I’ve had several interactions with the Thurston Conservation District this week, I signed the final paperwork required to secure the grant for a new bridge! The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife listed Puget Sound Chinook and Coho Salmon, Western Pond Turtle, and Coastal Cutthroat Trout as species in the vicinity of the proposed bridge project. Also required was a cultural resource (archaeological) survey, fortunately we are able to move forward with the project.
Pussy willows are dioecious, males are generally grown because they are more visually appealing. Salix are a good growing choice for the Puget Sound region, they tolerate very poor, wet, or compacted soil. One of the best species for the floral market is Salix gracilistyla, Japanese or rose gold pussy willow. It produces long rosy hued catkins that dry well and can be kept for several years. The plant grows 10 X 5 feet, making it an ideal size for harverting.
I enrolled in the business readiness program Enterprise for Equity, (E4E) the course consist of weekly meetings from 5:00 to 9:00, every Tuesday evening on Union Avenue in downtown Olympia. Participants were required to take two day workshop prior to applying for enrollment, in that workshop we examined the feasibility of our business ideas, dreams, and plans. Each week we work on sections of our business plan such as our mission statement, market planning, operations, cash flow, and field research. We have had several guest speakers such as an insurance agent,a tax expert, a lawyer, a copy editor, and a graphic artist. Our instructor Joanne has provided us with a wealth of research and resources to help conduct our field research and business feasibility.
They have been helping people in the south sound area with limited incomes start small businesses or improve existing business since 1999.
Every morning I walk my son down our long driveway to catch the bus at 6:50 a.m. This is my favorite part of the day, once outside I feel fully awake and each morning I have the chance to notice the change in the seasons and observe the abundance of wildlife in this area. It seems as if spring has appeared overnight, on Monday we heard the raucous chorus of frog song and the first calls of the Killdeer. (charadrius vociferus) Every spring we are greeted with a pair of Killdeer who feign a broken wing as a means to protect their nest and young.
While mowing the lower field last spring my son found this nest, Killdeer lay their nest in grass and forage on foot, rarely taking flight.
An expanding blanket of wood violets (viola sororia) has carpeted my front yard, thriving under the walnut and apple trees. The modest violet has a long and interesting history, it was cultivated in ancient Greece and was the symbol of Athens. The Greek lyric poet Sappho wrote a poem about weaving garlands of violets in her lovers hair. In the early 1900’s a woman could indiscreetly signal her romantic intentions towards another woman by giving her a bouquet of purple violets as a message of “sapphic” aspirations. The flowers and stems of the violet can be used medicinally, in the past a poultice was used to treat headaches, colds, coughs, and dysentery were treated with an infusion made from the flowers. Surprisingly the edible violet contains more vitamin C than oranges and most vegetables.
I have not had one word from her
Frankly I wish I were dead
When she left, she wept
a great deal; she said to me, “This parting must be
endured, Sappho. I go unwillingly.”
I said, “Go, and be happy
but remember (you know
well) whom you leave shackled by love
“If you forget me, think
of our gifts to Aphrodite
and all the loveliness that we shared
“all the violet tiaras,
braided rosebuds, dill and
crocus twined around your young neck
“myrrh poured on your head
and on soft mats girls with
all that they most wished for beside them
“while no voices chanted
choruses without ours,
no woodlot bloomed in spring without song…”
This week I met with Robin Buckingham from the Thurston Conservation District office, and bridge engineer Pat Powers to discuss options for replacing the failing culverts under my driveway. McLane creek runs through my property and each November we witness the return of salmon as they make their way to their spawning grounds. I applied for a grant to replace the culverts with a bridge, which will alleviate the flooding and provide an easier passage for the returning salmon during the fall and winter months. Robin Buckingham has done a wonderful job of coordinating with various agencies such as the Department of Fish and Wildlife to help move this project forward. I learned last month that my grant was approved!
McLane Creek spilling over the driveway.My driveway was temporarily transformed into a waterfall!Salmon were washed up and trapped in my lower field.
The portion off driveway where flooding occurs.
February 9th I accompanied Robin and Pat on a bridge tour to look at the options available for my project, the three bridges we visited were all within a five mile radius of my home.
Our first stop was Beatty Creek, Pat had worked on this project back in 2001, he was surprised to see the sign still standing and undamaged!The concrete bridge at Beatty Creek.Fish Pond Creek, this is a box culvert, which is a prefabricated concrete box which is set into the creek , Department and Fish and Wildlife had discouraged this design, it creates an unnatural stream bed. I had originally favored a box culvert because it would require raising the level of my driveway less than the other options. I changed my mind when I saw the box culvert in person, it does not fit with my riparian restoration project.Wood bridge at Michelle Creek, Pat designed this project last year. I like the low profile, and the span, which allows the creek to flow more naturally, unlike the box culvert. Pat Powers on bridge with TCD technician Robin Buckingham.
I’m leaning towards the wood bridge, I like the design and use of natural materials, however it does have a shorter lifespan and we have concerns about slippery footing. Pat and Robin were very helpful in pointing out the pros and cons of each design, next week we plan to visit a steel bridge before I make a final decision. We all agree that whatever the choice it will be a vast improvement to the rusting pipes we currently have!
This week I went to the public library downtown to renew my library card in preparation for a workshop with the reference librarians for my E4E class on Tuesday morning. I found several good books on flower gardening and layout, especially Stephanie Donaldson’s The Shaker Garden, though it looks like a coffee table book it is full of interesting tips on site planning, companion planting, and preserving flowers as well as making herbal remedies. I was surprised to learn that it is possible to dry peonies and that the Shakers cultivated opium poppies as an important medicinal crop.
http://wesjones.com/pollan1.htm
The workshop with the timberland reference librarians was extremely useful, we were introduced to several databases and resources that are available free to library patrons. The last hour of the workshop was devoted to researching our markets, and learning to navigate through Proquest, Reference USA, and finding our NAIC business codes. (North American Industry Classification System)
The information available to the public on US consumers and lifestyles is extensive and sometimes uncomfortably personal, at times I felt voyeuristic reviewing information on local business people. The librarians suggested we check out the law library located on the capitol campus, it is very welcoming and quiet spot to study!
Weekly post that addresses student’s exploration of your ILC learning objectives, activities and outcomes; specifically a weekly post that explores answers to the questions in the Learning Objectives.
Thurston Conservation District office
