Open Space Launches Adopt-a-Spot Program
CA is excited to introduce our Adopt-a-Spot program! This provide new way for residents to take charge of their Open Space and ensure native plants are the norm.
Weed Warriors, assemble!
You may have heard of the Weed Warriors, an army of volunteer leaders trained and certified to remove non-native invasive plants in Open Space. The program was started back in 2013 and is a collaboration with the University of Maryland Extension Services and Howard Community College to provide in-class and outdoor field training. The eight hours of training covers hand tool safety, personal protection against insects and toxic plants, non-native invasive plant identification and removal techniques and appropriate native plants as replacements.
Certified Weed Warriors go on to supervise groups of volunteers on designated invasive weed removal tasks. The best part is CA provides hand tools, gloves, contractor grade trash bags and first aid equipment.
What it means to Adopt-a-Spot
Our Open Space team has been working hard to identify areas where the Weed Warriors have been removing invasive plants and replacing them over and over again. The goal is to match Weed Warriors with these “spots”, start the process of removing unwanted plants and putting in native plants on a consistent basis. That means committing to visiting the space twice a year over the course of three years to pulling the invasive varieties and planting native ones.
CA provides necessary seeds or plants for the area, along with hand tools, gloves, contractor trash bags and first aid materials for Pull and Plants. Additionally, pulled material is picked up by CA staff. This all takes our Weed Warriors to another level, making them ongoing stewards of these sections of Open Space.
Available Adopt-a-Spots
Current Adopt-a-Spot locations include:
- Village of Wilde Lake:
- Along lakeside path from the boathouse to the dam
- Above Snowy Reach tot lot
- Village of River Hill:
- Corner of path below the Wild Orange Gate cul-de-sac heading to Countless Stars Run
- Village of Long Reach:
- Jackson Pond
- Phelps Luck (path off Eagle Beak)
- Stonecutter Way (adjacent to tot lot between Blackstar Circle and Window Latch Way)
- Burnt Mountain (Tree planting behind Burnt Mountain)
- Village of Hickory Ridge
- Bright Plume (adjacent to Bright Plume tot lot)
You must be a certified Weed Warrior to Adopt-a-Spot. To become certified or become a “spot parent,” contact Environmental Program Manager Danielle Tyeryar at Danielle.Tyeryar@ColumbiaAssociation.org.