November 2025

This Month's Issue:

Good Fire Event in Paradise

Tree Planting Event in Corning

Local Food Resources in Butte County

Can BEC Help You Glean Your Trees?

Jack-o'-Lantern Compost Drop Off

Autumn Tree Giveaway/Planting with CFPR on Nov. 8th

Upcoming Oroville Dioxin Committee Meeting

Shop Small. Shop Chico. This Black Friday

Water for Life Movie Screening on Nov. 5th at the BMU on Chico State

Best Water Practices for Your Garden During the Wet Season

Good Fire Event in Paradise

Good Fire Festival: A Community Gathering and Workshop for Beneficial Fire - Saturday, November 15th, 2025, at Noble Park in Paradise, 6712 Pentz Rd, Paradise, CA 95969.

Join us for a day of community, connection, and the healing power of beneficial fire. Morning workshops (9am–12pm, limited spots!) will explore Indigenous cultural fire, prescribed burning, and fire therapy. From 12pm–4pm, the whole community is welcome for live fire demonstrations, grazing with goats, art, poetry, and family-friendly activities.

Hosted by Neighbor-to-Neighbor & California Fire Foundation, in partnership with the Butte County Fire Safe Council, Butte County Resource and Conservation District's Prescribed Burn Association, Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve's Ecotherapy Program, and Paradise Recreation and Parks District. 

Good Fire Festival is a community gathering designed to reconnect people with the land, with each other, and with the positive power of beneficial fire. Whether you are a landowner curious about prescribed burning, someone impacted by wildfire seeking healing, or a neighbor looking to deepen your connection to community, nature, and fire, this family-friendly event is for you.

Tree Planting Event in Corning

On December 4th, BEC staff and California Climate Action Corps Fellows will be planting 18 trees in various parks throughout Corning, California.

Where: Estil C. Clark Park + other planting locations as assigned

When: Volunteers will meet at Estil C. Clark Park at 9:30 am

We want you to be a part of the BEC tree planting community. We invite you to participate in the simple act of planting a tree. An activity that leaves (pun intended) a lasting legacy for the future generations to come! *No experience required

There will be an ISA Certified Arborist will be on site, who will teach you how to plant a tree and answer any questions that you might have along the way.

🌳Planting trees helps:

• Increases habitats for urban flora and fauna (i.e. birds, insects, moss, lichen)
• Reduce greenhouses gases, leading to cleaner air in the surrounding area
• Reduce heat during the summer, by casting shade leading to cooler ambient temperatures in the summer
• Provide a wind break during the cooler months, leading to warmer temperatures in the winter
• Promote physical activity for our neighbors, leading to healthier, happier lifestyles

Thank You to Everyone who Attended the 50th Anniversary Gala Fundraiser

On Thursday, October 23rd, BEC proudly celebrated its 50th Anniversary as a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit in Butte County.

What began in 1975 as a small group of passionate individuals determined to make a difference has grown into a powerful community force for change. Though those founders couldn’t have imagined all that BEC would become, their vision and dedication laid the foundation for half a century of impact.

Now, BEC continues to stand strong. We remain committed to protecting and defending Butte County’s natural and cultural resources through civic engagement, volunteerism, reciprocity, land stewardship, food sovereignty, and environmental activism, just to name a few.

Most importantly, we would not be where we are today without the tireless leadership of our fearless Executive Director, Patrizia “Peapod” Hironimus. Peapod works around the clock to ensure BEC continues to serve our community, protecting our shared resources and supporting our people through action, advocacy, and education. No matter how challenging the journey, Peapod’s dedication to Butte County and to BEC never wavers.

As we honor our past, we also celebrate the present, and the incredible individuals who show up every day to make our mission a reality. Thank you for being part of this ongoing story of resilience and community.

Due to the government shut down, as of now, November 1st is the cutoff date for SNAP benefits. This will affect thousands of hungry families in Butte County. Here is a list of locations distributing food, as well as ways you can volunteer to help. It’s time for our community to step up and help out!

For those in need

Community Action Agency will be hosting drive-thru tailgate food giveaways at the following locations in November.

• Southside Oroville Community Center - November 7th
• Magalia Community Church - November 14th
• Biggs Community Hall - November 21s
• Williams Family Action Center - November 6th
• Glenn County Fairgrounds - November 12th

For those looking to give

Aside from donations to purchase food, volunteers are needed to assist with distributions, food sorting/packing, and other tasks. Also, if you or an organization you know would like to host a food donation barrel, this can be provided.

Interest form in staging a food donation barrel at their location – email the manager of the NS Food Bank, Carrie North, cnorth@buttecaa.com

BEC can help you sustainably dispose of your pumpkin. Join us at the Oak Way Community Garden (1510 W. 8th Ave.) for our Jack-o'-Lantern Drop-off! 

When: Anytime! Always available

Where: Food waste goes in the black tote with the yellow lid or blue cylinder with the black lid that sits outside the community garden gate. 

What/How: No meat, dairy or oily foods.

Please unbag your scraps so they can be easily integrated and throw some leaves in a 1:1 ratio (located next to the bins) in with the food scraps to help with the smell and unwanted pests.

Questions: Contact sustainability@becnet.org with questions.

Upcoming Oroville Dioxin Education Committee Meeting

When: November 3rd, 2025, 4:00-5:30

Where: Southside Oroville Community Center, 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road, Oroville

The Oroville Dioxin Education Committee was formed as a way to inform the public and the City Council about the health risks that may come with the City’s proposed biomass plant. The site selected for the plant is the same as the defunct POPI biomass plant that was shut down in 2012 due to dioxin pollution on site. 

They are welcoming new members to their third meeting on November 3rd. The goal of the meeting will be to plan ways to get information out to the public regarding the proposed biomass plant as well as what may be presented at the City’s next Town Hall meeting on December 8th.

Skip the crowds, skip the stress, and spend your dollars where your heart is: Chico! 

When you shop local this Black Friday, you are not just finding unique gifts, you are:

Boosting our local economy – Every $100 spent locally, keeps up to $68 in Chico's circular economy, adding funds to our parks, street trees, city infrastructure, public safety and etc.

Supporting local families – Behind every storefront is a dream, a neighbor, and a story.

Building community – Connecting to our local businesses strengthens our connections by fostering unity, shared purpose, and support systems that enhance our quality of life and sense of belonging. 

Protecting Chico’s charm – Our local shops are what make downtown feel like home, by supporting these businesses allows us to sponsor our schools, teams, and events that make Chico shine.

So, before you click, “add to cart” consider shopping local.

Explore your favorite boutiques in that perfect fall fit— one that deserves to be seen amongst the trees. Slow down. Shop local. Grab a coffee from your local go-cafe, take a stroll, and cultivate connection this holiday season.

Image source: World Water Week: Tips for Saving Water in Your Garden - Laidback Gardener

Water Wisely: The rain is coming Chico, how can we best conserve our water for our gardens

It is just a myth that a garden or houseplant needs to be watered every day.

Water is a common point of conversation for us Californians who have often felt the effects of our droughts. Water is a precious resource for us in the North State, and for those of us who garden, water is a necessity when it comes to being able to grow our own foods. Therefore, knowing how much water we need and how much we use in our garden practices can contribute to effectively monitoring our water usage, while still creating a beautiful environment for our soil and crops to grow.

“Although all plants need water to be healthy and grow, some, like lawns, need less water than we think. While others, like trees, need more.” - University of Minnesota Extension

Tips for maintaining healthy garden beds

What to water:

• Know which plants require consistently moist soil and those that prefer drier conditions.

When to water:

• Early morning to allow leaves to dry and reduce foliar diseases.
• Feel the top 6 inches of soil. Dry? Time to water.

How and where to water:

• Water the base of plants to avoid getting leaves wet and reduce foliar diseases.
• Layout soaker hoses or drip irrigation in early spring as plants emerge.
• Water deeply and less often to promote deeper, healthy roots.

Too much water in the garden is a problem

• Plants may decline and die because their roots are too wet, causing root rot.
• Roots take in oxygen from the soil to survive- if there is too much water saturating the soil, leading to little or no oxygen available for your plants.
• Some plants may collapse and die after a few days, if flooded.
• Other plants may survive too much watering, but their fruit may be bland.

Thank you, Enriquez Entertainment for sponsoring BEC's 50th Anniversary Gala by donating your photo booth services!

Butte Environmental Council recognizes the original occupants of what is now referred to as the Butte County area and the descendants who are still living here. They include:

Tyme Maidu Tribe-Berry Creek Reservation

Enterprise Rancheria

Mechoopda Indian Tribe

Mooretown Rancheria 

We acknowledge and are mindful that these first people have a special and sacred relationship with their ancestral lands and the waters that run through these lands, sustaining them for centuries. We strive to learn from their ways and to be considered by the tribes as allies to respect and steward resources in this life-giving place.

Support Butte Environmental Council!

BEC is a grassroots non-profit dedicated to protecting the health of our environment. Our work is made possible by people like you! Your contribution helps us plant trees, clean the creeks, and bring environmental education into the classroom.

BEC is a membership supported organization, we invite all interested parties to become a member today.

Consider becoming a Sustaining Member today for as little as $5/month.