Erosion Control Workshop - Great Start to a New Year

What a great start to the New Year - nineteen volunteers came to Garber on a beautiful Saturday in January to learn bioengineering techniques for erosion control in a workshop conducted by Lech Naumovich, Golden Hour Restoration Institute.   The day began with Lech talking and demonstrating hillside erosion techniques – in particular, the use of fascines (living branches bound together in long bundles) and spilings (using branches to create a retaining wall), both techniques used to protect a slope from erosion.   Then the real fun began – we set about building a fascine and spilling and installing both on our eroded slope.  

We divided ourselves into several groups – some went to collect live branches, others cut and prepared the branches and wove them into a long bundle. then carried the long sausage shaped  (now called a fascine) to the crew who had been working to prepare the slope.  At the same time still others were working on making a spiling (retaining wall).  After the stakes were driven into the ground it was time for weaving branches through the stakes to make a retaining wall.  One volunteer yelled out, “I’m a weaver!” and proceeded to direct the weaving crew.  The result - two structures built out of live materials, gathered onsite, and designed to hold and slowly release water.  Ideally, the cut branches of the fascines should grow producing roots and top growth,  but  in this year in which Gov. Brown just declared a drought emergency we are hoping that at least a few of our willow branches will sprout.  

For more pictures of the crew hard at work restoringGarber’s eroded slope click here.

View and Download Lech’s Hand-out explaining the bioengineering techniques we used in Garber, complete with References for those who wish to explore more.  It is important to note that this project is being implemented in an area that will not require permits.  Creating such structures in an active stream or around a wetland would require consultation, plans, and possibly permits.  

We were all excited to have the opportunity to learn these erosion control techniques and were looking forward to returning in February to learn to use passive restoration planting techniques to further stabilize the slope.  Unfortunately, because of the severe drought conditions we have cancelled the February workshop.    Stay tuned for some exciting workshops led by Lech later this Spring and Summer.   Looking further into the future - we hope to again offer the Erosion Control Workshop series next year. 

THANKS, Lech, for leading another unique and special workshop,  and to all the participants for a productive and fun morning.  We hope to see you all again soon in Garber.   Special thanks to Claremont Canyon Conservancy for their generous funding of our Winter Workshop Series, and the City of Oakland for their support for our volunteer work in Garber Park.    

Please join us for our February Volunteer Workdays:  Tuesday, Feb. 4 and Saturday, Feb 15, 10AM-Noon. Meet at the Evergreen Lane Entrance.  We will weed our restoration sites and perform trail maintenance.  

Fern Glen Workshop and Restoration - A HUGE SUCCESS!!

Establishing the Fern Glen Restoration Site by freeing the
ferns and other natives of Hedera (ivy). 

Thanks to all the volunteers who braved the frigid weather and helped us establish our 3rd restoration site in Garber – Fern Glen along Sylvan Path.  Warm drinks inside and Lech’s informative talk energized and inspired us to head out in the cold, free the ferns from the ivy, and flag any natives that were in the area.  Garber has surprised us with rich native resources hiding under the invasives that have blanketed Garber.  And, today, Fern Glen was no exception.  We shouted with glee as trilliums, ferns, and even an oak seedling were discovered.  Once the Restoration Site was cleared of Hedera and the natives flagged, we mulched the site. 

 Come to Garber, walk the Sylvan Trail, and peek into our
Wildlife Habitat Pile to see what creatures have made
a home!  

But, restoring an area isn’t only about removing invasives and planting natives – it’s all about establishing a diverse and sustainable habitat for flora and fauna.  So, our last and most fun task was to create a habitat pile for the birds and other animals  from the downed wood in the area.

Lech, sporting a new mustache, begins the
workshop inside in the warmth.  

Workshops with Lech are always hands-on, informative and FUN.  And, we all especially love the time-lapse videos of our hard work.  View a video of our successful Fern Glade Restoration Workshop set to the music of Baby Please Don't go by Big Bill Broonzy.  

Lech always provides us with an informative Hand-out.  Click 

here to view and download a copy of the hand-out.  And, do
join the fun at our next workshop:
               Woodland Slope Restoration
           Saturday, January 18, 10AM-1:00PM.  

Passive Restoration Workshop in Garber

Fern Glade Stewardship 

and 

Woodland Understory Restoration 

Sunday, December 8, 2013

10AM-Noon

The Garber Park Stewards and Claremont Canyon Conservancy are excited to be partnering with Golden Hour Restoration Institute for several exciting workshops throughout the winter season, beginning with a Fern Glade Stewardship and Woodland Understory Restoration Workshop in Garber Park on Sunday, December 8. There is a large relatively flat spot near Fireplace Plaza along Sylvan Path where the ivy has not yet totally engulfed the native ferns  which will become our new restoration site.

Lech Naumovich, Executive Director of GoldenHour, will be leading the workshop, and will discuss Best Practices for Ivy Removal, including the Bradley Method, which we will then remove from the project site, find and flag any new natives we find in the area, track these through the year, and create a small woodland habitat pile using existing, on-site materials. 

Location:  Evergreen Lane Entrance to Garber Park (near the Claremont Hotel in Claremont Canyon.  Enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks.  Then be ready to walk along Sylvan Path to our restoration site.

Wear long sleeves, long pants and shoes or boots with good traction as the trails are rugged and the hillsides are steep in Garber. 

Directions:  The nearest address is 144 Evergreen Lane, Berkeley.  From Alvarado Road take Slater Lane, then turn Right onto Evergreen Lane.  The entrance to the park is at the end of the street.  A map and google directions can be found at www.garberparkstewards.org.

Please RSVP to Shelagh garberparkstewards@gmail.com or 510-540-1918 as workshop may be limited to reduce impact in this restoration area.

Most exciting of all, Lech said this will be a great workshop for another Time Lapse Video!  Click here to view a video of two days of planting on the hillside at the Evergreen Lane Entrance compressed into 3 minutes and set to the music of Louis Armstrong.

WPAD Clears Claremont Avenue!

Oakland's Wildfire Prevention Assessment District cleared Claremont Avenue today!  We can actually see a shoulder so bicyclists can ride without being pushed into the fast moving traffic,  and a parking turn-out near the old 1920's built trail (that the Garber Park Stewards are restoring) into Garber Park was revealed.

Thank you, Vince Crudele, the newly hired WPAD vegetation management supervisor, for getting this done.  We've never seen such a thorough job on Claremont Ave.

Thank you Cal-Berkeley Rotaract Students

On November 2,  the Garber Park Stewards hosted 21 Cal Berkeley students from Rotaract Club.  For two hours these energetic students helped us rid Garber of invasive weeds, and helped us prepare an area for planting.  Thanks to all the students and to the two Bob's for leading this awesome group.

One group prepared a slope just below Fire Place Plaza for
Winter Planting

Pulling ivy along Claremont Ave. 

Removing Himalayan Blackberry re-growth in
Horsetail Meadow.

See Cal Rotaract pictures and read their blog post.

October - a Rewarding Month of Restoration Activities

October was a busy month in Garber, from a fun habitat restoration day, to the sad but expected news that Sudden Oak Death is spreading in Claremont Canyon and other parts of the East Bay, to our onsite visit and planning session with Lech Naumovich, Golden Hour Restoration Institute.  The Garber Park Stewards and Golden Hour are once again offering several exciting and informative workshops this Winter season.  Highlights below:

October Saturday Workday.   THANK YOU to all of our wonderful volunteers  - we couldn’t do it without you!  Seventeen volunteers came to contribute to Garber’s restoration, which allowed us to split into several groups.   One group dug up Himalayan Blackberries that were invading the 1^st Creek along the Lower Loop Trail. which will allow the thimbleberries and ferns to continue to fill in this beautiful creek area..  Another group focused on the Sylvan Trail, cutting ivy from the trees and around the ferns.  A third group stayed at the Evergreen Lane Restoration area, pulling invasive weeds and cutting back the Bromus, revealing lovely new sprouts under the blanket of leaves.  A most satisfying day. 

On-Site planning with Lech Naumovich, Executive Director of Golden Hour Restoration Institute.  We always look forward to our quarterly planning sessions with Lech where we assess the status of Garber, monitor our restoration sites, and plan future stewardship priorities and workshops.  This year,  because of the lack of rain – it has been the driest year (January-October) on record - Garber does look parched.  So, we were pleasantly surprised to find that most of our seedlings, buried under a blanket of leaves, appeared to be alive and well,  waiting for the rains before springing back to life.  It will be very interesting to see what the return of the rains produces at our restoration sites. 

Citizen Science Workshops.  The Garber Park Stewards are excited to be partnering with Golden Hour for several exciting workshops throughout the winter season, beginning with a Woodland Understory Restoration on Sunday, December 8.  Below Fireplace Plaza we have found a large flat area where the ivy has not yet totally blanketed and engulfed the area.  Lech will discuss best practices and keys for ivy removal which we will then remove from the project site, find and flag any new natives we find in the area, and, if the soil is wet, create a small woodland habitat using existing nearby materials.  And, most exciting of all, Lech said this will be a great workshop for another TimeLapse Video!    

Help Golden Hour become a top-rated non-profit  by spending just 2-3 minutes filling out a review at http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/golden-hour-restoration-institute/ by the end of October so that Golden Hour can become a “top rated” program.   Most of you know that Lech Naumovich, restoration ecologist and Executive Director of Golden Hour Restoration Institute has been The Garber Park Stewards most valued advisor for the past four years.  Many of you have participated in the informative, educational and FUN workshops that Lech has conducted in Garber.    Golden Hour’s dedication to restoring and protecting the environment is unsurpassed.  Help spread the word about this amazing organization!

Habitat Restoration Workday, Saturday, Oct. 10, 10AM-Noon

Creek to Bay Day Before the Rain.  Over 20 volunteers made
this year's CTBD an overwhelming success.  In spite of the
rain this hardy group dug and chopped the fire prone
invasives for two hours before the "buckets of rain" forced them
to quit.  THANKS TO ALL!!

GARBER PARK OCTOBER HABITAT RESTORATION WORKDAY

 Saturday, October 19, 10AM-Noon

 Please join us for our monthly Saturday workday as we continue to pull the invasive weeds (Himalayan blackberry, Cape ivy, erhardta grass) from our Restoration sites in preparation for winter planting.

We will also continue restoring the trail from Fireplace Plaza to Claremont Ave. We’re making great progress, but there’s still much more work to be done before the trail is usable.

Meet at the Evergreen Lane Entrance to Garber Park.  Directions:  From Ashby take Alvarado Rd to Slater Lane, turn Right onto Evergreen Ln.  The entrance is at the end of the street.  

For all workdays in Garber: 

Wear long sleeves and pants, and shoes with good tread. 

Drinks, snacks, tools and gloves are provided, but do bring your own gloves and water bottle if you have them. 

For more information contact Shelagh garberparkstewards@gmail.com

**Our twice-a-month Habitat Restoration Workdays - the 1st Tuesday and the 3rd Saturday of the month - will resume in November.