Last Wednesday a group of 6th and 7th graders went around the corner to Dewees Park and planted trees with guidance from members of the Herring Run Watershed Association. In a little over 2 hours they planted 30 trees. What was really impressive wasn't the number, but the spirit. If there was something to be done, our students did it. They learned all of the most important steps in planting a young tree in an urban area. They dug an appropriate sized hole, amended the soil with a drought aid, teased out the roots, backfilled, watered, mulched, pounded posts, and staked the saplings out. They even did a little upkeep on some pre-existing trees that needed some help.
It might be my faulty memory, but I don't recall hearing a single complaint. We had students working from tree to tree using a pick to break up rocks and hard soil. We had students assigned to picking up all the trash we generated. Students checked each others plantings for mistakes and helped haul water in buckets from the hose to their sapling. They shoveled mulch into buckets and carried it across the park in bags. I'm sure there were blisters and scrapes and broken nails. I was impressed with their labor, as were the folks from the Watershed Association.
Quick plug: If you live in or near the Jones Falls Watershed, or the Herring Run Watershed, they are constantly in need of volunteers for all kinds of activities. Both are easy to work with and have dates posted on their websites (see links above) for stream cleanups, tree plantings, rain barrel workshops, and other opportunities. It would be a great way to serve the community as a family, or on your own.
We had one injured student who offered to serve as our photographer for the day. (She didn't get injured by the pick; her arm was already in a cast :) Here's a sampling of the shots she took. Look for your student in action.
