Duwamish River Restoration at T-105 with EarthCorps- Bucket Brigade II

The kids cheered loudly when they heard they were going to form a bucket brigade again at T-105 Park.  We reviewed the importance of the river for salmon, and discussed challenges the restoration faces, including noxious weeds.  Noxious Populus alba / white poplar re-sprouts in full force all over the site, including from downed and decaying trunks!  (photo below)  The kids leapt into place and the buckets started flying as we continued sheet mulching the native plantings with cardboard and wood chips.  They derived a good deal of satisfaction from executing an important role in a fast operation; though I'm sure the spilled buckets, giggles and ridiculous traffic-jams had something to do with it.   Enjoyable as well, was meeting a slough (pun intended) of new EarthCorps leaders.

noxious Populus alba

Hiking & Hauling in the Cheasty Greenspace, Beacon Hill

The Cheasty Greenspace is a terrific place for the Homeschool Stewardship Squad- the central location is ideal, fun, and the coordinated community efforts to restore their forest are a pleasure to participate in.

The dedicated group of neighborhood volunteers has not only worked hard, but thought strategically about how to harness municipal and volunteer resources in support of their forest.  They are excited to announce that the City of Seattle has adopted the northern acreage on which to create a pilot-project mountain bike park.  They are taking notes on the popular Duthie Hill Park, Issaquah.  Much planning is underway to discuss a wide diversity of issues such as trail standards to prevent erosion and how to separate pedestrians from bikers.

We sheet-mulched native plantings and hauled many a bucket of wood chips.  It will be a treat to keep working at this site and watch it fulfill its potential as a healthy urban forest accessible for recreation.

Trillium ovatum / wake-robin.  Almost spring!

The Green Seattle Partnership is a supporter of the Cheasty Greenspace.

Potting-Up Cedars at Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust's Native Plant Nursery

A climb-in pile of potting soil is pretty irrestible.  We were happy to help pot-up western red cedars/Thuja plicata  at the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust's native plant nursery at Lake Sammamish State Park.  The rain came down, but the kids made more than the best of it with song and smiles.  (Except for those who had itchy soil down their clothes!)

Wetland Plant Nursery Work with King Conservation District

The roof kept the rain off but the kids loved finding other ways to get filthy.  We potted up red osier dogwood / Cornus sericea for use in restoration and habitat-enhancement projects.  New potting soil was also mixed-up with a blend suitable for plants that like soggy feet and includes biosolids from the nearby water treatment plant.  As usual, there was hot competition for who got to push the full cart.  King Conservation District offers native plants in exchange for volunteering in their nursery.  Come back in the spring and summer to see the tadpoles and frogs that love the flooded beds.

Bucket Brigade Sheet Mulching at T-105 on the Duwamish.

Brrrr….!  This was a chilly Squad, the kids were one-upping each other on the most layers worn.  It was impressive to see ice all the way up the restored slough-channel, in which the tide was quite high so we hiked around it, rather than crossing it to the restoration site.  We began with a short explanation of a watershed, in this case the Green-Duwamish Watershed.  (See your King County watershed here)  I wasn't so sure the kinds would find the coordinated discipline involved in a bucket-brigade enjoyable, but they had a blast!  Great idea Dhira.  Much mulch was dumped onto the cardboard we spread out for weed control.  A great time with EarthCops on the Duwamish River in the heart of Seattle. 

Fur ID…..?

mossy rose gall (click pic for link)