stewardship

The Intertwine Alliance continues its spring 2016 series of sub-regional gatherings in Clark County, Washington. 

When: Tuesday, June 14, from 2 to 5 p.m. 

Where: Luke Jensen Sports Center, Bud Van Cleve Community Room
4000 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver, WA

Cost: Free and open to the public.

RSVP here. 

We invite groups and advocates who see the enormous value that a connected system of parks, trails and natural areas has on our region to come together and discuss how we can strategically build upon the important legacy and infrastructure in Clark County and surrounding areas. On June 14 we will hold an event that will be a platform to understand the current challenges and opportunities in this arena and envision new possible collaborative efforts to further the build-out of our trails system in Clark County.

We will have presentations and conversations to assess where we are and where we want to go, and then begin to develop a road map to get there. With coordination support from The Intertwine Alliance, this event will bring thought leaders together with those at the front lines of trail development, management and maintenance to help us develop strategies to move these efforts forward.

An agenda will be posted shortly.

As always, there will be time for networking and connecting during a reception at the end of our deliberations.

This event is hosted by Clark County Parks, and is free for all attendees. 

Please RSVP here to reserve your spot.

Questions? Please email David Cohen at david@theintertwine.org. 

Ma Olsen ran a small grocery store in downtown Linnton for much of the first half of the twentieth century. During the Depression she forgave bills, feeding folks in need. Her store was bulldozed in the early 60s, along with most of the buildings lining St Helens Road in Linnton, to widen the highway from two lanes to four. Not long after this Nora "Ma" Olsen, while crossing the highway, was hit, and killed by a car. A plaque, bench, and a Benson Bubbler were placed where the back of her store had been, and that swath of hill was named Ma Olsen's Garden. Forty-five years after her death, the steep hillside that was her Garden was overgrown with ivy, blackberry, and a tangle of fallen trees. We removed the thick green shroud that covered the garden and planted hundreds of native shrubs and flowers of over fifty species. Most of the five block long, seventy-five foot wide sliver of land, of which the Garden is the southern tip, remained buried under invasives. Why not extend the project north, since Linnton as "hanging garden" was the goal to begin with? So we roll along, the past two winters extending the garden another block, planting as we go. It's gnarly work, with established ivy, blackberry, vinca and laurel on rocky, steep, uneven slopes. Uncovering old stone walls, terraces, mundane and weird trash heaps, and poison oak keeps the work interesting, sometimes too much so. We're incubating plans for an tongue-in-cheek sculpture/Dr. Seuss garden in this section. We should be able to polish off the remaining weeds this winter, but we need an infusion of help and laughter. Activities include: Invasive Plant Removal.

Register online here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/ma-olsens-garden-extension-may

Drop in for our regular Saturday 'freelance' work parties to become a steward of our beloved natural area: Forest Park! Volunteer Freelancers will take a short hike to one of our various sites and work off-trail removing English ivy. This is a DIRTY job so come prepared in grubby, long-sleeved clothing and boots. We'll provide gloves, tools and snacks.Volunteers will meet at the Lower Macleay field house located at 2960 NW Upshur St. Activities include: Invasive Plant Removal.

Register online here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/third-saturday-no-ivy-league-...

We invite you to join us for our May litter cleanup in the Hillsdale and Multnomah neighborhoods.

Register on line here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/swnisolve-litter-patrol

Join volunteers for this monthly First Saturday Cleanup in Slabtown. Pick up litter in the area. Coffee & tea provided by New Seasons Market. Volunteers should come prepared with completed waiver forms (if possible) and work gloves on cold days. Activities include: Litter Cleanup. Activities include: Litter Cleanup.

Register online here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/first-saturday-clean-slabtown