Hi everyone!
We are welcoming everyone back to the food forest for our first large work party open to the public...no RSVPs required! It will be the day before spring, Saturday, March 19th from 10am-2pm and when you arrive, please sign in on the clipboard at the Outreach Table first then join others in the Gathering Plaza. Group leads will be wearing orange bandanas and will make announcements about their work party groups that you can join. There will be mask-friendly zones available but since we are at an outdoor venue, we will not be requiring masks at these events. Also, if you would like, please bring your own snacks or lunch but we will not be providing lunch. Here's a list of work party groups that we need volunteers for, but we will also be writing other suggestions up on our chalkboard:
Weeding and pruning in the native guilds
Who: 6-8 volunteers needed. Lead: Antonio.
Task: We will be weeding out competitive weeds in the new section of camas prairie, which was planted in the fall. We will also be pruning our native raspberry plants to promote higher berry yields.
Making Raised Bed Mounds for BIPOC Community Garden
Who: 10-12 volunteers needed, Led by Cherry
Task: We will be making raised bed mounds to plant our culturally relevant seeds and starts in using organic compost and wood/logs
Wall-Building for a New P-Patch Plot
Who: 6-8 volunteers needed, Led by Will
Task: We will be constructing a new urbanite wall to create a new half-hexagon p-patch family plot in Phase 2. This will consist of excavating the footing for the wall, laying and compacting gravel, setting a base layer of urbanite, and stacking urbanite up from there. This may involve some heavy-lifting, but there is the option to help with only the lighter work.
Organizing Sheds
Who: 3-4 volunteers needed; Led by Tony Dickey
Task: Clean out and organize all three tool sheds if possible; we’ll be methodical and take one shed at a time
Compost
Who: We can take on 8 volunteers (4 at each compost area). Reena and Joe will lead.
Task: We will be chopping up plant material using machetes and hand clippers. We will then be mixing the chopped material to form a pile. Other activities may include; worm bin maintenance, moving/organizing material piles, weeding the compost areas, and clearing out unused bins. We will meet at the compost phase 1 area.
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Where: All groups will meet their lead at the Gathering Plaza at the top of the Beacon Food Forest at the given time. Please sign in on the clipboard at the Outreach Table first. After collecting tools, you'll head to the work area.
What to bring:
Water, personal snacks
Gardening gloves—We have some clean gloves available, if needed.
Mask or cloth face covering
Weather-appropriate layers
Safety:
If you have known exposure to COVID-19, feel sick, or exhibit symptoms, please stay home.
We keep these work parties small in order to allow everyone to spread out and work individually. Volunteers should plan to keep 6 feet of distance from others while working.
We will have a handwashing station with soap and running water at the worksite.
Alcohol or bleach solution is available to disinfect tools.
We have a first aid kit available.
Accessibility:
The Gathering Plaza, toolshed, bike path, and Education Plaza are wheelchair-accessible.
The nearest restroom is about a 5-minute walk away, up a flight of steps. There is also a longer, wheelchair-accessible route. The restrooms are wheelchair-accessible and gender-segregated.
Please let us know if you have any questions about accessibility! We wish to make these work parties as inclusive as possible.
You can learn how to get to BFF on our website: https://beaconfoodforest.org/visit-us
Thank you for your support in maintaining BFF for our community!