World Wetlands Day

February 2nd was World Wetlands Day. Wetlands have often been seen as a barrier to agriculture, and they continue to be drained and reclaimed to make farming land available, but the essential role of wetlands in support of agriculture is becoming clearer and clearer, and there are successful agricultural practices that support healthy wetlands. Mr. Paul Fletcher, our school’s photographer, is President of the Somenos Marsh in Duncan. This marsh has a beautiful walkway, many places to sit and rest (picnic tables, benches, etc.) and a serene environment that calms the soul. As World Wetlands Day of 2014 fell on a Sunday this year, Ms Richardson and the BEAT organized a cleanup of the marsh that afternoon. Ms Richardson and four Brentwood students boarded a van and spent some time picking up trash, raking leaves off of the path, snipping branches to clear the walkway, and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere that the marsh exhibited. It is essential to learn that the preservation of these areas is important and that taking time out of our day to do so is, in reality, not at all difficult. Karli S, Hope ‘15