Call it a food forest, a garden, a nature preserve, or a tree nursery. We’re thrilled to share the progress we’ve made, which has resulted in the removal of 80% of the wintercreeper and bush honeysuckle, paving the way for restoring and diversifying the ecosystem. Its not an exaggeration to express that this feels spiritual. Choosing plants is like choosing children or choosing parents.
In collaboration with the Missouri Department of Conservation, we’re excited to share our selection of tree and shrub seedlings from the State Nursery. While availability may vary, we have curated a list of species that we intend to plant within and around the garden. Some will be strategically positioned along creek banks to fortify the soil and combat erosion, while others will provide valuable habitats and food for humans and wildlife.
Tree and shrub species include:
Edible Fruits/Nuts for Humans and Wildlife:
Pecan 70-100 ft tall
Red Mulberry 20-60 ft tall
Blackberry Varies (low shrub)
Wild Plum 12-20 ft tall
Elderberry 5-12 ft tall
Black Cherry (fruits can be consumed, but the pits are toxic) 35-60 ft tall
Sycamore (can tolerate wet soils, provides habitat) 70-100 ft tall
Waterfowl, birds, insects, herons, squirrels, chipmunks, beavers, turtles, frogs, fish
Each of these trees contributes to the ecosystem in its own way, providing food, shelter, and habitat for wildlife while also offering potential benefits to humans, such as edible fruits and nuts. Their presence helps promote biodiversity and creates a thriving and sustainable ecosystem that fosters a harmonious relationship between humans, wildlife, and nature.
Our waterfall pond is beginning to take shape. It took a day to clear more brush, move rocks and began digging out the shape of the pond. Every ecosystem needs a clean water source and a water feature is a great way to achieve that. Water features attract various organisms such as birds, insects, amphibians, and mammals. They come to drink, bathe, and reproduce, increasing the overall biodiversity of our Eco Art Garden.
A pond also creates a unique microhabitat that can provide food and shelter for numerous species like frogs and turtles, which add to an ecosystem’s diversity.
Apart from the ecological benefits, waterfall ponds also contribute to the visual appeal of a garden, providing a serene and tranquil environment. Additionally, they serve as educational tools, allowing people to observe and learn about various aquatic organisms and their interactions, fostering an appreciation for biodiversity and environmental conservation.
We have to continue shaping it so the water falls, flows, and settles as intended. After that, we will seal the bottom and edges. We will add a pump, and filters, then begin planting native aquatic plants, then finally fill it with water. Nature will do the rest!
Native to east Asia, including China, Korea, the Philippines and Japan. Today we began removing Wintercreeper vines from trees. They smother trees, block sunlight, hog nutrients, water, and cause structural damage because of their weight. Many were easily cut at the base and pulled away from the trees. The vines that are 20+ years old are 6 to 8 inches wide and 20 to 60 feet long. They spiral up and around and bind themselves to the tree trunks. They had to be cut with a saw in segments. The higher segments left on the trees will eventually fall off. Some of the vines were too close to the trees to saw today, so we have to return with a crowbar or prybar to create big enough gaps to make more cuts. I think we severed and or removed about 15-20 Wintercreeper vines today.
Today, we focused on a corner of the garden situated on the SouthWest side. Transforming this area required a full day of cutting, trimming, pulling, and root docking. Bush Honeysuckle exhibit allelopathic behavior. They produce a chemical that inhibits the growth of other plants nearby. Thats one reason we don’t see many native plants and flowers growing. BH and WC not only block sunlight but also consume excessive water and nutrients. The Bush Honeysuckle and Wintercreeper had completely engulfed the stacks of stones and rocks in this corner of the garden.
We are choosing to tackle this issue without resorting to any chemicals. Instead, we are opting for a more natural approach. After clearing an area, we cover the soil with sheets of cardboard. This technique serves two purposes: firstly, it helps smother any remaining invasives beneath, and secondly, it acts as a barrier against seeds that may fall from above.
Our guiding principle is to let the topography and location inform our decisions. With this in mind, we couldn’t help but envision a beautiful waterfall cascading into a serene pond in this corner. We have to replicate this removal process throughout the entire garden. Each area will require the same meticulous attention to detail and determination to make way for a harmonious and thriving space. We believe that by undertaking this challenging yet rewarding journey, we’ll be able to witness the garden in its full glory, bursting with native plants, vibrant flowers, and enchanting water features. Our ultimate goal is to see the ecosystem restored.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our journey of rooting out invasive species and reaching new heights of beauty in our garden!
At the beginning of embarking upon this journey, I never once thought trash and illegal dumping would take up so much space and time. But, here we are. We are a group of artists and growers making a garden, but trash is currently the leading conversation and activity, of our Phase One. Cleaning just the area where our Eco Art Garden is located, is not enough. We also have to address the trash and illegal dumping around us. It’s how it got there in the first place, and it will keep returning if we don’t address it.
So, we’ve already been hosting small cleanups and we almost have all the trash and debris completely removed from where the garden is. The Bush Honeysuckle and Winter Creeper have even began to be visibly decreasing and not growing back. We just received the clear to dig and had the utilities marked so that we can dig up their roots safely.
Now, back to the trash and illegal dumping around the garden. That’s still there, and it keeps coming back, in areas we already cleaned. So, the issue is a little bigger than that.
The only way to address it is to address the bigger picture.
We have to ask questions like, why is this taking place, why this particular location, why this neighborhood or another like it, and why is it not happening in another location? That’s probably a whole different post.
Well, we reached out to Robert Woods II. He’s the Neighborhood Cleanup Assistance Program Liason and Community Engagement Manager. He works in the Public Works Department for the City of Kansas City, Mo. We had a lengthy conversation about our plan and goals regarding the garden. He was very helpful and even offered to meet onsite to discuss solutions further. So, the good news is, that conversation was followed up with an email with information for a tire amnesty program to remove all the tires that were dumped. He also gave me a request form to get large dumpsters brought to the neighborhood. He gave me a list of things to answer to help organize a neighborhood-wide cleanup. I forwarded that to the President of the Neighborhood Association and followed up with a phone conversation and discussed how we could work together as a neighborhood to get things cleaned up. This progress makes things not as frustrating or daunting, to know there are resources for people that want to do something about it. After all, illegal dumping is not a challenge that only we face. This is an issue many neighborhoods face, especially where there are vacant lots, vacant homes, overgrown vegetation, and street lights that don’t work.
Here are a few things on the list he sent:
List all redundant illegal dumping sites in the neighborhood List all areas that need more street lighting or lights that do not work List all areas with damaged street signs and what sign it is List all areas of overgrown vegetation
We’re making progress in getting our Eco Art Garden up and running! As part of our Phase One plans, we’re getting ready to install a utility shed, plant native flowers, herbs, and pollinator gardens, and lay down mulch paths. Before we can start digging, we called 811/1-800-DIG-RITE to have all the utilities marked. We’re happy to report that AT&T, Spire, KC Water, Sewer, Traffic and Street have all given us the “Clear/No Conflict” status, so we’re good to go!
To clear space for our new plantings, we’ll need to dig out the roots of more established bushes like honeysuckle and winter creeper. Documenting each step and doing our due diligence is an integral part of our project, and now that we know where all the underground utilities are located, we’re one step closer to creating a beautiful, sustainable, creative, garden space.
This concept of plants as caretakers is a common theme in many indigenous cultures and languages. Examples of indigenous languages that have a similar meaning include Navajo (Diné Bizaad), where plants are called “our relatives,” and the Anishinaabe language, where the word for “plant” is related to the word for “gift.” Similarly, the Maori language of New Zealand uses the word “mauri” to refer to the life force of all living things, including plants, and many languages in the Bantu family of sub-Saharan Africa describe plants as “medicine” or “healers.” In Navajo, the word “hozho” signifies balance and harmony, encompassing the relationship between humans and plants. The reverence and understanding of nature’s importance and our relationship to it in older indigenous cultures are crucial for our planet’s future, and ours. The way they care for their environments is not an afterthought, but simply a way of life we should strive to emulate.
We have adopted the creek that runs across our garden and adjacent to it. We officially have a Stream Team with the Missouri Department of Conservation. They also provide training for Water Quality Monitoring, to learn physical, chemical, and biological monitoring techniques and data collection. This information will help the Missouri Department of Natural Resources follow long-term trends in statewide water quality. Our next step is to complete a Stream Team Inventory. This is an evaluation process that documents stream conditions and uncovers the problems. It’s a way to assess the overall health of the creek and began to address its issues. Organizing litter pickups on and around the creek is one of the first next steps!
To learn more or join our Stream Team DM or contact us at streamteam@rootedandreaching.org
We are a ways to go to make it through all of the steps of phase one but we are slowly making progress on the creation of our Eco Art Garden. The progress is beginning to be visible. There is still much work to do in and around the garden. What you see below, is the area where our garden is. So far, we’ve removed tires, paper, plastic bags, old toilets, car parts, metal containers, etc and we began removing tons of bush honeysuckle and winter creeper that covered the area.
It’s a lovely 60 degrees, Sunday April 30th 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri.
These are current images from the street and lots around our Eco Art Garden, which is about 500 feet from Little Blue River. A major component of our phase one is removing trash and stopping the illegal dumping.
Trash and illegal dumping is not the biggest issue facing our neighborhoods, but it is the biggest byproduct, of more serious, older, and deeper systemic issues facing our communities.
Vacant lots, vacant houses, and vacant buildings are all loud signs of inner-city blight and neglect. The opposite, of signs of hope. Environmental damage and inequality go hand in hand, and it’s not just the “look” that trash and blight create.
Many waste materials contain hazardous or toxic substances that pollute the soil, air, and water. These pollutants cause health hazards for humans, and animals, and destroy the local ecosystem, especially in areas with poor waste management practices. Trash is not an exclusive problem just for humans, but humans are exclusively responsible for creating it.
Additionally, the presence of a dumping site creates a sense of abandonment, which leads to theft, vandalism, higher crime rates, social stigma, disinvestment, discrimination, more illegal dumping activity, and a lower quality of life for residents. This presence has a detrimental effect on mental health, overall community well-being, and the health of the local ecosystem.
Our goal is to inspire stewardship, by implementing effective waste management practices, documenting the process, educating, and increasing public awareness.
Last Updated: June 1, 2023 by admin
Tree and Shrub Seedling Selection
Call it a food forest, a garden, a nature preserve, or a tree nursery. We’re thrilled to share the progress we’ve made, which has resulted in the removal of 80% of the wintercreeper and bush honeysuckle, paving the way for restoring and diversifying the ecosystem. Its not an exaggeration to express that this feels spiritual. Choosing plants is like choosing children or choosing parents.
In collaboration with the Missouri Department of Conservation, we’re excited to share our selection of tree and shrub seedlings from the State Nursery. While availability may vary, we have curated a list of species that we intend to plant within and around the garden. Some will be strategically positioned along creek banks to fortify the soil and combat erosion, while others will provide valuable habitats and food for humans and wildlife.
Tree and shrub species include:
Edible Fruits/Nuts for Humans and Wildlife:
Humans, birds, insects, squirrels, turtles, frogs, chipmunks, deer, butterflies, bees
Wildlife Habitat and Food Sources:
Humans, Butterflies, bees, insects, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, birds
Wetland Stabilization, Winter Cover, Food Sources, and Habitat Creation:
Waterfowl, birds, insects, herons, squirrels, chipmunks, beavers, turtles, frogs, fish
Each of these trees contributes to the ecosystem in its own way, providing food, shelter, and habitat for wildlife while also offering potential benefits to humans, such as edible fruits and nuts. Their presence helps promote biodiversity and creates a thriving and sustainable ecosystem that fosters a harmonious relationship between humans, wildlife, and nature.
Last Updated: May 30, 2023 by admin
Let There Be Water
Our waterfall pond is beginning to take shape. It took a day to clear more brush, move rocks and began digging out the shape of the pond. Every ecosystem needs a clean water source and a water feature is a great way to achieve that. Water features attract various organisms such as birds, insects, amphibians, and mammals. They come to drink, bathe, and reproduce, increasing the overall biodiversity of our Eco Art Garden.
A pond also creates a unique microhabitat that can provide food and shelter for numerous species like frogs and turtles, which add to an ecosystem’s diversity.
Apart from the ecological benefits, waterfall ponds also contribute to the visual appeal of a garden, providing a serene and tranquil environment. Additionally, they serve as educational tools, allowing people to observe and learn about various aquatic organisms and their interactions, fostering an appreciation for biodiversity and environmental conservation.
We have to continue shaping it so the water falls, flows, and settles as intended. After that, we will seal the bottom and edges. We will add a pump, and filters, then begin planting native aquatic plants, then finally fill it with water. Nature will do the rest!
phaseone #learntheland #amongst_friends #ancientwisdom #wildlifeisfamily #extendedfamily #earth #grounded #backtothefuture #goodenergy #growingagain #peaceful #loveartnature #ecosystem #biodiversity #waterfall #pond
Last Updated: May 26, 2023 by admin
Wintercreeper Chronicles
Euonymus Fortunei aka Fortunes Spindle
Native to east Asia, including China, Korea, the Philippines and Japan. Today we began removing Wintercreeper vines from trees. They smother trees, block sunlight, hog nutrients, water, and cause structural damage because of their weight. Many were easily cut at the base and pulled away from the trees. The vines that are 20+ years old are 6 to 8 inches wide and 20 to 60 feet long. They spiral up and around and bind themselves to the tree trunks. They had to be cut with a saw in segments. The higher segments left on the trees will eventually fall off. Some of the vines were too close to the trees to saw today, so we have to return with a crowbar or prybar to create big enough gaps to make more cuts. I think we severed and or removed about 15-20 Wintercreeper vines today.
#phaseone#learntheland#amongst_friends#ancientwisdom#wildlifeisfamily#extendedfamily#earth#grounded#backtothefuture#goodenergy#growingagain#peaceful#loveartnature#treelove#loveonthetrees
Last Updated: May 24, 2023 by admin
Latest Before & After
Today, we focused on a corner of the garden situated on the SouthWest side. Transforming this area required a full day of cutting, trimming, pulling, and root docking. Bush Honeysuckle exhibit allelopathic behavior. They produce a chemical that inhibits the growth of other plants nearby. Thats one reason we don’t see many native plants and flowers growing. BH and WC not only block sunlight but also consume excessive water and nutrients. The Bush Honeysuckle and Wintercreeper had completely engulfed the stacks of stones and rocks in this corner of the garden.
We are choosing to tackle this issue without resorting to any chemicals. Instead, we are opting for a more natural approach. After clearing an area, we cover the soil with sheets of cardboard. This technique serves two purposes: firstly, it helps smother any remaining invasives beneath, and secondly, it acts as a barrier against seeds that may fall from above.
Our guiding principle is to let the topography and location inform our decisions. With this in mind, we couldn’t help but envision a beautiful waterfall cascading into a serene pond in this corner. We have to replicate this removal process throughout the entire garden. Each area will require the same meticulous attention to detail and determination to make way for a harmonious and thriving space. We believe that by undertaking this challenging yet rewarding journey, we’ll be able to witness the garden in its full glory, bursting with native plants, vibrant flowers, and enchanting water features. Our ultimate goal is to see the ecosystem restored.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our journey of rooting out invasive species and reaching new heights of beauty in our garden!
#phaseone #learntheland #amongst_friends #ancientwisdom #wildlifeisfamily #extendedfamily #earth #grounded #backtothefuture #goodenergy #growingagain #peaceful #loveartnature #waterfall #pond
Posted: May 16, 2023 by admin
The Trash Saga Continues
At the beginning of embarking upon this journey, I never once thought trash and illegal dumping would take up so much space and time. But, here we are. We are a group of artists and growers making a garden, but trash is currently the leading conversation and activity, of our Phase One. Cleaning just the area where our Eco Art Garden is located, is not enough. We also have to address the trash and illegal dumping around us. It’s how it got there in the first place, and it will keep returning if we don’t address it.
So, we’ve already been hosting small cleanups and we almost have all the trash and debris completely removed from where the garden is. The Bush Honeysuckle and Winter Creeper have even began to be visibly decreasing and not growing back. We just received the clear to dig and had the utilities marked so that we can dig up their roots safely.
Now, back to the trash and illegal dumping around the garden. That’s still there, and it keeps coming back, in areas we already cleaned. So, the issue is a little bigger than that.
The only way to address it is to address the bigger picture.
We have to ask questions like, why is this taking place, why this particular location, why this neighborhood or another like it, and why is it not happening in another location? That’s probably a whole different post.
Well, we reached out to Robert Woods II. He’s the Neighborhood Cleanup Assistance Program Liason and Community Engagement Manager. He works in the Public Works Department for the City of Kansas City, Mo. We had a lengthy conversation about our plan and goals regarding the garden. He was very helpful and even offered to meet onsite to discuss solutions further. So, the good news is, that conversation was followed up with an email with information for a tire amnesty program to remove all the tires that were dumped. He also gave me a request form to get large dumpsters brought to the neighborhood. He gave me a list of things to answer to help organize a neighborhood-wide cleanup. I forwarded that to the President of the Neighborhood Association and followed up with a phone conversation and discussed how we could work together as a neighborhood to get things cleaned up. This progress makes things not as frustrating or daunting, to know there are resources for people that want to do something about it. After all, illegal dumping is not a challenge that only we face. This is an issue many neighborhoods face, especially where there are vacant lots, vacant homes, overgrown vegetation, and street lights that don’t work.
Here are a few things on the list he sent:
List all redundant illegal dumping sites in the neighborhood
List all areas that need more street lighting or lights that do not work
List all areas with damaged street signs and what sign it is
List all areas of overgrown vegetation
Last Updated: May 16, 2023 by admin
Its Safe To Dig!
We’re making progress in getting our Eco Art Garden up and running! As part of our Phase One plans, we’re getting ready to install a utility shed, plant native flowers, herbs, and pollinator gardens, and lay down mulch paths. Before we can start digging, we called 811/1-800-DIG-RITE to have all the utilities marked. We’re happy to report that AT&T, Spire, KC Water, Sewer, Traffic and Street have all given us the “Clear/No Conflict” status, so we’re good to go!
To clear space for our new plantings, we’ll need to dig out the roots of more established bushes like honeysuckle and winter creeper. Documenting each step and doing our due diligence is an integral part of our project, and now that we know where all the underground utilities are located, we’re one step closer to creating a beautiful, sustainable, creative, garden space.
Last Updated: May 10, 2023 by admin
Plants Take Care of Us
This concept of plants as caretakers is a common theme in many indigenous cultures and languages. Examples of indigenous languages that have a similar meaning include Navajo (Diné Bizaad), where plants are called “our relatives,” and the Anishinaabe language, where the word for “plant” is related to the word for “gift.” Similarly, the Maori language of New Zealand uses the word “mauri” to refer to the life force of all living things, including plants, and many languages in the Bantu family of sub-Saharan Africa describe plants as “medicine” or “healers.” In Navajo, the word “hozho” signifies balance and harmony, encompassing the relationship between humans and plants. The reverence and understanding of nature’s importance and our relationship to it in older indigenous cultures are crucial for our planet’s future, and ours. The way they care for their environments is not an afterthought, but simply a way of life we should strive to emulate.
Last Updated: May 3, 2023 by admin
We Adopted the Creek
It’s official!
We have adopted the creek that runs across our garden and adjacent to it. We officially have a Stream Team with the Missouri Department of Conservation. They also provide training for Water Quality Monitoring, to learn physical, chemical, and biological monitoring techniques and data collection. This information will help the Missouri Department of Natural Resources follow long-term trends in statewide water quality. Our next step is to complete a Stream Team Inventory. This is an evaluation process that documents stream conditions and uncovers the problems. It’s a way to assess the overall health of the creek and began to address its issues. Organizing litter pickups on and around the creek is one of the first next steps!
To learn more or join our Stream Team DM or contact us at streamteam@rootedandreaching.org
Last Updated: May 6, 2023 by admin
Making Progress
We are a ways to go to make it through all of the steps of phase one but we are slowly making progress on the creation of our Eco Art Garden. The progress is beginning to be visible. There is still much work to do in and around the garden. What you see below, is the area where our garden is. So far, we’ve removed tires, paper, plastic bags, old toilets, car parts, metal containers, etc and we began removing tons of bush honeysuckle and winter creeper that covered the area.
Last Updated: April 30, 2023 by admin
Illegal Dumping
It’s a lovely 60 degrees, Sunday April 30th 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri.
These are current images from the street and lots around our Eco Art Garden, which is about 500 feet from Little Blue River. A major component of our phase one is removing trash and stopping the illegal dumping.
Trash and illegal dumping is not the biggest issue facing our neighborhoods, but it is the biggest byproduct, of more serious, older, and deeper systemic issues facing our communities.
Vacant lots, vacant houses, and vacant buildings are all loud signs of inner-city blight and neglect. The opposite, of signs of hope. Environmental damage and inequality go hand in hand, and it’s not just the “look” that trash and blight create.
Many waste materials contain hazardous or toxic substances that pollute the soil, air, and water. These pollutants cause health hazards for humans, and animals, and destroy the local ecosystem, especially in areas with poor waste management practices. Trash is not an exclusive problem just for humans, but humans are exclusively responsible for creating it.
Additionally, the presence of a dumping site creates a sense of abandonment, which leads to theft, vandalism, higher crime rates, social stigma, disinvestment, discrimination, more illegal dumping activity, and a lower quality of life for residents. This presence has a detrimental effect on mental health, overall community well-being, and the health of the local ecosystem.
Our goal is to inspire stewardship, by implementing effective waste management practices, documenting the process, educating, and increasing public awareness.