August and Everything After

It's been a beautiful summer at Shepherd Parkway. A dozen shades of green give the lush foliage a sub-tropical feel to match the hot, humid weather.  Abundant rains in June and July have caused groundcover, vines, and bushes to grow larger and denser than in recent years.

Thanks for our efforts, there is less trash in these woods than there has been in many years. In most areas, Mother Nature reigns supreme, the occasional tire or rusting piece of metal scarcely notable. A few steeply sloping areas, mostly north of Malcolm X Avenue, are still partially covered with decades of trash, and volunteers continue to chip away at these problem areas.    

On June 13, 60 volunteers, many of them from the Fund for American Studies, worked for an hour and a half removing trash from the woods alongside the 300 block of Newbcomb Street. The haul included 53 bags and 15 tires.

The very next day, we welcomed for the InterVarsityChristian Fellowship’s DC Urban Program for the third year in a row. Program Director Kate Denson brings together a diverse group of college students from around the country for a seven week experience exploring “the intersections of poverty, wealth, power and disenfranchisement.” This year they cut ivy from more than 50 trees in the heavily infested areas between 295, South Capitol Street, and Xenia Street, at the north end of Bellevue.

As is typical, our July and August volunteers made up in grit and productivity what they lacked in numbers.  On August 15 just three people- Ellen, Tristan and Nathan- were able to rescue 50 trees from the clutches of English ivy.

If you are reading this, please plan on attending our remaining upcoming Community Clean-Up days for 2015:

Saturday, September 12
Saturday, October 17
Saturday, November 14
Saturday, December 12

Please note the change in start time: all of the above events will from 11 am to 1 pm.

We continue to meet at the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Avenues in southeast DC. 

Gloves, bags, tools, and water are provided. Come prepared to work in the woods; that means boots, full-length pants, and clothes you don’t mind getting filthy dirty.

No reservations are not necessary unless you’re are bringing a group larger than ten.

For questions, contact Nathan Harrington at nbharrington at yahoo.com or 301-758-5892.