Invasive Plant Removal Volunteer Opportunity
FREE LUNCH PROVIDED!
Saturday September 9, 2023
9:00 am-12:00 noon
111 Ivanhoe Drive
Learn how to safely and effectively remove kudzu.
Kudzu was first introduced into the American landscape in the 1930’s as a form of erosion control. Early on the government paid farmers $8 per acre to grow kudzu and by the mid 1940’s over a million acres of American farmland was planted in this fast growing vine. Kudzu is a tropical Asian plant that thrives in the American south, growing up to a foot per day, primarily in disturbed areas like highways and abandoned lots.
Often considered one of the worst invasive plants around, kudzu is actually a high quality animal feed, a great source of fiber and culinary starch, and as a legume it has the ability to introduce atmospheric nitrogen into the soil leaving tremendously fertile ground once it's gone, but none of this holds much weight when it is marching over the landscape smothering all of your lovely plants.
Many methods have been used to eradicate this vine, but by far the most effective is to remove it by hand. Poisons are only partially effective, goats will eat the vine but leave the plant under the ground to return when the goats have moved on, fire is ineffective and cutting it back only makes it mad.
How then does one deal with this vine? The answer is actually pretty simple, and we can show you how!
Stop by Fox Creek Park on Saturday September 9 from 9:00am-12:00 noon and join in as we continue our successful battle with this scourge. We will provide tools, instruction and the kudzu to practice on, and as you learn you will be helping us to reclaim this space for all to enjoy. And best of all, after a couple of hours we will give you a hearty lunch to thank you for your participation!
So make your plans and find your work boots. Plan to join us for a few hours on a lovely Saturday morning and learn a new skill while doing something great!
Parking is tight, so we encourage you to park a block away at Grovemont Park and walk down to Ivanhoe Drive if you are able.
LUNCH @ 12:00
Country Style Pork Ribs
Macaroni and Cheese
Roasted Kabocha Pumpkin, Corn and Beans
Clear Coleslaw
Pesto Pasta Salad
Apple Crisp
Home Made Ice Cream
April 9, 2023
Our First "Second Sunday" Volunteer Work Day, April 2023
On a gorgeous Easter Sunday afternoon, over a dozen friends and neighbors came out to start off our season of restoration with a bang!
With tools in hand, folks began showing up at 3:00 in the afternoon... and they just kept coming! It was so heartening to see so many smiling faces show up and begin the fun and surprisingly effective work of removing kudzu crowns, gathering winter debris and preparing the public spaces for visitors.
We kept at it for a couple of hours, then settled in for a late afternoon meal of Cincinnati Chili, Ramp and Potato Quiche, Grilled Burgers and Dogs and various vegan sides and accompaniments.
Check out the images below, and remember... all summer long... Second weekend of the Month... stop by and join in!
Fox Creek Volunteer Work Day
ANNOUNCING Regularly Scheduled vOLUNTEER Work Days
Download PDFnew Safety Fence
January 16, 2023
Our first improvement project of 2023 has been completed.
At long last a fence has been erected above the dropoff into the dam spillway. (That's the spillway above the dam, not as some may suppose, the "Damn Spillway!")
The work was completed in record time by Alex Watts of Watts Works.
With the ongoing support of the Board Members of The Swannanoa Community Council and the generous assistance of some of our friends and neighbors, our entrance is now far safer for passersby than it has been in over 100 years!
Several of our cohort answered the call and donated to help erect this fence, but if you want to add your support it's not too late. Just drop by
https://grovemontpark.org/donate
and offer up any amount that you are able.
Put in the Message/Comment box the words “Fox Creek”.
You may also mail a check to the address provided there.
Also I hope you will stop by and let us know what you think!
THANK YOU!
Rick Cumbo, Lyall Crawford, Glen Peterson, Janet Littleton, Allen Dye, Scott Scheuer
Rick Cumbo, Lyall Crawford, Glen Peterson, Janet Littleton, Allen Dye, Scott Scheuer
Rick Cumbo, Lyall Crawford, Glen Peterson, Janet Littleton, Allen Dye, Scott Scheuer
Rick Cumbo, Lyall Crawford, Glen Peterson, Janet Littleton, Allen Dye, Scott Scheuer
Rick Cumbo, Lyall Crawford, Glen Peterson, Janet Littleton, Allen Dye, Scott Scheuer
Rick Cumbo, Lyall Crawford, Glen Peterson, Janet Littleton, Allen Dye, Scott Scheuer
January 12, 2023
As part of our required reporting for our Tipping Point Grant, we had to submit an Interim Report on January 15, 2023 updating the county on the progress of our project. To view a copy of this report click below.
JANUARY 7, 2023
Wetlands Delineation Report
As a core part of the work being undertaken by our Field Biologist Kevin Caldwell of Mountains-to-Sea Ecological, we now have our first report ready to view.
This is a "Wetlands Delineation Report" which is being filed with The Army Corps of Engineers and is a key component of future regulatory permissions that may be required as we continue to work within the Fox Creek bounderies.
As many of you are aware, the ACOE has jurisdictional responsibility over all wetlands in the United States, and before we can make any alterations to our wetlands we must first apply to the ACOE for any necessary permits. Now that our Wetlands Delineation Report is complete we have this neeeded foundation laid.
In addidion Mr. Caldwell has prepared a first draft of an ongoing ecological assessment that is the basis for our scientific efforts in the park. It is important to our mission that any work we do in the park have a firm scientific foundation, and part of the mission of MTS Ecological over the course of their contract is to lay the groundwork for this ongoing effiort
You may read the both of these reports by clicking below
Both files are available for download by going to the -File Downlads- page of this site.
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