Founders Day Fundraiser
Our founder and master crafter turned 34 on August 1st! In celebration, from August 1st - 7th, for each retail order we will plant 1 tree with One Tree Planted. In Hobbit tradition, Alesia has decided to match each donation, doubling the trees planted!
“Orcas are the top predators in our local marine ecosystem, by helping the orcas we are helping our local waterways stay diverse and balanced! Yay!” - Alesia
How Trees benefit Orcas
Southern Resident Killer Whales are local legends here in Washington State. Many people travel hundreds of miles just to get a glimpse of them. They are a symbol of the Pacific Northwest and have been living and thriving in these waters for thousands of years. The Southern Residents population has been declining for the past 40 years. They were placed on the US endangered species list in 2005. As of July 2022, there are only 75 remaining. Though a lot of our local whales were lost to Sea World era poaching, the biggest issue the SRKW are facing today is the lack of prey. Chinook Salmon, which are also classified as an endangered species, make up 80% of their diet.
In short, they are starving. This comes with its own specific issues. The orcas in the PNW are considered one of the most toxic animals in the world. When one dies and washes ashore they are considered biohazard! The toxins from industry pollute our waters and therefore our orcas. The toxins are stored in the blubber of orcas and when well fed, don't have much of an effect on them. It's only when they begin to lose their blubber that the higher concentrated toxins seep into their bloodstream. This has been thought to be the cause of the low birth rates and infant mortality. They are losing older orcas from starvation and are not able to repopulate.
So what do trees have to do with it?
To protect our beloved orcas we also must protect the salmon. That is where trees come in. The orcas need more salmon and the salmon need healthy waterways. “Planting trees around the rivers and streams that feed into the orca's habitat reduces water contamination, lowers toxicity, protects salmon spawning grounds, and improves orca food supply.” One Tree Planted.
Protecting our waterways has always been Sea Witch Botanicals core mission. We are grateful to our customers who continue to support our mission. Together we can help protect our waterways, restore our forest and save our beloved orcas.
Learn more about One Tree Planted and their mission to save our local orcas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7aZQ6o9-T4&t=81s
Thank you for helping us plant hundreds of trees in the Pacific Northwest this year!
