Connor Kennedy
Organization: Acterra
Dates: 11/14/15, 1/17/2016, 1/30/2016
During my first three visits to Acterra preservation sites, I engaged in many different activities that helped restore the environment around me. During our first visit, where we went to Arastradero Preserve, we planted willow sticks in the riverbed and we created piles of trimmed brush. The willow sticks would eventually grow into willow trees, trapping sediment and slowing down the stream. This would keep more of the water upstream (instead of flowing into the ocean) and help out the local plants. The use of the piles of brush was that once the piles dried out it would become a home for all types of little critters, helping to restore the balance of the ecosystem. For our second visit, we went to Foothills Park. Here we pulled an invasive species known as french bloom in order to allow room for native plants to grow. The seeds for french bloom can hibernate for up to 60 years so every year they must go back to the site and pull more. For our third visit we went to Barkley Field in order to plant some native plants and pull some weeds. We worked up and down a hill in order to create the best environment possible for our native plants. I found the work very meditative and it was great knowing that I was helping to restore our natural ecosystem, creating a healthier earth for both ourselves and the plants and animals living there.
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