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Opportunity Details
Urban Forest Restoration at GROW (Oak Tree Grove)
Do you have an interest in preserving our city’s natural spaces for future generations? Would you enjoy supporting a project that will directly impact thousands of school aged students this year? If so, look no further than GROW!
At GROW, we are building the city’s first permaculture park space. This means we are creating an urban farming space where woodlands are maximized, and food systems are integrated throughout the space we manage. It’s our goal to demonstrate sustainable urban food cultivation practices that maximize space, improve soils, and conserve resources such as water.
Our project site at Two Rivers Park covers almost 14 acres worth of the park, at the far northern edge. It contains open farmland, a lake (aquatic ecosystem), and two distinct “pocket forests.” Both of our forest parcels have been severely affected by invasive non-native plant species. These plants ultimately have a negative impact on the wildlife that depends on this system by outcompeting native flora for resources.
At GROW, we’ve taken on the ambitious task of eradicating these species and replanting native trees, shrubs, and perennials. Our partners in this work include the TN Invasive Plant Council, TN Environmental Council, and local native plant supplier GroWild. Together with these partners we host two large scale events each March; Weed Wrangle and 250K Tree Day. However, the system is in such dire condition that we must continue to work on this issue year-round. That’s where you come in!
Typical tasks:
- Removing invasive plants using pruners, loppers, or other tools
- Tagging significant native species flora for increased visibility during the reforestation process
- Spreading wood chip mulch
- Removing trash and other debris from the forest system
Special skills you might learn or get to practice:
- Agroforestry and permaculture style farming techniques
- Learning about various tools used for invasive plant control and Agroforestry
- Identification of native plants and our top 3 invasive non-native plants: Bush Honeysuckle, Chinese Privet, and Euonymus vine
Need-To-Knows
There is no running water or electricity at GROW. Volunteers should bring their own water bottles and charge their phones before arrival.
There is no shelter from severe weather at GROW. In the event of severe weather on a scheduled work day (lightning, impending severe thunderstorm, or tornado watch/advisory) this event will be cancelled.
Volunteers should wear protective clothing appropriate for outdoor work including: pants to protect legs, closed-toed shoes, breathable layered shirts for comfort in outdoor weather and protection from sun/brambles/stinging insects.
Ticks can be an issue in the forest system. We recommend taking any precautions you are comfortable with and, at minimum, selecting light colored clothing so that they can be more easily spotted before they bite.
Ecological Impact
The work we are doing has a direct impact on local wildlife by providing additional food and habitat resources. By removing invasive plant species, we make soil nutrients and sunlight available to native plants within the system. These are the plants that evolved with our native wildlife and are needed for their continued success in our fast-growing urban city.
Environment & Sustainability
Age Minimum (with Adult): 18+, Minimum Age:8+
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