trails and greenways

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

Linnton Creek is a principle stream in Forest Park, one of the main trail heads in the north end of the park, and its confluence with the Willamette River will have a new lagoon, as part of the the 27 acre Linnton Plywood Mill site's restoration as animal habitat (a Superfund mitigation site). We are restoring the creek trail head, removing ivy and blackberry, planting natives, and installing an interpretive sign, trash can and custom (and amusing) dog waste bag dispenser designed by noted artist Ivan McLean. Part of a broad effort to eliminate dog waste from the park, this site is particularly important as the creek will flow into a new lagoon designed as a resting place for salmon fry, where clean water will be crucial. At the moment the main effort is ivy removal and the planting of almost 300 native plants. Hot and cold beverages, pastries, tools and gloves are provided. We'll be having a celebration of the project's completion in June. Activities include: Invasive Plant Removal, Native Planting.

Register online here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/linnton-creek-project-may#

Come beautify our school! We will be cleaning up trash,planting annuals and pulling weeds! Donuts provided! Activities include: Litter Cleanup, Maintenance & Monitoring, Plant annuals.

Register online here: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/lane-middle-school-clean