We didn’t know what to do.
Sure we could try to cut the invasive vines, pull the ivy, and take a machete to the blackberries, but realistically, doing this for 15 acres would be an unpaid full time job for both of us.
It was too much to do by hand, and we couldn’t afford to hire help. And when it came to that, how could we justify the expense? The woods was a property tax burden and an idealistic luxury. We loved the deer and the owls, the deep shade of the trees and the wildflowers that changed with the seasons, but none of them paid rent. As much as I longed to keep it a refuge for native species, it wasn’t able to compete with the invasives on its own.
I finally found the resources we needed in our county soil and water conservation district. There are various programs offering assistance to property owners who want to “do the right thing” for the environment, and we chose to enroll our woods in the CREP program. https://www.oregon.gov/oweb/grants/Pages/crep
CREP aims to improve water quality and wildlife habitat by establishing long term riparian buffers. Because our property is bordered on one side by a creek, and is crossed by seasonal streams, much of our woodland was eligible for this program.
The financial incentives include a cost share for initial weed removal and planting native trees and understory plants, and an annual per acre rent. The rent is enough to make up for the property tax, and helps with the cost of maintaining the woods.
For our part, we agreed to manage the project as designed by the county CREP coordinator, planting the species recommended and keeping the invasives under control for 15 years. We have an annual visit from a CREP representative, and this has always been a supportive experience.
This is our last year in that first contract, and we are planning to re-enroll for another 15 years.
The following posts will address the steps of clearing, planting and maintaining our project.
While green and lush, many of the trees were actually being suffocated by invasive vines, and walls of blackberries made access difficult.