At this work party we had 4 volunteers and contributed 12 hours of work between us.
More and more of the acorns planted this spring were sprouting!
What we accomplished:
The following comments were presented at the AGM by Peter Woodward, GOMPS Director and Nursery Project Manager.
Our oaks overwintered successfully; in the fall of 2017 we took them off the pallets and placed them directly on the landscaping fabric to prevent frost damage. At this point we have put them back on pallets for the summer. Being up off the ground accomplishes air pruning of the roots.
The GOMPS volunteer Garry Oak nursery is now in its second full year of operation.
With the seedlings potted up from 4″ styroblocks into 1-gallon pots, all the available space on our irrigation strip has been taken up and work has started on a second irrigation strip. This will double our irrigated area.
We have now planted all the acorns collected last autumn and stored over winter in a fridge on site. Some 2,400 acorns were planted this spring and if 2,000 of them are viable, it will raise our total stock to about 6,000.
About 40 to 50 plants inherited from the City’s former nursery operation have all been repotted in larger, generally 5-gallon pots. These plants are five years old or more. In addition, a few field grown oaks in the range of 10 to 15 years were root pruned in the fall of 2017
We officially tested the backflow device in April and submitted our report to the CRD as part of our obligation with respect to our linkage to Victoria’s water supply system.
In March we delivered our second annual report to the city of Victoria.
Photos were taken by Jenny Hebb, GOMPS Director-At-Large & Nursery Volunteer Coordinator.
At this work party we had 8 volunteers contribute a total of 21.5 hours of work.
We were very excited to see that acorns planted on the May 5th work party were already spouting!
What we accomplished:
GOMPS 2018 Annual General Meeting
Join GOMPS on Tuesday, May 29 @ 7PM at the University of Victoria in David Turpin Building Room A102.
Protect your land: Learn more about Conservation Covenants
After a short Annual General Meeting of the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society, our guest, Barb von Sacken of Habitat Aquisition Trust (HAT), will present information on Conservation Covenants.
You can prevent damage to natural areas
– limit logging to ecologically sustainable forestry
– prevent sub-division and development
– protect a wetland
Barb is originally from the Okanagan Valley where farm life provided ample opportunities to explore fields, forests and wetlands and peek her interest in the natural world. This lead to a degree in Geography from UVic followed by over 10 years working with the Ministry of Environment (MoE) , developing provincial standards for ecological classification and mapping. Travel and work with MoE honed her appreciation of the varied landscapes in B.C. and piqued an interest in land protection strategies, particularly of rare and endangered landscapes. Prior to joining HAT Barb was also involved in environmental education and outreach through the Environmental Technology and Geography Departments at Camosun College.
Since the fall of 2015 Barb has been with the HAT as the Land Acquisition Coordinator. At HAT Barb leads the work on the covenants program, working with public and private landowners to assist them in placing permanent protection on their lands through conservation covenants or acquisitions. In addition, Barb performs annual compliance monitoring on HAT’s covenanted properties.
Note: This presentation is meant to introduce participants to Conservation Covenants and will present a general overview. Conservation covenants are complex legal documents and legal advice should be sought.
At this work party we had 4 volunteers contribute 13.5 hours of work.
We were very excited to see that acorns planted in April had already begun to sprout! We are also pleased to share that an expansion to the nursery is underway. An area has already been cleared in preparation for another strip of landscaping cloth and new irrigation system to be installed.
What we accomplished:
At this work party we had 7 volunteers contribute a total of 19.5 hours between us.
What we accomplished:
Overdevelopment in the area surrounding the Gonzales Hill Regional Park in Oak Bay and Fairfield could bring damage to key natural species.
Read the full story here:
http://www.focusonvictoria.ca/focus-magazine-march-april-2018/development-beside-gonzales-hill-regional-park-raises-alarm-r14/
GOMPS would like to thank all who volunteered to collect acorns this fall! Check back frequently for news of other opportunities to volunteer.
Have you purchased or renewed your membership for the new year?
GOMPS AGM
GARRY OAK NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT & FUTURE
DATE: Monday, April 24, 2017
TIME: 7:00-9:00PM
LOCATION: UVic, Rm C118, David Strong Building
(Evening parking is available on-site for $3 after 6PM)
Please join GOMPS (Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society) for its AGM & to celebrate the Establishment of GOMPS Garry Oak Nursery!
GOMPS Board is excited to share with you an update on the establishment of GOMPS Garry oak nursery & plans for its future as well as a celebratory cake!
The nursery ground is being prepared now and we hope to move our new seedlings (grown from locally-sourced acorns) this month into the nursery. Volunteer opportunities will then be available.
Please remember to renew your membership (just $15 individual, $20 for
family) to support this venture and/or advocacy for Garry oak meadows.
ALSO: As our Board is always looking for new members, please consider letting your name stand for election – everybody wins!
Please NOTE: Our updated GOMPS website: http://www.garryoak.info
There have been many exciting changes at GOMPS. Do you have any questions for our Directors? Have you renewed your membership for 2017?
You can email us or use our Contact Form on the website. Memberships will be sold at the AGM.
Your voice is important as is your support and we look forward to seeing you at our AGM!
Garry oaks’ future is in all our hands!
GOMPS Board of Directors
Website: http://www.garryoak.info