Native Plant Crew - Appleton Farms

Opportunity Overview:  

Appleton Farms is seeking a small crew of volunteers to help care for Hedgerow and Willow plantings located in vegetable and livestock fields across the property. Hedgerows made of native shrubs, forbes and grasses were planted along our crop fields to provide climate adaptive benefits such as soil stabilization and acting as a wind break. They will also improve soil water infiltration, holding capacity and aggregation over time while providing increased floral resources for pollinators.

Volunteers can create their own schedule. Time commitment will vary depending on the month but generally 2-3 times a month for a 4 hours at a time during the summer will be required. Volunteer work will be slow in the winter and pick back up in the spring. 

Willows were planted along streams to help prevent erosion, improve the water quality, create new habitat for wildlife and provide an alternative food source for livestock. Caring for these native plots involves hand weeding or weedwacking surrounding vegetation to reduce competition, maintaining electric fences and tree tubes, looking for signs of predation by deer or rodents and removing invasive species.

Benefits:  

• Exercise and outdoor activity  

• Spending time in unique natural areas, exploring beautiful parts of the farm not open to the public 

• Developing an improved ecological mindset from observing and interacting with the web of wildlife on the farm

• Connecting with like-minded staff, visitors, and volunteers    

Responsibilities: 

• Hand weed/weedwack in the hedgerow and willow plantings 

• Maintain the electric fencing in willow plantings

• Remove invasive species 

• Reinstall and maintain tree tubes 

• Identify and help to manage pest problems like deer or rodents 

Qualifications:  

• Experience gardening or doing yard work 

• Ability to use weedwacker  

• Ability to walk through tall grass on uneven, wet terrain  

• Strong plant ID skills

Time Commitment:

• The Native Plant Crew will meet on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays 9am-1pm from May to September. Volunteers are welcome to join whenever they are available.

More about The Trustees

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