Breathe Easy applies the wonderful philosophy “think globally, act locally”, tackling important aspects of landcare whilst also having a strong focus on community connection and well-being – hence ! “Breathe Easy”.
From 2022, Breathe Easy have undertaken six major projects so far, predominantly in Middleton, Kangaroo Island, the Adelaide Hills, and Corny Point. Working with a suite of local businesses and organisations to facilitate revegetation projects along the South Australian coastline.
Revegetation activities are at the core of Breathe Easy, however, they also aspire to bring young people along with them on their journey. Breathe Easy is adept at engaging young people through social media to create interest in their environmental projects. They have successfully brought together the arts community and environmentalists to collaborate on a range or projects. Their planting days are sponsored by local businesses who play a big role in connecting South Australis’ music, surf, arts, and youth culture to do great things for the environment.
To date, they have recruited over 180 volunteers from all walks of life to their planting events. With many of the volunteers new to landcare, the planting events and festivals are an excellent opportunity for them to learn about landcare. So far, they’ve planted 4680+ indigenous / endemic plants.
The next event in their diary is The Hooded Plover Lover project, a planting day on Sunday 11th August in the Middleton dunes, incorporating local musicians to plant 1,000+ indigenous species that contribute to the habitat and protection of the Hooded Plovers. This year to further the effort to get young people involved (and to just have a gooooood time) they've teamed up with local surf skate brand Daily Grind where they will be heading to their bakery (in Middleton) for more live music, some pastries and free coffees for our volunteers.
They have been working on this sand dune environment for three years and are now beginning to see the effects of rhagodia saltbush outcompeting the gazania weed as well as reintroducing indigenous Spinifex to encourage Hooded Plover nesting. This project is managed by the legendary Corey Jackson.
"Seeing the enjoyment that people get out of the planting days, and recognising the importance of bringing people together for a worthy cause is a big motivator." - Aussie
"I see a lot of damaged environments in Australia. Whilst it's important to me to acknowledge the benefits of agriculture and urban developments, the ecology and the biodiversity loss is devastating. I'm motivated to continue learning about indigenous flora and plant communities and encouraged to teach and engage other young people to be proactive in their involvement with environmental repairs." - Gerry