Blackberries

It's suddenly occurred to me that I haven't informed the blogging masses about the current phase of our work here at the Oregon Garden.

We have moved out of the Wetlands and are now working in the Oak Grove removing invasive species. The species in question happens to by Himalayan Blackberry. This plant is the definition of an invasive species. Brought here sometime ago by humans who presumably wanted to consume the blackberries, this plant is not running rampant all along the Pacific Northwest. Not only is it non-native but it grows almost virally. The invasion of the plant is so bad that it takes years to remove the plant entirely. No one team of 10 NCCC members can ever get all of the plant out. It roots, re-roots and resurrects.

And did I mention the thorns?

That's right, this isn't your average weed, it's got vicious thorns that have scratched corneas, punctured body parts left scratches on all of our bodies. The plant is so vicious that we have actually contemplated pooling out stipends together to buy a few goats (the only known animal that actually eats this plant).

Just how vicious you might ask? Vicious enough to use machetes and take down corps members.

But, it's not all bad work. In fact, despite the pain and monotony, I am finding that I enjoy working in the Oak Grove just as much. Unlike the Wetlands, working in the Oak Grove, the team is working in the same spot, so we get lively conversations and banter going on. Anna also got a sweet iPod speaker system that provides some righteous tunes. And perhaps one of the greatest things about Blackberry is we can really see the progress we are making. What used to be an entire hillside covered in blackberry is now only 1/3 after only 3 days of working.

How's that for getting things done?