Nursery in Full Production on Anacapa Island

The plant nursery on Anacapa island is in full production, and among the native plants we are growing there are two kinds of grasses, Coreopsis, yarrow, morning glory, wild cucumber and even some prickly-pear cactus!  Many thousands of plants are being grown (with more species to come) and volunteers are helping make it happen.  This fall and winter the natives will be planted in areas where invasive iceplant has been removed.

The nursery is a joint project of Channel Islands National Park (NPS) and Channel Islands Restoration (CIR).  CIR helped initially raise funds for the project with a grant from the Ventura Patagonia store and with donations from our Board of Directors.   CIR Board member Gordon Hart (with help from fellow board member Dave Edwards and others) supervised the construction of the nursery in close cooperation with NPS staff.  The project is now chiefly funded by the NPS, and CIR has recruited hundreds of volunteers to staff the nursery.  Sarah Chaney (NPS restoration biologist) provides overall leadership of this important project (see previous blog posts for background on the restoration project).

CIR and NPS sponsor ongoing trips to the island so that volunteers can help with the project.  If you would like more information about the CIR trips, contact our Volunteer Coordinator at: volunteer@cirweb.org. 

Keeping Busy on Anacapa!

We continue to get support from our great volunteers, including folks who are signed up on our email list (http://www.cirweb.org/volunteer.htm) and from our corporate partners like Citrix Online.  At least twice a month we take volunteers out to the island to help us remove non-native iceplant and to grow plants in the on-island nursery.  At this point, we are growing a large amount of two species of native grasses (barley and needlegrass).  These will be planted (along with other native species) in areas where iceplant has been removed.  If would like to volunteer on Anacapa, please follow the link above and fill out the volunteer form.  You can also ask questions about the project by sending an email to volunteer@cirweb.org

Latest photos:

 Volunteers receive instruction on how to grow plants in the nursery on Anacapa Island

   Volunteers take grass sprigs and "pot them up" (place them in larger pots for maturing).

   Volunteer removes iceplant from around a native "gum plant."

  CIR staff and a volunteer prepare to move large bags of pulled iceplant.  The iceplant is taken so a spot on the island and allowed to dehydrate.  It essentially turns into compost at that point.

  Volunteers take in the view at "Inspiration Point"at the end of the volunteer day.

  Departing the island!