Weed’em Out: A Land Restoration Effort with Pie Ranch

The Weed‘em Out volunteer event at Cascade Ranch is back this year on select dates!

We are excited to get to know you and to provide lunch! Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies on the registration form, so that our Chef Educator can make any necessary accommodations.

No experience necessary

We will provide tools, guidance, and demonstrations. This will be a day to meet new people, spend time outside, learn about native plants, and help restore the ancestral lands of the Quiroste tribe.

Why are we doing this?

Cascade Ranch, leased and operated by the nonprofit Pie Ranch, is an area of biological richness. The 1.2 miles of Cascade Creek, within Cascade Ranch, represents an important area of habitat connectivity for a wide array of plants and animals, which are also a potential source of traditional foods for people.

Over many years, Cascade Creek has been affected by the spread of invasive plant species, causing a loss of biodiversity and the ecosystem services attributed to this diversity. By removing these invasive species, we are helping to restore the riparian corridor surrounding Cascade Creek; promoting climate and fire resilience to this region; and demonstrating our solidarity with the work that local tribal bands have been doing for years to make native plants available to everyone.

Please note that volunteers meet at Cascade Ranch at 3100 Cabrillo Highway, not at Pie Ranch. Park in front of the first white barn as you enter the Ranch

Schedule:

• 9:00 - 9:15 am: Welcome, Introduction
• 9:15 - 9:30 am: Walk to worksite and Tool Tutorial
• 9:30 - 10:30 am: Invasive Species Removal
• 10:30 - 11:00 am: Break and Circle up
• 11:00 - 12:00 pm: Invasive Species Removal
• 12:00 - 1:00 pm: Lunch (provided by Pie Ranch!)
• 1:00 - 2:20 pm: Invasive Species Removal

What to bring:

• Water Bottle
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Sturdy work boots or closed-toed shoes
• Long-sleeved shirt

This event is best suited for those aged 16 and up

Due to the rough terrain, this event is best suited for those aged 16 and up. We will be working in areas possibly inhabited with poison oak and prickly plants such as blackberries, thimbleberries, and stinging nettle.