TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION

Ecological restoration area

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND REMEDIATION

PLANNING AND PREPARATION

  • Order supplies and materials

  • Perform soil tests

  • Schedule equipment rental/loans'

  • Schedule volunteers for community work days.

REMOVE INVASIVE SPECIES

  • Staff and volunteers remove the invasive species from BLISS Meadows to make room for native plants and food forest

REDESIGN CONTOUR OF THE LAND AND REMEDIATE RUNOFF ISSUES

  • Perform precision earthworks to redesign and grade the contour of the land to facilitate “controlled drainage” hydrology

  • Mulch existing underbrush and invasive species and incorporate the existing biomass into the soil along with organic and regenerative agricultural amendments

  • Test soil for pH and nitrogen levels to determine an appropriate planting

    schedule and further correction

BUILD HEALTHY SOIL

  • Staff and volunteers will build healthy soil using regenerative agricultural practices by incorporating the mulched biomass into the soil along with organic amendments including compost, mycorrhizal fungi, trace minerals, and beneficial bacteria

Expansion of the urban farm area

EXPAND THE URBAN FARM

INSTALL FOOD FOREST, GARDEN BEDS, & SIGNAGE

  • Staff and volunteers install half acre of new, educational food forest including fruit and nut trees and berry bushes

  • Install an acre of new educational garden beds showcasing vegetables, native perennials, pollinator species and medicinal herbs

  • Plant 250 trees and other perennials of varying age and size, selected to minimize maintenance

  • Establish a small nursery in the hoop house for grafting trees, growing and transplanting other native perennials for residents to plant in their yards, and nursing replacement trees

  • Install educational signage in food

    forest/garden beds with volunteers

Child with a bucket of fresh produce
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INCREASE COMMUNITY ACCESS & ENJOYMENT OF THE LAND

CREATE WALKING TRAILS

  • Create walking trails of compressed soil and wood chips through the relative center of the site, adjacent to demonstration plant beds and native plantings

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ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN THE PROJECT & LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE

HOST VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY WORK DAYS WITH EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING WORKSHOPS

  • Host 4 volunteer community work days with 4 educational workshops for community members and BLISS staff

  • Workshop topics include:

    • 1) How to plant a food forest or a garden of vegetables, pollinator plants, native perennials or medicinal herbs in your backyard

    • 2) How to build healthier soil in your garden

    • 3) How to graft, plant and care for fruit and nut trees

    • 4) How to create and implement a good maintenance plan for your trees and garden beds

TRACK AND COMMUNICATE SUCCESSES & PROVIDE FOR LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE

  • Staff and volunteers measure and track the indicators of success of the project including total numbers of trees planted , tree and plant survivorship, girth of tree trunks, pounds of food produced and distributed to the community, number of volunteers, and number of workshop attendees

  • Communicate the successes of the project throughout the networks of BLISS Meadows, Ridge to Reefs and partner organizations via email, websites, social media and word of mouth

  • Train the community and engage BLISS Meadows in long-term maintenance of the gardens, food forest and the forestry management plan being developed in coordination with the Dept. of Natural Resources to ensure a successful establishment and maintenance plan