RePollinate AACO 2023 Recap
RePollinate AACO began with the support of volunteers beginning the first week of March 2023. Seed had been collected, cleaned and cold-stratified in the fall/winter. Volunteers gathered in the hoophouse that shielded us from inclement weather and sowed the seed into seedling flats. The flats were allowed to germinate until the end of April, and then the transplant-o-rama began.
Transplant days at the beelab were conducted on Thursday afternoons and episodic Saturday’s. We also held six sessions at the UME Dairy Farm Pavilion. This satellite planting site in such an ideal location and the facilities provided proved to be quite fruitful in increasing our inventory substantially.
Distribution of plants this fall targeted AACO parks (KFP, Mayo Beach), schools (Crofton, Waugh Chapel), libraries, and communities such as Cape St. Claire that has a successful Weed Warrior initiative and community support.
The 2024 season will require the emergence of new leaders to support operations at the Beelab. Thursday and episodic Saturday support will be required. Leaders will be responsible for having familiarity with the inventory and identifying flats of seedlings ready for transplant. A cadre of volunteers will assist.
To support and sustain operations, we are kindly asking for donations that can be made through the Watershed Stewards Academy: https://aawsa.org/repollinate
The photos display the efforts of the Mayo Beach Park Rangers and volunteers. Three fields were disced and Teff a cover crop was sown. Ernst Showy Wildflower Mix will be sown in winter. Each pollinator field was bordered by a two-foot perimeter of woodchips. The RePollinate perennials were planted into augered holes one foot on center. I encourage all to begin thinking about the AACO open spaces that will be “bed-ready” for the fall of 2024.
Thank you for what you do.
- Lauren Toomey
