Events
Winter Event Reports:
December 22, January 26, & February 23
Report submitted by Kirsten Rohrbach, Creek Steward
Thanks to the Green Seattle Partnership web site, the Seattle Parks and Recreation web site, and our own Longfellow Creek Community web site, there is a burgeoning volunteer base at the Thistle Street Green Space. For the first time in this site steward’s history, volunteers were present at all of the winter work parties.
In December, returning volunteers Briggs and Ben joined me to begin removing invasive species from Wetland Area 4 (the large wetland east of the Legacy Trail). Briggs single-handedly removed about 200 square feet of blackberry canes and roots. Ben could only stay for part of the work party, but he assisted in blackberry removal. Meanwhile, I transplanted sedges and groundcovers.
The January work party saw a community volunteer and Denny Middle School student Leslie Tran joining in to continue the blackberry removal in Wetland Area 4. It was exciting to uncover the mature salmonberry and other native shrubs in this area. We finished up work just as it started pouring---perfect timing!
The February work party was blessed with the kiss of sunshine. Eastlake Community Church brought four adult youth leaders and their youth group comprised of 7th-9th graders out for some community service. The intrepid youth conducted their service in the midst of a 30-hour fast, and one could not help feeling sorry for their inability to ingest some calories during the break halfway through the work party! In spite of their low glucose levels, these dedicated youth carried on to weed and sheet mulch a large area that had been previously cleared of blackberry. They also transplanted a huge Sitka spruce into the forested wetland.
Returning volunteer Ben and first-time volunteers Allison and Zach also joined us at this work party. They transplanted a second large Sitka spruce, cleared survival rings around some small conifers planted last year, and transplanted some native shrubs along the drainage basin at Elmgrove & 24th. Then, they pitched in to help finish the sheet mulching. It was a successful work party and much was accomplished.
Thanks to the Living Barge Project for donating the Sitka spruce to the Denny Wetland Nursery and to Seattle Parks and Recreation for helping to transport the Sitka spruce, cardboard, and tools to the work site.
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