Volunteers plant 685 saplings along Beaver Brook in Westport
Story and photos by Eric Teed
Last Saturday, 52 volunteers planted 685 native trees and shrubs as part of the Boquet River Association’s Beaver Brook riparian buffer restoration project in Westport. Boquet River Association (BRASS) project manager Lukas McNally and nursery owner Alex Caskey provided mini-workshops on how to plant for maximum success and highest ecological benefit.
The Beaver Brook restoration project is a low-cost, volunteer-based approach to reducing sedimentation and create a healthier, biologically complex riverscape that will support wildlife populations. The Boquet River Association, Essex County Soil & Water Conservation District, and the Ruffed Grouse Society organized the event. Key sponsors include Upstone Materials, along with Tamarack Earthwork and the Adirondack Council. Landowners Barred Owl Brook Farm and Ananta Farm, LLC took part in the event as well.
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Photo at top: Volunteers planting trees along Beaver Brook which feeds the Boquet River, on Ananta Farm in Westport.
More about BRASS here: https://boquet-river.org/
Back in the 1970’s, 80’s, and 90’s when I was most active in ecosystem restoration, I tried all kinds of containers to grow seedlings in. The problem with cylindrical containers, of course, is circular root development. I invented some containers with a triangular cross-section out of scrap cardboard and milk cartons.
I ended up planting seeds (for the most part) in mammal-proof cages (cheap aviary wire works well), both above- and below-ground.
Best to all,
Wayne
I have been planting Red Oak acorns and seedlings for over 40 years, last 30 years used 5 ‘ tree tube’s with great success. The oaks started producing acorns after 25 years, plant 25 to 50 every year. Had to remove maple tree canopy in order to have 50 to 60 percent sunlight for the trees to grow, with clearing vegetation every three years, until the oaks got above competing vegetation. Red Oak need well drained soils, southern or westerly exposure and the needed sunlight. Check out “The Morrison Place ” on Google map in Staksboro, VT. Route 17 for photos.