2017-Planting at High Plains Environmental Center

Start Date-End Date: 04/08/2017-04/08/2017 Land Manager Office: High Plains Environmental Center Land Manager Contact: Kelley Driscoll Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Celebrate the start of spring with this planting project that is perfect for families! Description: About the Stewardship Site: The High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC) is a unique, urban environmental park located within Loveland's Centerra community. The nonprofit center, open to the public, shows how native plants can be incorporated into new development for the benefit of the environment. It features stunning views of Longs Peak, walking trails, a native plants nursery, a wetland ecology demonstration garden and lots of wildlife. Currently, HPEC is constructing a $1 million community learning space next to the center's gardens and along two reservoirs. When finished, they expect around 10,000 visitors annually. About the Volunteer Experience: During this one-day project, volunteers will plant trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials. Some of the planting will be complicated, but other tasks will be suitable for novice gardeners as young as eight. This project is perfect for families who want to learn about using native plants and grasses for water conservation or for enhancing plant-pollinator relationships, and for anyone who simply loves the Colorado outdoors. About the Overall Impact: The area where volunteers will be working promotes the use of native xeric plants (i.e., plants that require little moisture) in gardens and landscaping, and ways in which these plants benefit urban wildlife and water conservation. NOTE:MINORS ON VOC PROJECTS Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older on single-day projects. Latitude/Longitude: 40.411013, -105.016547 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Easy High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 45 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 44 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 11 Total Volunteer Days: 55 Total Unique Volunteers: 55 Total Volunteer Hours: 467 Staff Hours: 44 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Early morning at the newly minted High Plains Environmental Center. Volunteers filtered in, light conversation, gentle breeze, and anticipation of the first VOC workday of the 2017 season.A solid group of Crew Leaders came out and proudly displayed fresh nametags and happy smiles throughout the day. In total, 55 volunteers showed up to take on the enviable task of planting native plants, trees, and shrubs in the ground surrounding the new building. Native flora from Ponderosa Pine, yucca plants, and scrub oak, to junipers, rabbitbrush, and blue gramma grass, volunteers successfully landscaped the entire area with786 native trees, forbes, and shrubs! The digging was challenging as most of the soil was hardened clay with little resistance. Of the roughly 800 plants, 30 of these were large trees with an extensive balled and burlaped root system that required an equally large hole in order to set the tree. The larger plantings all needed to be staked and guided by wire to promote a straight and true growth pattern. The small forbes were a perfect opportunity for the roughly 10 individuals who were under the age of 12 to plant at an energetic rate all over the site. The kids made short work of the planting and set the stage as great assistants during the raffle process. Lunch was donated by Pizza Ranch who generously donated 18 pizzas to feed the hardworking group of volunteers. With lunch came the wind. Around mid day the expansive setting became the proving grounds for hefty gusts of wind that lifted grit, dessicated the senses, and began to aggravate volunteers. Everyone continued to work hard encouraged by the idea of finishing all of the work laid out before us. At the end of the day, we were able to accomplish everything we set out to do, and more! Successes and Challenges: Successes: Planted over 280 plants in the ground. Fulfilled the goals that HPEC set out for us to accomplish. Reached our goal of volunteer numbers and had 10 kids show up and have a good time. Lunch was donated from Pizza Ranch at no cost to VOC and everyone ate well. Challenges: Difficult digging into the soil as it was compacted clay consistency. The wind picked up in the afternoon and blew sand and grit around, it wore on the volunteers - towards the end of the day people were ready to go. Lessons Learned: Special Notes: When youth are present it would be a good idea to have a backup plan to keep the kids interested in case they get bored of the work. We were fortunate to have the Environmental Center as an entertainment alternative, and I was able to distract them by handing over the raffle responsibilities. People in CO tend to like to eat healthy. Volunteers devoured our vegetable offerings in a few short minutes....should have purchased more. Stewardship Education: The staff at the HPEC are always willing to take a moment to educate the volunteers on why we are doing what we are doing. Eric, Kelley, and Jim were really generous with their information when explaining why each plant was chosed for each specific location and what benefits the native landscape would have on the immediate environment. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: There were no key concerns or comments from staff or volunteers. Description of Accidents/Incidents: There were no incidents or accidents to report. Description of Work Completed: 280 plants were given an opportunity at life on April 8th. 1 gallon plants: 45 2 gallon plants: 7 5 gallon plants: 171 6 gallon plants: 7 7 gallon plants: 5 10 gallon plants: 4 11 gallon plants: 9 15 gallon plants: 2 30 1 gallon raspberries Digging in the soil was difficult due to the heavy clay consistency and each hole for plants had to be twice as large as the plant that needed to be planted. the larger trees were secured by stakes and twine in order to assure a true growing pattern. The soil was amended prior to the project and watering began in the early afternoon. At the end of the day volunteers also moved a large pile of mulch and raked it around the community garden.