This fall, two abandoned buildings on the National Park Service property are being torn down right as part of a joint plan with the Point Reyes National Seashore to restore the floodplain and habitat back to its natural state! We are very excited about this project, and wanted to give you an update on all the exciting projects and changes at our native plant nursery.
The plants are doing well during this transition time, thanks in part to generous donations of shade cloth from the former Sunnyside Growing Grounds, and a shade structure donated by Nancy Hanson. Through the summer, SPAWN was able to put more and more shade cloth and shade structures up around the nursery, and interns were also able to re-vamp and add more shade to the fern area.
We’ve also been able to add in other nursery enhancements such as:
- Pathogen prevention measures (raising the the plants farther away from the ground with pallets donated by Heidrun Meadery and Novato Builder’s Supply);
- Setting up a new work-station dedicated to pot washing/sterilization; and
- Setting up shelves to neatly store clean pots.
We also are thrilled to be able to add more nutrients to our soil mix and have begun composting with the help of a worm bin.
The nursery crew is enjoying all of the changes, and we think that the plants are too! We would love to show you the updates the next time you stop in for a volunteer day with us.
New shelf system for storing nursery pots
Reorganized (much shadier!) fern area, featuring our new worm compost box
California Red Wrigglers enjoying the compost box
New pallets for the nursery, donated by Heidrun Meadery and Novato Builder’s Supply. The pallets are elevated off the ground to prevent the wood from rotting.
Shade structure, donated by Nancy Hanson
Redesigned nursery perimeter, done to accommodate the Park Service’s upcoming demolition of nearby buildings
