RIPE
Redwood Invasive Plant Eradicators
volunteers
Needed
The task before us is immense, so we desperately need your help.
We go out in small groups and plan events around volunteer schedules. We respect the fact that many people have heavy demands on their time. If you can just make one three-hour event a month, it would go a long way.
There is a task for you, and we will find it.
The following is a list of activities volunteers can engage in to help us eradicate invasive plants from the North Coast. If you can think of a way you’d like to help that isn’t listed below, let us know.
Some of the work we do is on the campuses of Eureka City Schools. To volunteer with us there, you must complete the application process to be a volunteer at Eureka City Schools.
When you fill out the application, select “District Wide” in the first field.
Then, when explaining that you wish to eradicate invasive plants on Eureka public schools campuses (in answer to the
question “Please list the school programs you are interested in serving….”), mention that you would like to work with Carl Klarner.
Let us know that you’ve started the application process.
FIELDWORK
ERADICATING INVASIVE PLANTS
Light Labor
Go through areas that are largely free of invasives and remove young plants that are still small.
If the terrain in question is accessible, this can be very light work, as long as stooping down isn’t a problem.
Girdling the ivy on trees with minor to medium infestations (can also be medium labor).
Medium Labor
Pulling ground ivy on flat ground.
(Wearing knee pads is a great way to make pulling ground ivy easier on one’s body.)
Engaging in “the roll” to remove ground ivy (can also be heavy labor).
Killing broom with an axe or weed wrench (can also be heavy labor).
Gopher
Provide assistance to worker involved in heavy labor. Fetch tools, drag limbs away, bring water, cue the next playlist as they pant furiously resting between tasks…. Assistance to another worker can of course be combined with labor.
Heavy Labor
Any task that involves rough terrain.
Girdling the ivy on trees with heavy infestations and thick lianas.
Hacking apart a large infestation of ivy on a deadfall with a machete.
Field Scout
Going into wilderness areas or rough terrain to find ivy infestations.
Team Leader
Teach volunteers best techniques & coordinate team during event.
Be aware of property boundaries and things that may upset property owners in order to instruct team accordingly.
Have plan for team that most efficiently uses their time and skills.
Recorder / Photographer / Videographer
Someone at event that keeps track of what work has been accomplished, by collecting data and/or taking pictures and videos.
Permissions
Ascertain who owns property with fruiting tree ivy and contact property owner to obtain permission for us to kill it. Right now, this is the most important support task we need help with.
Persuader
Try and persuade property owners to remove invasives themselves.
Community scouting
Finding invasive plants in residential areas either by walking, driving or word-of-mouth.
Armchair scouting
Use aerial photos or other methods to identify invasive plants.
GIS Tagger
Use gis to tag sites.
Volunteer Recruiter
Find volunteers and sign them up.
Table at events to find volunteers.
Volunteer Coordinator
Coordinate volunteers to work at a site.
Tools
Keep tools in good order.
-sharpening axes & saws
-chainsaw maintenance
Event Support
Provide workers food, medical assistance, music, etc.
SUPPORT TASKS
STRATEGY
GIS System
We don’t have a GIS system set up yet, so setting up a GIS system with an app people can use on their phones to tag sites would be much appreciated.
Record Keeping
Helping maintain a database or spreadsheet of invasive plant infestations (sites) and where invasive plants have been removed.
Data Analysis
Analyze data regarding invasive plant clearing.
Research
Read research about invasive plants and ecosystems to inform our strategy.
Strategy
Come up with method to assign priorities to sites.
Public Policy
Figure out what public policies should be created to combat invasive plants and help rewild the area.
This is something more appropriate for future work.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Video Editor
Edit videos taken in the field and add scripts where appropriate to play in local media and online.
Website
Create and post content on website.
Public Outreach
Post on social media to promote the work the group is doing.
Go to public events to spread the word about group.
RESOURCE ACQUISITION
Non-Profit Status
Do the paperwork to give us 501(c)(3) status.
Treasurer
Set up our ability to receive financial contributions.
Grant Writer
Write grants to obtain money.