Cheasty Ivy Pull in the Heart of Seattle.

Experiencing the leafy side of Beacon Hill, just minutes from Downtown, nourishes our hopes for a verdant urban forest. Not only is the Cheasty Greenspace beautiful, it is a testament to the power of neighbors coming together in stewardship. These everyday concerned-citizens rolled up their sleeves and reclaimed a degraded woods blighted by trash and noxious species. They began small and now are supported by the City, the Green Seattle Partnership and grant-contributors such as REI. The new staircase, resplendent with volunteer-decorated tiles is a wonderful access improvement.

We all benefit from stewardship labors and Squad is proud to be a continuing supporter. Much work has been done, but continued progress is underway and in fact always needed, as the pressures from human-impact requires continued remediation.

Thanks to my husband for co-leading this event in my stead and to my daughters for taking photos!

Bushwacking a New Trail with WTA.

The Homeschool Stewardship Squad loves working with the Washington Trails Association and this event was no exception! For the first time ever, we had the chance to bushwack a trail completely from scratch. It was an excellent opportunity to show kids just how much work it is to create trails. Beaver Lake Preserve in Sammamish was a new location as well. The forest is charming and will be much more accessible with the new trail addition.

The children appreciated the opportunity to saw branches and even logs in the way of the flagged route. The rich organic duff layer was scrapped away to reveal the stable mineral soil, which is a more suitable trail tread. The largest log required a big group effort to both turn and then push off the trail- with our legs! From a seated position, everyone's back was safe, not to mention toes. Needless to say, it was very fun!

Also, remember that you can now create your own free (membership/donation appreciated!) account on WTA's website with your name, where you can save hike, log your work parties and more.

Filling Wildflower Packets to Help Pollinators with the King Conservation District.

I'm always excited when Squad has the opportunity to execute a new stewardship task. In our five-year history, this was the first time we filled seed packets! The King Conservation District worked with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation to gather and compose a seed mix that encourages pollinators in King Country. The mix is primarily native species, with a large number of perennials, but also annuals and biennials. The seeds will be given to the public and every participant was able to take one home. KCD is also offering workshops on native beneficial insects and pollinators.

Additionally we weeded seedlings from the pots of natives- mostly cottonwood from the large trees near the nursery. Many of us drove home with cars full of native plants. The cooperative nursery calculates around 4 plants/volunteer hour which really adds up when volunteering as a family! And of course the tadpoles were out in abundance, to everyone's delight.

The Homeschool Stewardship Squad Receives Recognition in the Community and Gets Published on WTA's Blog.

April was a big month for Squad receiving recognition out in the community! Not only did we help launch the Million Trees Initiative with King County Executive Dow Constantine but Squad was honored for public and environmental service by the Seattle International Children's Friendship Festival. 

The award was accepted by original and sustaining Squad-regulars on behalf of the many tens of families that have participated over the last five years in over one-hundred work parties! The annual festival promotes peace through culture-sharing, peer-understanding and public service recognition. It was educational and inspiring.

Also in public-relations news, the Washington Trails Association blog featured an article I wrote on Raising the Next Generation of Trail Stewards based on founding and organizing Squad. There are helpful tips on all things youth-stewardship, from incorporating work parties into your family calendar to managing moods and gear must-haves. Have a look! 

Salmon Habitat Work on the Green-Duwamish at North Wind's Weir.

Squad always loves working on the Green-Duwamish River. North Wind's Weir is a particularly interesting site due to its natural treasures, great habitat and historic Native American significance. We've enjoyed working at this site through EarthCorps Sound Stewards program. 

Noxious teasel / Dipsacum fullonum had sprouted all about the native plantings, so a portion of the group worked to dig them out by their deep tap roots (see pics at right). Their architectural seed heads are lovely, and yet they are a foe of quality native habitat, which is uniquely salmon-friendly at this site.

Tukwila is a special spot on the Duwamish as it marks the tidal/salt boundary. You can see the river flowing up or down-stream or indeed..... standing still. It is a wondrous and fascinating place. Now salmon can have the chance to adjust to such changes in their environment by hanging out in quiet side channels for a time, shaded by native willow & cottonwoods. This site was and continues to be a significant fishing grounds where the salmon are channeled into a tight passage by a natural rock weir at low tide.

We also cut live willow stakes, which we then drove deep into the riverine mud. Along the way we found a dead goose and her abandoned eggs. Sad, but a neat nature find to experience up close.