This was our first work party in the SW Queen Anne Greenbelt hosted by the Green Seattle Partnership and some of their friendly Forest Stewards. We had a great time! This was one of our most productive bucket brigades hauling a good portion of the mulch pile down the hill so as to be closer to planting areas. The kids took turns (for the most part!) shoveling mulch into buckets, passing buckets and returning empty ones.
After lunch we took live stake cuttings of Indian plum / Oemlaria cerasiformis. Previously Squad has done live stakes of willow / Salix sp. and red osier dogwood / Cornus sericea so this was a first, it will be interesting to watch for how they grow. Our crew leader said about 30% have made it in his experience, so we planted in clusters of three. This article explains more about a local training event on live stakes and which species have been successful. Horticulture and restoration can be part art and part science so it is easy to encounter much variability in advice and experience. It is terrific that these kids and families are adding to their hands-on experience bank. We look forward to returning in March and beyond to see the site develop!