Nursery

The survival rate of acorns collected in the fall of 2017 and planted either that fall or in spring of 2018 has been calculated.

Of the 2,242 acorns planted, 1,933 seedlings survived, giving us a survival rate of 86%! This is well within our goal of growing 1000-2000 seedlings this past year!

Average survival rate of 2017 acorns

• 2,242 planted
• 1,933 seedlings
• 86% survival rate

At this work party 7 volunteers contributed 13 hours of work.

What we accomplished:

• We reorganized the work/materials storage area:
• We potted up 30 4″ oaks.
• 30 2″ and 4″ oaks had their weeds trimmed back.

A this work party five volunteers contributed a total of 14 volunteer hours.

We focused on a variety of tasks:

• We potted up about 69 4″ seedlings into 1-gallon pots
• We cut back the weeds in about a dozen 2″ and 4″ styros to prevent them from developing seeds
• We weeded a dozen or more 1-gallon seedlings
• We organized, tied up and weighted down the empty styroblocks. We’re storing them on the wooden deck.

At the work party we had four dedicated volunteers. In total they potted up 174 seedlings from 4″ styroblocks into 1-gallon pots. The seedlings were weeded and root pruned as necessary as they were potted up.

At the first Sunday work party we had two extremely productive volunteers. Judith and Ryan accomplished a lot:

• 45 1-gallon seedlings weeded and root pruned 
• 20 pots weeded
• 500 pots moved (to organize our trees and make space for potting up our 4″ seedlings)

At this work party 5 volunteers contributed a total of 15.5 hours.

Our efforts were directed towards three activities: weeding the remaining 1-gallon pots that were overgrown with weeds, potting up 4″ seedlings from styroblocks to 1-gallon pots, and making space on the pallets for these larger containers.

In total we accomplished:

• 80 4″ seedlings potted up into 1-gallon pots
• Approximately 120 1-gallon pots weeded and root pruned (where necessary)
• 123 1-gallon pots weeded

At this work party we had 9 volunteers who contributed 27.5 hours between them.

We focused on weeding and root pruning 1-gallon pots. We also had a little ceremony to celebrate and thank our 3 volunteers form Taiwan who were attending their final work party!

What we accomplished:

• We weeded and fertilized 370 1-gallon seedlings!

Due to overwhelming acorn support we must ask that volunteers please discontinue collecting Garry oaks acorns for our nursery.  Thank you for your amazing efforts! The acorns have been sorted and are now in cold storage until planting in the spring.

At this event we had four volunteers contribute just over 11hrs of work.

We also had a visitor, Barb from the Habitat Acquisition Trust, come by to receive a gift of a seedling. She was generous enough to donate her time at our AGM and give a fascinating presentation on land covenants for GOMPS members in attendance.

In total we:

• weeded, mulched and fertilized 100 1-gallon pots
• weeded and fertilized 55 1-gallon pots
• weeded, root pruned and fertilized 23 1-gallon pots

At this event we had 8 volunteers and contributed 22 hours of work between us.

The three sisters visiting from Taiwan, Cathy, Rebecca and Ruby, attended their third and final work party with us! It seems that they would keep coming back if their visit to our city wasn’t rapidly coming to an end. They were absolute naturals with the work, even though they’d never had their hands in the soil before! We will miss having them at the nursery and wish them safe travels into the future.

What we accomplished:

• weeded and mulched 37 isolated seedlings
• weeded, mulched and fertilized 80 5- and 10-gallon pots
• weeded, mulched and fertilized 256 1-galon seedlings