Bay Blog - Chesapeake Bay Program

Forestry Workgroup “Leads by Example” at Banshee Reeks

The rain was falling heavy all through Tuesday night and things had not changed much when the alarm went off the next morning, signaling the new day. The Chesapeake Bay Forestry Workgroup had a meeting scheduled at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Hearing and seeing the rain and knowing the schedule of the day brought back memories from my past life. For years, the month of April had a pretty profound impact on my life.  One of the duties as an employee working for the Virginia Department of Forestry was to plant tree seedlings with volunteer groups.  The best planting months are March, April, November and December, but April was extremely busy with plantings because of Earth Day and Arbor Day.  You can plant trees during other months, but for “bare root” seedlings with no soil on their roots, months with high precipitation and cooler temperatures are the best. 

The Banshee Reeks Manor House sits on the top of a hill and Goose Creek winds through the rolling farmland and forest.  The “Banshee” was with us that Wednesday because of the pouring rain; the misty spirit hung over the reeks (rolling hills and valley).  But hardy as the Forestry Workgroup members are, they hopped on a wagon and rode down the hills -- in the pouring rain -- to Goose Creek to see the task before them.

The heavily grassed floodplain had bare areas that were prepared for a riparian buffer planting.  Our hosts from the Virginia Department of Forestry had planting bars, tree seedlings, gloves, tree shelters and all of the equipment needed to get the trees in the ground; the Workgroup members were the muscle. The group planted approximately 125 sycamore, black walnut, river birch, hackberry and dogwood shrub seedlings -- again, in the pouring rain -- in a little over an hour.

As we road the wagon back up the hill -- still in the pouring rain -- and looked back at the newly planted floodplain, the enthusiasm was hard to contain.  There was a special warm feeling that drifted over me, reminiscent of my days of planting with volunteers: the feeling of knowing you just did something special that will last far into the future.  For the Forestry Workgroup members who promote riparian forest buffer plantings in the Bay watershed, this was a “lead by example” exercise.

As everyone got into their cars to return to their home states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and other parts of Virginia, yes, they were cold, they were wet, but they were proud of their work. 

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Filed under: Forestry Workgroup | Forests | Staff travels

What are you doing to help the Bay?

Are you doing your part to help the Bay or your local river? Have you installed a rain garden at your home? Do you volunteer for a wateshed organization?We're looking for great examples of people making a difference in the Bay cleanup effort, one small step at a time. If you'd like to tell us your story, send me an e-mail at apimenta@chesapeakebay.net. Or you can add your photo or video to our new Flickr group. If you're chosen to be featured on our website, you'll get a Bay-friendly freebie, such as a reusable mug or shopping bag.

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Filed under: What you can do

Get Involved this Earth Day

The Earth Day tradition began on April 22, 1970, when 20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day. Over the past 39 years, Earth Day has grown into a global event. 

Earth Day in the Chesapeake region is a day to take action to help restore the Chesapeake Bay.  You can celebrate Earth Day by planting a tree, picking up trash in your neighborhood or attending an event.

Many Earth Day events are taking place throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed this April. Check out this sampling of Earth Day cleanups, festivals and celebrations to find an event near you. And if you know of an Earth Day event that we have not included on this list, add it in the comments!

Washington, D.C.

• April 17-19: Green Apple Festival, Earth Day on the National Mall
• April 18: Anacostia Watershed Earth Day Cleanup and Rally, Bladensburg
• April 18: Earth Day Clean Up at National Zoo
• April 18: Clean-up at bald eagle habitat (4660 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SW) by EPA and Earh Conservation Corps
• April 22: Shoreline cleanup at Anacostia Park by Earth Conservation Corps (9 a.m.-1 p.m. -- meet at parking lot near skating rink)
  

Maryland

• April 11: Litter Pickup at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
• April 11: Planting at Loch Raven Reservoir, Towson
• April 18: Bay Day at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels
• April 18: Earth Day Celebration of the Baltimore Aquarium, Baltimore
• April 18: Baltimore EcoFestival at Druid Hill Park, Baltimore
• April 18: GreenScape at Amos Garrett Park sponsored by Spa Creek Conservancy, Annapolis
• April 18: West/Rhode Riverkeeper’s Spring Paddle, Annapolis
• April 18: Earth Day Festival at Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis
• April 18: Walk for the Woods by Scenic Rivers Land Trust, Crownsville
• April 18: Earth Day Event, Severna Park
  
• April 25: Oxford Day, Oxford
• April 25: Label the Watershed, Bethesda
• April 25: Big Green Trail Day, Annapolis
• April 25: South River Watershed Snapshot, Annapolis
• April 25: West/Rhode River Snapshot, Edgewater

Virginia

• April 18: Earth Day in Richmond
• April 24: Earth Day Celebration at Douthat State Park
• April 25: Earth Day at Nauticus, Norfolk
• April 25: Alexandria Earth Day 2009, Alexandria
• April 25: Celebrate Earth Day with Action, James River
• May 3: Virginia Beach Earth Day, Virginia Beach

Pennsylvania

• April 25: Great PA Clean Up, Statewide

West Virginia

• April 18: Berkeley County Earth Day, Martinsburg

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Filed under: Events | What you can do