A cool way to help restore a forest

valley fire flames

Valley Fire image from http://abc7news.com

In neighboring Lake County this past summer, wildfire destroyed 76,000 acres of forest (about seven million trees) and nearly 2000 homes, businesses and other structures. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens has stepped up with their Lake County Giving Project. One component of the project encouraged people to purchase potted trees and other plants for their holiday decorations, then bring them back to be donated to Lake County residents rebuilding their homes.

valleyfire satellite

Zoomed-in false-color shortwave infrared satellite image showing the Valley Fire burn scar near Middletown, California on September 20, 2015. Burned areas appear orange or dark red. (NASA Earth Observatory)

The other component of the Giving Project is seed balls. With advice on plant species from the USDA Resource Restoration Project and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wild Jules is crafting seed balls of wild grasses, perennials, and annual wildflowers  for habitat restoration in the fire-ravaged areas.  According to the Wild Jules website, “Individual varieties of seed are proportionately mixed with red clay and compost to provide a self contained method of spreading native varieties. The ball protects the seed from birds and rodents. The seed cannot dry out or blow away. The best part is, you can cast these ‘jules’ (jewels) out on top of the soil any time of year. The seed within the clay balls will wait patiently to germinate until adequate water is applied by way of rain or irrigation.”

Seed ball

A Wild Jules seed ball. The balls being prepared for Lake County habitat restoration  are a little more flattened so that they stay put on steep hillsides.

Tony and I were intrigued enough to stop by the Garden Store to donate a few dollars to the seed ball purchase fund.

Julie Kelly, founder of Wild Jules, says: “It’ll take many years but every bit counts. The perennials won’t bloom this year, but the annuals will. They will help feed foraging insects and birds and lift the spirits of the folks so terribly impacted.”

Tidy Tips

Tidy Tips from Wild Jules

 

5 Responses to “A cool way to help restore a forest”

  • RAYMOND O'S. KELLY:

    THE SEED BALLS CAN ALSO BE TOSSED INTO MEADOWS TO ALLOW A RESURGENCE OF OUR BEE AND BUTTERFLY POPULATIONS.

  • Alice Richards:

    Splendid!

  • .Maxine Binning:

    What a great idea.Here in Australia I help by potting small native plants and gather seeds for germinating and later potting The Australian bush has a remarkable rate of regeneration. A devastated area will recover in 3 to 6 months in most areas but not the wildlife, the homes destroyed or the farms or businesses. Fired areas become green almost over night.seeds are generally nestled in hard cases or in what I call fireproof covers and heat makes them explode; ejecting the seeds over a wide area. Isn’t nature wonderful? Maxine

  • Joan Hansen:

    A great show of friendship and respect for nature.

  • Happy New Year, Maureen! This is a creative way of replanting. Thanks for helping to publicize it.

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