 Early today: UW Bothell students are about to spend their first day of their first Friday of their fall quarter in North Creek Forest. We are ready. A 20 foot container, on loan to us from the City of Bothell, holds tools necessary for our day's work and many more to come. Since the work is partly on city property Steve Dahl, Bothell Parks and Recreation, brought us an extra load of "loppers" and gloves. His delivery made a huge difference in the number of volunteers we could field this morning.  Students from Husky Hollow adopted FNCF for their "Community Service Day". Amy Lambert's class on Introduction to Restoration Ecology was next to arrive. Students were confronted with a 10 foot tall wall of weeds and slightly encouraged by the promise of hamburgers. The morning briefing: After the ubiquitous liability forms were completed we hit on safety and the nature of Knotweed. Today's work may need to be repeated for several years. It's a bad weed.  A wall of students.  A wall of weeds. There were many walls of weeds.  You should know something about Steve Dahl. He not only helps organize events like Riverfest, when he shows up to deliver tools he stays to give us tips garnered from years of work with volunteers and leans into the work between words. Here Steve drags out an old lawnmower lost long ago to the Knotweed. Thanks Bothell for tools, storage and Steve.  After about 70 hours of collective labor the piles are huge and people are hungry. Center in blue: That's Aaron Huston, this years UWB/CCC Sustainability Organization President advancing toward hamburgers with a committed expression.  Carolyn getting food out to hard working students. Few (but a couple) saw the other cook unscrew the pepper lid and pour half a jar of pepper onto a couple of hamburgers before realizing the little shaker part was the LID. Did anyone notice a little pepper?  Aaron Huston This years UWB/CCC Sustainability Organization President Sarah Witte Volunteer Magnate, dedicated forest steward, 2011/12 UW-REN Team member Darryl Nevels Last years UWB/CCC Sustainability Organization President, founding member FNCF, 2011/12 UW-REN Team  At the end of the day: Sarah and Darryl offer a tour of last years UW Restoration Ecology Network site.  Water... life without it isn't. Darryl explains the steps UW-REN students took to water new forest plants. First came the big barrels and bad backs. A discovery of a well allowed a siphon to do the work and life was easy. When the well (now we know what seasonal means) ran dry a neighbor, the Fries Family, let students use water from their house. Gratitude, Thank you.  Biologist Dr. David Bain, a leading expert on Killer Whales, explains why this, and other forests, are a key to the recovery of Puget Sound. "Puget Sound starts in the trees."  Day is done.
A major piece of work was accomplished today. It could not have been done without the people you see in these photos. We call this action Stewardship. It is caring for something. North Creek Forest is a magnificent place. But it is in an urban setting and would quickly degrade if left to Knotweed, Blackberries and Ivy. Thanks to people who care it will remain a rich and diverse wildlife habitat. We hope it was a rewarding day for you too. Friends of North Creek Forest
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