After a brief break from our first year of observation at Starr King Test Plot, we are back on site to begin Phase 2 as the wet season comes upon us. We have developed a restoration plan that will move us from observation to operation with limited resources. Our high level plan is to start a regular weeding + maintenance schedule internally as a company before engaging the community in volunteering.

Our maintenance approach is based on the Bradley Method, where we will chose two work zones (the plots) based on where native plants are currently observed. We will concentrate our efforts in these two zones and organize our work in concentric bands of intensity. In the center of each zone, we will continue with hand weeding around natives. In an outer band we will do a non-targeted a cutback of all plant material a few times over the course of the wet season. The logic is that through cutbacks we prevent annuals from going to seed- after 3 years the seed bank of annual weeds is exhausted.

During Phase 1 (Observation), we collected native seeds to contract grow. These plugs will be planted now and into this winter, with the goal to only plant what originally came from the site. 




The goals and methods of Phase 2 are as such:

1. We only (re)introduce/use materials and plants from the site, or from the adjacent open space on serpentine outcrops.
2. We test variable weeding strategies using the Bradley Method:
3. We pay attention to time and use it as a tool - by continuing to observe + weed regularly, we can start to understand how much time is required of us, and how the site is evolving based on our new inputs and labor. We focus on maintaining our slow and measured approach
4. We involve the greater community in volunteer days + observation sessions (once we get grounded in the space ourselves) 

Rainbow Canyon has a homey community feel with beautiful sheltering trees, a riparian area, a scenic viewpoint of the city, and switchback trails. It is a peaceful oasis surrounded by the sounds of lawn work, neighbors out and about, barking dogs, birds chirping, and coyote howls. There is a characteristic rotting pumpkin, a chair with a tire perched on top of it, and lots of forgotten tidbits of plastic and metal.

On our site preparation day on October 26th, we divided and conquered tasks to prepare the area for planting. Volunteers conducted weeding, invasive species removal, trash removal, site maintenance, and debated design options for the new Test Plot. The switchback area was altered to have a longer entrance, a less steep gradient, and logs were added for trail identification. Castor bean and tree-of-heaven were removed. The trash cleanup group found all sorts of treasurers from lego figurines to seemingly ancient cans and bottles. A majority of the cleanup work focused on picking out tiny bits of plastic, glass, and styrofoam scattered in the soils.

We asked each volunteer to place a flag at their favorite place in the Canyon. I retrieved these flags from every corner of the Canyon but many were placed along the riparian area and central gathering spaces. We received feedback with exciting ideas for transforming the space, such as the addition of benches, a bridge, an art installation, a space for classes and events, and educational signage. Volunteers gathered to review potential designs and then had the opportunity to show us with rope where they would add a plot to the space. We received sketches with a Yin and Yang plot formation and a few designs with large central ovular plots.

The most heartwarming aspect of the day was the Mount Washington Community members and all the volunteers who showed up with a smile to help us with these preparation activities. With our volunteers, we were able to not only envision the future of Rainbow Canyon, but hear stories from its past. Rainbow Canyon has a rich history of community advocacy that led to its preservation. It has proven to be a space worth protecting and loving. We even learned that Rainbow Canyon was the venue of a wedding for a local resident. We hope to honor the combined natural and human history of the Canyon with our Test Plot, coming on December 8th, 2024.