A good reminder on the Jackson Park Trail work parties was just sent along. The next one is this Saturday but it also includes the upcoming work parties as they are on the third Saturday of every month.
Hello Everyone!
It’s that time of the month again! Friends of Jackson Park Trail will be holding this month’s work party on March 15, from 10am-2pm. We will be mulching the area on the south side of the trail where we removed blackberries last month; if there is time, we will be cutting back blackberries and other invasive vegetation encroaching on the trail, and removing litter. Please bring rakes, hand pruners and stout (blackberry proof!) gloves if you have them, also a source of hydration. Wearing stout boots and jeans or work pants, also waterproofs, is also a good idea. We will be meeting for volunteer sign-in at the southwest corner of the trail on the 5th avenue side. We hope to see you there.
P.S. Monthly work parties are held on the 3rd Saturday morning every month. The dates for this year are: March 15, April 19, May 17, Jun 21, July 19, August 16, September 20, October 18, November 15, December 20.
We are also pleased to announce that we are collaborating with GreenSeattle Partnership and EarthCorp. They will be holding large invasive-removal and planting events on March 14 and April 12. Please see http://seattle.cedar.greencitypartnerships.org/event/map/ for more information on these parties. We are also looking for volunteers with expertise in: invasive vegetation removal, native plant restoration, grant writing, fundraising, webpage development and maintenance, and volunteer coordination (work party leadership). Please contact info@jacksonparktrail.org if you are interested in lending your skills. You can also visit our website, www.jacksonparktrail.org, or our Facebook page. P.P.S. One community member has made a great suggestion: If for some reason you can’t attend work parties, but still want to help, consider bringing hand pruners on your walk, and pausing for five minute to clip back nasty encroaching plants wherever you find them! Or bring a bag in which to collect litter for drop-off at the nearest dumpster. Every little helps!
Hello, Happy Dog Walkers, Runners, and general Jackson Park Trail ENJOYERS!
You may notice that parts of the trail are looking darn good! The section in the woods and outside the golf course entrance were cleared of invasive plant by dint of many volunteer hours, then burlap and mulch layered on top to limit resprouting, native plant species planted, holly and laurel and other woody invasives knocked out, and weed control ongoing! Phew!
Our efforts in these areas are mixed with periodic “walk and whack” (or lope and lop) sessions to manually trim back weeds from the trail and pick up trash (and thanks to all who help). Despite that and the occasional mowing by the city, we’re losing ground against the aggressive blackberry, ivy and bindweed growth.
So, we invite you to please come join a work party, bring a friend or family member–we need all hands on deck!
Volunteer events are the third Saturday of each month, from 10-2. We meet at the trail kiosk (west of the white sculpture outside the golf course entrance at NE 135th and 11th NE). You’ll be surprised how fun it is, and how working on the trail makes it feel like, well, FAMILY!
You can sign up in advance at http://www.greenseattle.org (Jackson Park GC) or just surprise us! We have tools and gloves and more than enough work! Come on down! Ell