On April 24, 2009, there was a work party at Echo Lake Elementary School. The goal: Clear the heavy mat of ivy from one area of the land, to make room for a native plant garden that was planned for May. Funding was provided by Funding was obtained from an environmental mini-grant from City of Shoreline, and water and snacks were provided by ELNA.
An army of 34 volunteers from ELNA, Shoreline Covenant Church, and Echo Lake Elementary School pulled up/rolled the ivy, which was then hauled away. The hauling work was donated by CleanScapes and by Echo Lake parent Steve. Knowledge, experience, and hard work were contributed by school parents Brian and Lynn, and by Richard Tinsley and Donna Franklin of the Washington Native Plant Society. Compost that had been donated by Sky Nursery was hauled in by wheelbarrow. Later the students would mix the compost with soil, and plant the garden. On May 16, wood chips would be spread over the new plantings.
Susie O'Donnell was the project leader there. Volunteers included Alex, Anne, Art, Barbara Guthrie, Brian, Candace, Damien, Donna Franklin, Drew Moran, Erika Haub, Ian Moran, Jack, Jeanne Monger, Jennifer, Jim, Juan, Kamila, Kris, Larry Monger, Luke, Lynn, M.S., Marv, Michelle, Nancy Lewis, Norma, Owen, Paul, Paul Moran, Sam, Sean, Siobhan, and Steve.
This intrepid group met vines as threatening as large snakes, fought mats of nasty greenery spiked with sharp pointy ends, and had a lot of productive, sweaty fun.