Project Recycle: Phase II
Avalon Park and Preserve Barn, Stony Brook, NY
Sunday, December 18th

To keep our plans rolling for Sweetbriar Nature Center's recycling center, our ever-growing think-tank gathered again to scheme up a design for the bin. Proving that brainstorming truly is the best way to begin the creative process, we landed on a fantastic, ergonomic structure to send along for review by the folks at Sweetbriar. After drawing up our plan, we broke into two groups and began working on graphic design for the bin as well as what type of information we might display in the nearby kiosk. We'll continue pushing through, experiencing every step of the process, and looking forward to our final product!

Fixing up the Fields
D.E.C. Ridge Conservation Area, Ridge, NY
Saturday, December 17th

There's nothing like getting outside when temperatures are in the low-40s, the wind is calm, and the sun is shining. We set out on the trail armed with saws, loppers, and gloves, and in no time, we were leaving behind us a wide open trail where once thorns, branches, and brush covered hikers' ways. It seems that we can't get away from the multiflora rose: the invasive that fights back. Undoubtedly, our little cuts and rips were worthwhile, taking out huge bushes of the ecologically and anthropologically dangerous plant. The Russian Olive trees weren't as vicious, and actually proved to be a fun feat as we sawed or snapped off huge branches with fairly minimal effort. Needless to say, we were physically exhausted by the end of the day! Our unexpected treat came upon our return to the parking lot as we passed the pheasant cages; we were able to watch the DEC field biologists rounding up the birds for transport to local properties— a slow but amusing process.

Project Recycle: Phase I
Project Recycle: Phase I
Avalon Park and Preserve, Stony Brook, NY
Saturday, December 10th

Who knew that STATE volunteers are top-notch researchers, too? When given the task of brainstorming questions about recyclables and recycling, from start to finish to restart, this group of students came up with a fantastic list of topics to investigate. Once they were each delegated to the various inquiries, the volunteers were typing like lightening, daring Google to keep up with them! By the end of three hours, we had a solid document full of recycling information, from where raw materials come from to which materials are most easily recycled. Our last task of the day was to begin to brainstorm how we can best present this information to young grade-school children to teach them about recyclables and recycling. We're very excited to jump on the next phases: designing signage, constructing the recycling center, and putting it all to work at Sweetbriar!

An Afternoon of Boxes
Avalon Park and Preserve, Stony Brook, NY
Sunday, December 4th

It's only December, and we're already prepping for the springtime! Our first task at this event was to assemble four homes in hopes of attracting Eastern Bluebirds to ideal habitat owned by the Sisters of St. Joseph's convent in Brentwood. Once four perfectly sound, lovely boxes were hammered together, we headed up to our garden boxes to take care of one last task: winterizing the asparagus. Gathering leaves from the area to use as mulch, we covered the remaining stalks with a layer of dried matter, and then another of straw to hold it all down. The afternoon flew by, and as usual, we were impressed with all of the work we squeezed into the event. Both the bluebirds and the asparagus will be very happy come the springtime!

The Anti-Ivy Campaign
Frank Melville Memorial Park, Setauket, NY
Saturday, December 3rd

We set out to decimate the ivy, and that we did! In three quick hours, we attacked the English ivy that was slowly but surely creeping up to take over the surrounding bushes and trees. Coming from every side, crawling down into the thick of it, tearing, pulling, clipping, and rolling out the bunches of vines, our volunteers simply wouldn't quit. As the plants were tossed out from under their bushy covering, we shoved it all into bags, ending up with one dozen bags stuffed full of ivy vines. While we planned for the ivy removal, we hadn't foreseen the removal of two bags worth of glass and cans that had mysteriously ended up in those bushes. Between our harvest of the invasive ivy and recyclable material, we made a great difference at the entrance of the park and can't wait to get back to conquer other areas!