This last week, Friends of Trees and Ecology in Classrooms and Outdoors (ECO) teamed up with our sangha to plant 400 native shrubs and trees along the pathway in the oak savanna area. Six different classrooms of fourth- and fifth-graders came to the site to take part in habitat restoration and nature/science exploration activities. ECO has been preparing for the field trip for several weeks with a conservation and natural science curriculum. The three days of events were made possible by a pair of grants from Metro’s levy-funded Nature in the Neighborhoods Program.

Trees we planted last week already have new leaves on them. Plants are coming up in the garden beds. Grass is greening the land everywhere.

Residents have been planting seeds indoors and outdoors, and working in garden beds. Hogen and Chozen Bays from Great Vow Zen Monastery donated Mason Bees who are going to help with pollination.