Acorn to Oak
Hwy 101 | Falkirk Mansion | Civic Center | China Camp | Terra Linda High School || HOW TO HARVEST ACORNS
Where water cannot be brought to new trees either by irrigation or bucket, our volunteers have started acorns. Volunteers from as far away as eastern Canada and Mexico have joined in planting and maintenance efforts here in Marin County. Each site provides its own challenges and funding opportunities. Volunteers have gone on to establish more woodlands throughout Marin. Plantings occur in December. Join us.
Hwy 101, Marinwood/St.Vincent Interchange
Many volunteers came from the Marinwood neighborhood who took pride of ownership of the site. Today, trees in the southeast quadrant are under attack by rodents from the dairy across the roadway. In winter when there is little to eat, they are girdling the trees at the base and burrowing under the roots. If we cannot solve the problem, all of the oaks at this quadrant will succumb. Right from the beginning, the north quadrants proved difficult due to the “hot” chemicals left from road construction. There are only 4 trees on each while there are 30 on the south two quadrants.
Falkirk Mansion
Started as a project with Phoenix Academy, an alternative high school for teens recovering from drug and alcohol abuse, this site has almost lost all of the oaks trees begun in 2003. The invasive exotic Scotch Broom has crowded out the new seedlings even though many volunteers spent two years removing it. Cooperation with San Rafael Parks Dept to remove the invasive exotics will allow us to return to the site.
Marin County Civic Center
Students from Phoenix Academy started these new oak trees at the Dry Garden on the south end of the famous Frank Lloyd Wright building. Many of the Monterey pine trees are expected to die within a few years and the 45 new oak trees will be there to provide a native atmosphere to the garden. Middle school students across Marin through Americorps operated by North Bay Conservation Corps, monitor these trees every summer. During the winter of 2010 the successful sites were recognized by Marin County Board of Supervisors.
China Camp State Park
This site has been our most demanding to date. After eucalyptus removal, the ridge was bare and subject to erosion. The site is 20+ acres. In the beginning of the project scientists noticed that young trees did not seem to be succumbing therefore we proceeded with the project. It is anticipated that the new oak trees will provide a bridge across the ridge from cross pollenization for any oaks that may survive the disease. With out water, we over planted by 25 percent. Volunteers harvested acorns within a five mile radius of the site in an effort to maintain a “native” genetic pool. Middle school students across Marin through Americorps operated by North Bay Conservation Corps, monitor these trees every summer. Two Phytophera, ramorum and cinnamonium, cause Sudden Oak Disease and they continue to cause many tree species to die today, including Madrone. Marin ReLeaf will host researchers of Sudden Oak Death at this site summer of 2010.
Map of Plant Site | go to Pictures
Terra Linda High School
The first week of December 2009, students from the Leadership Class worked along with Principal Lars Christensen to plant 12 sites near the baseball and football fields.
See also: How to harvest acorns