2024 Crescent Crew Recap
Our wonderful Crescent Crew members have been busy this year on the beach! Coordinator Debbie Kiedrowski sent this update about the CC activities for 2024.
Crescent Crew 2024 update:
Crescent Crew started up its fourth year in the beginning of May, attacking the garlic mustard that had taken hold on the very south end of the grassy area. The haul was 4 GIANT bags of garlic mustard to be disposed of. The Crew was pleased to release pent up frustrations by pulling out a very undesirable invasive plant. As added revenge against the garlic mustard, Debbie made garlic mustard pesto out of some of the plants and served it at the Friends of Crescent Beach Meet and Greet on May 14th at the Ahnapee Brewery. It was quite yummy.
The Meet and Greet really kicked off our Crescent Crew season, there was a lot of energy in the room, with returning volunteers and some new faces. After a dreary, rainy spring, everyone was ready to be outside and get going.
We continued to meet thru September 3rd, alternating 9:00am and 5:00pm start times. Generally, there were 5-8 volunteers. A great disappointment for those of the regulars was the failure of our efforts on the north side beach. A couple of very obnoxious invasive plants had taken hold (bouncing bet and bladder campion) that apparently were regenerating from left behind roots when we pulled them previous seasons. We made a decision that the only viable solution was to hire a licensed company to use chemical control.
Other than that disappointment, the rest of the areas are generally thriving/improving. The beach grasses planted for erosion control are in some areas fully grown out and spreading. While every workday there were invasive plants to remove, the quantity has declined greatly over what we were seeing four years ago when we started.
On our last workday, we walked the entire stretch that we have been caring for and found only one bag worth of undesirables. We are pleased with our progress and hope that the grant being applied for comes thru so we can move on to the further north end of the beach that has been totally taken over by invasive plants.
Our Crew is a great group of volunteers. They have been eager to learn about native and invasive plants and their effect in the environment. Our goal has been to continue to improve the quality of the plants on the beach and to educate the public about plants, the good and the bad. I feel we are accomplishing our mission.
Debbie
To volunteer with Crescent Crew next year, email Debbie Kiedrowski dkiedrowski@ctihospitality.com
Weekly one hour work sessions on Tuesdays, alternating mornings (9:00 a.m.) and evenings (5:00 p.m.) Participate as often as your schedule allows. Free T-shirts for participants.