This November, I learned how to install a hedgerow! It was a marvel of teamwork with many people and organizations coming together to create a productive day of transformation.
What’s a hedgerow? Hedgerows are strips of native plants and shrubs that provide habitat for a diverse array of wildlife including birds, bats, and insects. By utilizing agricultural lands as a place for wildlife habitat, we can support biodiversity and the survival of pollinators.
This project came to fruition with the help of native plants provided by the Xerces Society, planning expertise and support from Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District, a skilled crew from Conservation Corps North Bay, and the enthusiastic farmers/land managers of Beet Generation Farm.
First, the site needed to be cleared. The crew from Conservation Corps North Bay, along with the farm managers, did the hard work of removing invasive blackberry and other unwanted vegetation.
Next, we sheet mulched the area using huge rolls of corrugated cardboard (6 feet wide by 250 feet long!).
Then, we worked together to apply and spread mulch on top of the layers of cardboard.
After the ground was prepared for planting, we mapped out the location of each plant using a surveyor’s tape measure and flags. The farm managers made placement decisions based on information provided by the Xerces Society, input from Gold Ridge RCD staff, and their own expertise and relationship with the land.
Once the flags were placed, we got to work digging and nestling each plant into the soil.
The late afternoon light was fading as we finished planting. We cleaned up and put away our tools feeling grateful for the work of each member of the team, in awe of the transformation achieved in one day, and excited to watch the plants grow and multiply in the years to come.
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