Allie Douma is a Masters student at the Yale School for the Environment studying urban ecology and environmental humanities. Allie is originally from Richmond, VA where they grew up whitewater kayaking and exploring the city's amazing park system. Before coming to YSE Allie worked at Miriam's Kitchen, a non profit focused on ending homelessness in Washington D.C. Through their experiences working with Miriam's Kitchen and their passion for accessible urban green spaces, they have become passionate about the intersection of housing and greening. They are excited to put what they have learned in the classroom into action this summer.
Another big mulching day for FERP! We spread the mulch around the plants on Orange st. so that when the trees are planted next week the mulch will be continuous around the plants and trees.
A great maintenance day for Washington Ave! The goal was to clear up some site lines and get rid of some weeds. We pruned three trees and then cleaned up the bed to the right of the park to hopefully begin planting some new things this summer. Sweet Trixie ran and jumped around as we worked.
To help prevent the plants and trees in the park from being mowed we put wood chips on 9 trees. Kev also walked around to clean up some of the trash. It was a lot of hard work lugging mulch and spreading it all out, but it was worth it! The park already looks great!
During our volunteer hours this week we focused on removing burning bush and multiflora rose in one section of the park. Jean also walked around picking up trash and glass to clean up the park.
It was a big day in the Peace Garden! We planted a magnolia as the center piece of the garden. Then there was a delivery of soil from Neighborhood Housing Services for the garden designated for mothers who have passed. As the summer continues the group is excited to plan and design this new area of their garden. We also continued working on weeding the garden.
Today we worked on cleaning up and maintaining the space. We pruned one tree and a bush to clear up the site lines. Kayla took the scuffle hoe around to clear out the weeds from the paths. Jane brought watermelon for the group as a treat! It was a great first work day.
Today we focused on removing invasive species and spreading mulch along the entrance to the park. It was a big group, so there was a lot of energy and we were able to get it done quickly! A great start to the summer.
Nikki and discussed the plans for the summer as well as some of the issues they have been facing and need help with. We created a plan for weeding and cleaning up the space. After that we hope to add some plants and do some tree pruning.
Today the group got started on some weeding of milkweed and mugwort. Aaron also began removing some plants that died over the winter. As a group we started to plan for the summer. The group is hoping to clean up the area, mulch, plant some more perennials, and plant a tree. They are also hoping to recruit more folks to come help.
Tracy and Rich walked me around the site, guiding me through the history of the quarry sites and the fossil. We talked through some of the complications the site has been having as well as the plans for the summer. They are hoping to continue removing invasive species, highlight the history of the park more, and hopefully recruit more people to come in and use the park.
Kev and I met at the park to discuss some of the current challenges and the goals for the summer. The group is hoping to continue their work planting around the trees. We are excited to start next week with the first volunteer day of the season!
Jane and I walked around the park and discussed some of the common issues that the park has been facing as well as some of the goals. She is hoping to clear up the site lines and weed some of the overgrown areas. Rainbow park has not been a Greenspace group in a few summers, so we are excited to have consistent volunteering days this summer to clean up the space.