Are you interested in helping with invasive plant species removal? The Izaak Walton League (IWLA) could use your help. This activity is open to members and non-members of the IWLA. It's a great opportunity to see their property.
This facility on the north side of South Bend is maintained as a nature preserve covering over 120-acres that include grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands; a section of Juday Creek (a unique cold-water trout stream); ponds stocked with fish; hiking trails; and both sides of the St. Joseph River between Darden Road to the north and Cleveland Road to the south. It is a great place for those that enjoy nature and outdoor recreation (for information about this IWLA Chapter facility, see its website at www.ikesb.com). As wonderful as it is, this IWLA facility has a serious problem with non-native invasive plants. Accordingly, the IWLA has commenced with a project to remove non-native invasive plants and replace them with native plants.
The IWLA work days are on Saturdays and will be from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Volunteers that would like to help on these work days will be welcomed.
The target invasive plants to be removed primarily include bush honeysuckle, Oriental bittersweet, autumn olive and multiflora rose. IWLA volunteer project leaders will use chainsaws to cut identified invasive plants and will use a glyphosate herbicide to paint on the cut stumps immediately after cutting the plants. It is expected that most volunteers will likely be needed to help drag the cut branches to designated pile areas, and also to help further cut the branches into smaller pieces in order to reduce the size of the piles. Volunteers should dress for the weather and for outdoor work, and should provide their own work gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection – and should bring their own cutting tools if they have them. Drinking water and snacks will be provided for the volunteers. Please note that volunteers will be required to sign a liability waiver form that lists a contact person in case of an emergency, and volunteers under the age of 18 will be required to have a parent or legal garden sign this form. Also note that this type of work can be physically demanding; therefore, if you have a medical condition that would prevent you from safely doing the work, please consider helping in some other way.
The IWLA facility is located at 20400 Darden Road, on the north side of South Bend, Indiana. Enter at the main entrance gate on the south side of Darden Road (east of the St. Joseph River) and take the entrance drive over Juday Creek and up the hill to the parking lot by the IWLA lodge. Additional directions to this IWLA Chapter facility can be found on their website at www.ikesb.com.