Meadow

Grow Out (2020): Once we determined that we wanted a meadow, we allowed the area to grow out, without any mowing. Knowing we would be burning the following year to create a better habitat for our new meadow, we needed to have enough material for the fire to go along. The majority of plants growing were aggressive grasses, some multiflora, ragweed, etc.

Burn (2021): In the late winter, we asked our community to join us in a burning of the new meadow. This burning process is a low temperature, slow moving, controlled fire which adds carbon to the soil and burns surface level plants and seeds, creating opportunity for new seed. 

Planting (2021): Immediately after the ground cooled after the burn, we planted a series of trees and shrubs from Future Forest Plants with the help of our friends.

Burn (2022): After a second year of growth in the meadow, we again did a controlled burn, this time heavily watering around the shrubs and trees planted the previous year. More information about this burn can be found in this blog post.

Seeded (2022): This year, after the burn, we raked in a seed mix, introducing some native diversity to the area. Since there is still a substantial amount of the seed in the seed bank, our hope is to get some new plants in the meadow, without the expectation of immediately transforming the species that dominate the area.