FTJF was invited to present aspects of environmental stewardship at the well-attended March 11th St. Paul’s Lower School STEM Fair. Thank you, STEM Director Nancy Dimitriades.
Stewardship Committee members Jessica Schue, Dick Williams and I demonstrated weed warrior work focused on non-native invasive (NNI) English ivy species removal. We brought a well-illustrated video about English ivy, prepared by Melissa Campanella, Stewardship Co-chair, as well as select landscaping tools and fresh-pruned cords of English ivy.
Engaging with students, parents and other family members, we explained how removing NNI vine and other harmful plant species is beneficial to trees and wildlife. Students were asked to draw pictures in response to the question: “How could removing vines help trees?” Their expressive drawings of trees (both sad-vined and happy-unvined), flowers and snails showed understanding and concern.
I found it interesting to hear stories from parents about how they were stewarding in their own backyards. They too struggle with NNI vines threatening their trees. We learned they are refusing to use chemical treatments on their landscapes in an effort to protect our streams as well as rejecting use of plastic bags and leaving turf grass high enough (min. 3”) to slow stormwater runoff into our waterways.
-Angie Plum, FTJF Stewardship Committee
Friends of The Jones Falls 