Best practices and Safety Briefing We estimated it would take 3 weeks to remove, or otherwise control, holly in the southern forest adjacent to the North Creek Heights neighborhood. We were off by 400%. The stands of holly here are thick. We also are finding young patches too low to see on a casual walk about. We are grateful Waste Management Inc. is providing us with a free giant dumpster and Cedar Grove will compost the holly for free also. Cedar Grove compost gets so hot it breaks down holly. Don't try this at home. Put it in your yard waste container for the pros. It looks like we will need a ton of people to move piles to the dumpster. We ran out of room to pile holly in one location. We are grateful neighbor Marty Fries (yellow house on 112th) is letting us put the dumpster and holly on his property. Photographer, Teppei Sato building another pile. We need a big Volunteer turn out on Saturday February 23, 11 AM - 2:30 PM. The dumpster will be delivered earlier that week and we need to fill it. This will be a BBQ event. We also need volunteers for this coming Saturday, February 16th. 11 AM - 2:30 PM. We will have plenty of snacks, hot chocolate, coffee and juice. Joining us for the first time? Map HERE. A tall variety of Oregon Grape also grows here. This native plant provides a valuable food source for wildlife. It can be confused with holly at first glance so we explain the difference on each work day. We found the best method for moving holly to the pickup location is a slow tow. Putting it in the truck involves extra hours of cutting everything up in small pieces. A family with the beginning of a back yard wildlife sanctuary. Piper Creek Nursery donated a wild rose for every volunteer that showed up! You folks at Piper Creek have a bounty of community spirit. THANK YOU! If you need native plants please stop by Piper Creek. Good people doing good work. Finally our thanks to the Rose Foundation who awarded us with a Grassroots Grant enabling us to expand our stewardship of this magnificent forest. You know where you can find us... Thanks, FNCF
0 Comments
Aaron Huston taking back the forest from highly invasive Knotweed Occasionally we will be featuring students we work with. We can't do this for everyone. But when someone shows leadership, returns to the forest over and over, pitches in wherever help is needed... This is our way to say: Thank You Aaron! It's right HERE. In an ecosystem the greatest change happens on the edge of the system. THE EDGE EFFECT When our "Built World" comes up against our "Natural World" we draw an artificial line between Ours and Everything Else... and that line immediately begins to bend and fracture in unplanned ways. Trees on the edge of North Creek Forest often blow down. When our Built World creates an artificial edge, trees are exposed to the full force of storms and the edge begins to collapse. What happened to our straight line? Would we notice this edge effect if the trees landed on our house? Most stewardship and restoration would not be necessary if our lines stayed where we drew them, but they don't. BEYOND THE EDGE What soon happens is a leaking of Ours into Everything Else. Here is a car battery on the edge of North Creek Forest. Full of acid and lead, it rests in a spring flowing into North Creek. North Creek supports endangered Chinook Salmon. Those salmon feed endangered Killer Whales in Puget Sound. Where did our line go? The car, probably full of oil and gasoline, was an intentional breech of the line. Less intended, or likely not cared about, is the inevitable impact on salmon and on Puget Sound. "The Holly and the Ivy", once planted in someone's yard, has jumped over the line and is now a serious threat to parts of North Creek Forest. The oil, gasoline, acid, lead, holly and ivy will continue to spread and do more harm until we restore the Natural World within the boundaries of North Creek Forest. Poised for removal... English Holly spreads exponentially. Each holly fruit (berry) has 3-4 seeds. A mature holly tree can produce 100,000 seeds. The fruit is eaten by birds. In time one English holly tree can create thousands more trees, each producing their own fruit and seeds. Holly can grow so thick it blocks out light to other plants. Instead of cedar trees sprouting up to replace their aging elders you get... holly. Rich and diverse wildlife habitat is slowly destroyed. 40' holly (left and right) poised for frilling... These holly trees (right) are over 40' high. Their potential for seed dispersal is huge. Our stewardship goal is to remove English Holly from North Creek Forest. Shoots under 1 inch in diameter will be pulled up or cut off at the ground and a drop of herbicide will be applied to the cut. Trees over 1 inch will be "frilled" with drops of herbicide placed in the cuts, thus leaving a standing habitat feature while native undergrowth can fill in. These are scientific "best methods" for English holly control. This is what "friling" looks like. STEWARDSHIP AND EDUCATION Please join us for: 1. a holly removal party at 9:00 AM Saturday Jan 19th. SEE MAP OR... we offer a menu... :) 2. support UWREN students with their senior capstone restoration project: from blackberries to forest.. Same forest Same time Same location Same goal: to restore the ecological function of North Creek Forest. You are appreciated. BBQ this Saturday Please join us. Much of our work is made possible by a grant from THE ROSE FOUNDATION. Thank You, Friends of North Creek Forest UW Restoration Ecology Network Our Mission: Improve the Ecological Function of North Creek Forest... Please consider attending one of these events to help us fulfill our mission: 1 English Holly Control 2 UW-REN 3 Support Bothell Parks Event 1 English holly is a non-native plant that spreads through the forest ecosystem exponentially. Seattle Public Utilities recently spent $90,000 to eliminate the troublesome plant from the Lake Youngs area. We are going to get rid of the holly... thanks to a $10,000 grant we received from the Rose Foundation, students from the UW Bothell, the cooperation and support of landowners and an energized force of volunteers. Holly consumes daylight until nothing else can grow. WHERE: We begin on the south end of the forest where the holly is thickest. SEE MAP WHEN: Saturday January 19th - 9 AM to 2:30 PM + every Saturday in February 11 AM - 3 PM WHAT TO BRING: Weather and forest appropriate attire. SNACKS and beverage provided ALSO BBQ on Jan 19th Event 2 UW - Restoration Ecology Network FNCF is again pleased to support UWREN. The 2012-13 restoration site is even larger that last years site. Help us turn blackberries into rich forest. SEE MAP January 19th 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM Tools and gloves provided Wear forest appropriate clothing and boots. Snacks and beverage provided. Event 3 Bothell Parks thrive under the care of dedicated staff and community members. Please consider offering your time to nurture local park lands. For more information please contact Janet Geer at: [email protected]
We are going to need a larger awning. November 29th was not kind. But UWB Professor Amy Lambert's class showed up to clear invasive vines and bring some levity and art into their work. Organic art takes shape. In the background students are cutting and removing Blackberry canes. Instead of adding to the now huge piles on this years UWREN site, students in the foreground begin to weave the material. The first Ring. Working with the cane is tricky. Remember the hundreds of thorns. As "touchy" as this material is, it shows signs of yielding to imagination. The second Ring joins the first. The Proposed Land Use sign, is a constant reminder of the former destiny of North Creek Forest. The forest might have been lost. Instead, art, science and teamwork are now available a short walk from campus. The photo misses the impact. This triple-ring-organic-creation is about 5 feet tall and pretty amazing, especially up close. Go check it out! Where? HERE We will announce the next event here and on Facebook. We like it when you like our Facebook Page! Thanks, FNCF Sarah wields the tools of restoration. Our recent Grassroots Grant from the Rose Foundation enables us to retain a part time Volunteer Recruiter/Coordinator (VRC). We are pleased to introduce Sarah Witte who will help us bring 4000 hours of volunteer service into the forest over the next year. We asked Sarah to tell us what set her on this path of service? Why North Creek Forest matters: My family (Mom, Dad, 2 sisters) went camping every weekend as a kid: rain, snow, sun, or worse. We lived in the forests of the Pacific northwest, hiking and climbing and enjoying the natural environment lush with flora and fauna. We were constantly reminded, "Don't be an impact monster", we were constantly reminded, "Your actions have consequences on the world around you". We grew up feeling the weight of responsibility, and carried it with pride and grace. We stopped camping eventually, as our schedules filled with other activities, but my little sister and I found another way to respond to our responsibility to the natural environment, we began to volunteer with Earthcorps and other environmental restoration groups, and we simply never stopped. If we want to improve the world, we need to get out there and DO IT!!! I earned a bachelors degree in Environmental Science: restoration ecology from UW Bothell. I want to communicate the great need to eradicate invasive species in our urban forests, to promote the natural biodiversity that we all feel connected to. If we love our forests, then we must protect them, which the Friends of North Creek Forest is accomplishing on an exponential basis in the City of Bothell. To make a difference, we need to connect the power of the community to FNCF the mission statement: to maintain and improve the ecologic function of North Creek Forest through stewardship, education, and conservation forever. Individuals can have an original relationship with this unique forest, and individuals can make all the difference. My goal is to inspire people to make the leap from "connection" to "activism" through passionate communication, leading by example, dedication, education, outreach, and plenty of empowerment and encouragement. Let's get to work, because in the words of the great Captain Planet, reminding us of our duty and ability to make a difference: "The power is YOURS!". Our next article will feature Art in Restoration. Thanks, FNCF Krystle Minerich, our new Executive Director intern, is helping us grow into an efficient, fully digital organization. Administrative functions are only the beginning. Krystle is involved in everything we do, from outreach, public relations, program funding... you name it. This is an exciting time for us as we grow in our ability to serve forest education/recreation and be a solid stewardship partner with the city. After nearly four years in the financial industry, completing my associate degree in business administration, and transferring to the University of Washington Bothell’s School of Business in 2011, I quickly realized my passions extended beyond office cubicles to include the larger biotic community. After taking a restoration ecology course at UW Bothell taught by Professor Amy Lambert, I rediscovered the wonders of nature that persuaded me to change my major to environmental studies with a minor in ecological restoration. My passion for the natural world stems from a long list of outdoor hobbies including hiking, camping, bicycling, swimming and gardening. My lifelong goal is to help restore and preserve our natural spaces to ensure future generations have an opportunity to enjoy and benefit from Earth’s rich natural heritage. I began working with Friends of North Creek Forest as a student volunteer last spring working with the University of Washington Restoration Ecology Network (UW-REN) team in North Creek Forest. As the new Executive Director intern I’m anxious to support FNCF’s mission of enhancing the ecological integrity of North Creek Forest and conservation of the entire 64 acres in perpetuity. Ten years from now, I envision a deepened relationship between the City of Bothell, nearby educational institutions and FNCF, the opportunities for community engagement and outdoor education within the forest are limitless; we have only just begun to tap into the possibilities. Have questions for Krystle? Email. [email protected] ============== Our next article we will feature our new Volunteer Recruiter/Coordinator. Thank you for staying with us. Every kind word, every hour you volunteer, every penny you offer, brings us closer to a 64 acre conservation success. FNCF Carolyn sizes up a tangle. In the murk that was Saturday, 21 sturdy souls burrowed deep into an edge of North Creek Forest. The goal was to jump start the season with UW-REN and boost our FNCF volunteer hours to 4000 in the next 12 months. Our thanks to all of you for helping to restore part of North Creek Forest. We are posting a few pics here. You can see more photos on Friends of North Creek Forest Facebook Page. Watch for more news soon... FNCF Woodinville High School Earth Club students Christian and Nick cut vines and burned through hamburgers. Thanks for your hard work guys! Executive Director intern for Friends of North Creek Forest, Krystle Minerich, is a veteran volunteer. You will learn more about Krystle in our next article. First call for food! Hot food make for a good day. We brought food for 20, made another store run, and 21 hard working people ate enough for 30 :) Grill choices were, Veggie Burgers, Hamburgers and Beef Hotdogs. Safety is our first thought, followed by planning and good work. At left, the "Mighty Mulch Transport Team". On the right our new Volunteer Recruiter/Coordinator, Sarah Witte, checks her list while cutting vines. The Amy Lambert Crew One month ago Professor Amy Lambert's class opened the UWREN restoration season with a team who produced a mountain of cut blackberries. Since then the UWREN Team has guided additional work until they are now way ahead of the normal schedule. Why get so far ahead? This year's UWREN Team is tackling an ambitious project even larger than last years. The overall footprint is smaller but the amount of blackberries offers a daunting challenge. That is why volunteers willing to help restore North Creek Forest are so importation to success. Carolyn on the BBQ We got food! We will fire up the BBQ this Saturday and have some sodas on hand for your thirst. You can expect hamburgers, hotdogs, and veggie burgers. This Saturday, November 17th a big team will attempt to clear a large stand of blackberry canes, some reaching far up into the trees. Students found a "trophy" vine last month. There is another hiding in there somewhere! We start at 11 and end at 3. You can download a map to the site HERE. We got the "big one". So the record vine is about 25' long. But lurking among the remaining stand of blackberries could very well be a record breaker. Last year yielded several vines over 30'. If you like trophy hunting for giant weeds you won't want to miss this Team event:) Please join us as we repair the edge of this magnificent forest. See you Saturday. Friends of North Creek Forest |
Categories
All
__Archives
March 2020
|