On Saturday April 14th, about 15 University of Missouri students braved the rain to clear invasive bush honeysuckle from the Hinkson Valley Nature Preserve. It was part of Mizzou’s Caring For Columbia day of service; all of the students were part of the Summer Welcome program. No Greenbelt regulars were available to lead the group that day, so Alex Finck, one of the Caring For Columbia steering committee members, got trained up on the task and led the group. Alex reports that many of the students commented on how satisfying it was to clear that amount of area. Greenbelt Land Trust appreciates the support of Caring For Columbia.
Students have made a significant difference on the Hinkson Valley Nature Preserve, as we try to restore the forest understory to native shrubs, grasses and wildflowers. Thank you all. Thanks to Alex, to this year’s workers, and to Mizzou!
For more information about Caring For Columbia, go to http://leadership.missouri.edu/caring-for-columbia/. And, check out the picture on their opening page… that’s a student tearing up honeysuckle in Hinkson Valley!
Job Point volunteers kicked off our spring work day schedule. Youth participating in the Job Point program worked hard clearing out invasives in one location and then stopped by the Hinkson, an irresistible spot to take a break.
Job Point team: Adrian Wright, Victor Bolden, Nashae Pollard, Justin Carter, Wayne Bryant, Chad Strauss, Marcel Jones, and Brandon President. Dan Cullimore, team leader.
Thank you to all the people putting their environmental values into practice – our Greenbelt volunteers. At the six Greenbelt Land Trust workdays in 2011 they logged in over 90 hours of activity, mostly in the unglamorous process of removing invasive bush honeysuckle and wintercreeper. Special thanks to:
- The 20 University of Missouri students who participated in the Caring For Columbia service activity, with a massive effort in Hinkson Valley,
- Dee Dokken and Lesa (and Keya!) Beamer, who contributed and planted celandine poppy, jacob’s ladder, rusty blackhaw and beautyberry at Spring Valley,
- Peter Yronwood, for hauling huge piles of felled honeysuckle out of Spring Valley to the Columbia mulch site in his old Toyota pickup, – MDC’s Missouri Master Naturalist program, for certifying Greenbelt workdays as a qualifying activity for individuals to maintain their Master Naturalist certification,
- Julie Youmans, for pictorial documentation of our labors, and postings on the Greenbelt website (check it out: http://greenbeltmo.org/).
We hope to see you for our spring 2012 workdays… just around the corner.
Fred Young, Secretary-Treasurer
County House Branch meanders through Spring Valley Nature Preserve
Today Dee Dokken plants rusty blackhaw
The transformation at Spring Valley shows Greenbelt doing its job well. Work days bring out volunteers from the community, the board, and, most importantly, from the neighborhood. Neighbors tell us they hear owls call at night and they appreciate how much the space has changed. Energetic volunteers keep clearing out the honeysuckle, and we also have started planting native shrubs and small trees along the border.
Work day sign
Greenbelt Land Trust Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary workday this saturday, 10 to 12.
Spring Valley is south off of Broadway, between West Blvd and Clinkscales. Bear left at all intersections. Questions: Fred Young 443-2154
- polyphemus moth
Caring Communities volunteers from MU worked hard pulling out invasive plants on Greenbelt Hinkson Valley property April 9th. Clipping, cutting, application of selected herbicide, and brute force cleared the way for the small forest floor native plants. Hard work and pizza made the day a success. Thanks to the MU students, and also to Ace Hardware for donating work gloves for everyone.
See all photos of the day
Blushing tree buds and the Greenbelt marker boulder get used to one last snow.
