Earth Day 2022
Friends of the Forest - - A call to arms
The Scotch Broom Brigade needs you!
Earth Day 2022 - Help the forest at Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park (PGFHP)
Volunteers needed to join the 2nd Annual Scotch Broom Brigade at Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park and cut down this aggressive, invasive species.
When: Earth Day April 22 - 24
Time: 9 a.m. to Noon daily
Where: PGFHP, Bayview and Stottlemeyer trailheads, and the model airplane field
Bring: gloves, pruners, loppers*
Don’t forget: drinking water and snacks
Additional information: please sign in on the county sign-in sheet; some cutting will be off trail
Look for volunteers at Bayview and Stottlemeyer trailheads, and the model airplane field. Volunteers will provide information and directions to scotch broom sites.
*Kitsap County Parks will have about 50 loppers to loan on Saturday and Sunday.
IMPORTANT: Kitsap County Parks asks that we all complete an online volunteer registration form if we haven't done so before. https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?AP=566670317&OR=1
Learn more about the Scotch Broom Brigade at:
https://sites.google.com/view/pgfhpscotchbroombrigade/home
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2950286431963525
Contacts: sohrberg59@gmail.com or gwoodkm@gmail.com
Thank you for helping eradicate Scotch Broom!
Welcome!
Help us eradicate and control the scotch broom in our park.
The park is a working tree farm and Scotch broom is the main predator. It forms dense stands which crowd out native species and destroys wildlife habitat.
The parks reforestation plan does not allow the use of pesticides, it requires manual removal prior to planting.
This is going to be a years long battle for our forest and park!
On Earth Day the Port Gamble Forest Heritage parks Scotch Broom Brigade was formed.
This will be a volunteer effort. Bring your gloves, pruners and loppers to cut or pull some noxious, invasive weeds as you take a hike, bike or ride.
How to volunteer
Individual(s)
incorporate cutting and pulling scotch broom into your hiking, biking or riding.
Plan regular "volunteer" focus days. Bring snacks and donate some time to the park and forest.
Group(s)
Include the scotch broom brigade in your club, business, or organizations "Service Day" commitment.
Schedule a field trip for your group to visit the countys newest park and do some "team building" by cutting and pulling scotch broom!
Volunteer Registration;
You should register as a volunteer prior to working in the park.
Questions? - Contact Scott at sohrberg59@gmail.com
Scotch Broom Eradication and Control Guidelines
Chainsaws are not allowed in park
Removal
January - May & August - December
- Small plants with green stalks can be pulled easily by hand.
- Large plants should be cut at ground level. To cut broom with multiple stalks, you must go below the multiple stalks and cut the single thick stalk at ground level.
Caution - Weed Wrenches are not recommended. It is more effective to cut than dig larger plants because pulling them will disturb the soil stimulate more seed germination and result in more scotch broom plants.
Disposal
After cutting or pulling
scatter single plants out of sight to decompose.
large amounts of Scotch broom will be left to decompose alongside road.
Caution - Be aware of tree seedlings planted very 8 feet. Don't block ditches.
This is a great website to learn about scotchbroom and how to cut it
This the site used for the scotch broom brigade to communicate . Post comments, questions and photos of your work! Provide updates to scotch broom map and spreadsheet.
This is the facebook page for info on park volunteer activities such as work parties
This is the a park map with scotch broom locations identified. The north end can be accessed by the Bayview parking lot. The central park from the Port Gamble Road NE gate. The south end from the trail head on Stottlemeyer.
This worksheet is what we will update and communicate progress on removing scotch broom from roads and trails in the park.
Legnd - C= central, N = north, S= south. NA = no scotch broom, Unk = unknown, SB =scotch broom present, CLR = scotch broom cleared
Road & Trail Scotch Broom Scoreboard - xx% Change
Start (April 22) - Total = 74, NA = 26, Unk = 25, SB = 23, CLR = 0
Current (May 10) - Total = 74, NA = 29, Unk = 20, SB = 25, CLR = 0