educator category. He and Amanda Boyd (also a Blue Thumb volunteer) and Zoe Hale operate the “Outdoor Classroom Woodward Park” that gives students from challenging backgrounds the opportunity to get STEM learning in the great outdoors. 

Dr. Christine Pappas (Blue Thumb Volunteer) with East Central University in Ada was a finalist with a university project involving recycled glass. The glass is crushed down to sand size where it can be repurposed into a multitude of useful products.

The “Yard by Yard Community Resiliency Project” was a finalist in the Government Team Builders category. Yard by Yard recognizes property owners and renters for having “nature friendly” practices in their yards.

• A "Megaberg" has recently dumped a whole lot of freshwater into the ocean. Read about the journey of an iceberg from Antarctica to South Georgia, a collection of islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean. Check out the story here!
• Did you know that wetlands are integral to the life cycle of damselflies and dragonflies? Well, as wetlands continue to be lost, so are the populations of these incredible creatures. You can read all about it.
• Did you know that there is a whole association for Citizen Scientists? You can become a member and learn more about it here!
• Don't forget about the "Stream Selfie" project from the Izaak Walton League, the #trashtag movement, and tick testing!

Oklahoma Conservation Commission

Oklahoma Conservation Districts

Project WET

Friends of Blue Thumb

Soil Health Program

Department of Environmental Quality

EnvironMentor

Macroinvertebrate ID Website