October Photo Post - Cheasty Greenspace

(4th) Wed 11/23 - Native Nursery, Maple Valley, King County Parks, RSVP here
(2nd) Thurs 12/8 - Cottonwood Corner, Green Tukwila Partnership RSVP here
(4th) Wed - *holiday break*

Cheasty Greenspace Noxious Vine Work

Fall is Squad’s favourite time to work in the beautiful Cheasty Greenspace! The fall colour is enveloping beneath the tall big leaf maple canopy right in the heart of Seattle. The entire development of this park was spearheaded by dedicated neighborhood volunteers wanting to make a difference. A long trail network now laces the hillside forest which is much-more cleared from smothering noxious vines today than ten years ago! Even still, more weedy vines remain and there are on-going gifts from the birds who excrete ivy berries and blackberries laden with seeds. Squad pulled ivy, dug blackberry and tackled weedy clematis to protect the growth of native species.

November 2021 marks the Homeschool Stewardship Squad’s ten year anniversary! A huge thank you to all the amazing families that have come out to fight for, protect and nourish our natural areas over the years - YOU MAKE SQUAD GREAT! See you outside soon.

Cheasty Greenspace Noxious Weed Hunt

Squad had a beautiful day under the bright big leaf maples in Columbia City. 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.

Many areas were so clear that hunting for small ivy sprouts was a fun game. We also pulled noxious clematis vines, holly and the odd spurge laurel. To help prevent the spread of garlic mustard–and anything else we may have been unwittingly carrying in our shoe treads–we brushed and scraped them. A good habit to develop!

Cheasty Greenspace Ivy Pull

Squad worked beneath the large luxurious big leaf maples that populate the Cheasty Greenspace. Fortunately dedicated Forest Stewards, supported by the Green Seattle Partnership have planted many new trees to ensure that as the near-monoculture of mature maples decay and fall apart, there are new and various native trees to replace them.

Towards that effort, we pulled noxious ivy / Hedera helix down in a ravine. Sadly there were numerous dead ‘adolescent’ cedars nearby–probably killed by even more dry than our usual very dry summers.

Note that this wonderful park is has a lantern walk coming up in that forest on November 3rd, come enjoy some light, community art and history-storytelling in the woods. Read more Squad-posts tagged ‘Cheasty Greenspace’ (at right) to find out more about the laudable neighborhood efforts that created access to this special place.

Cheasty Greenspace Ivy Pull & Blackberry Dig.

The Cheasty Greenspace was a golden cathedral of glorious big leaf maples at our work party with the Green Seattle Partnership's local Forest Steward. The community has put in superb efforts rehabilitating this formerly abused and neglected hillside greenspace. Click on the tags (to the right) to see past events and more information about this park.

We continued the vigilant efforts to keep noxious weeds from retaking the park by digging blackberry and pulling ivy- both of which are continually reseeded into the forest by hungry birds eating the berries (yes ivy / Hedera helix has berries) and spreading the seeds in their droppings.

This park's trails and habitat offer Seattle a significant natural resource that is close to the heart of the city and also accessibly by lite rail! We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Friends of the Cheasty Greenspace in support of this great park.