Back to our Roots | ET Summer Reunion at Ron Regis
When we planted 57 evergreen treez along the banks of the Cedar River in 2018, we had no idea where the project would lead us. We wanted to find a fun way to give back to the forests & mountains that have inspired so much freedom and creativity in our lives. That morning, we fortuitously connected with another volunteer group and just a year later we started hosting events in our community as forest stewards in the Green Snoqualmie Partnership. That fateful summer morning in 2018 has spread roots further than any of us could have imagined when we started the evergreen tree planting movement.
Fast forward to 2025 and we've now planted over 10,000 treez as a group; mainly in the Snoqualmie valley and along the Cedar River. We hadn't hosted an event in Renton since 2021; the invasive blackberries were out of control! It was high time we gave some attention to the first evergreen treez we first planted. We went out to the project site in June and were ecstatic to see the growth of this stunning riparian forest. The native spruce, cedar and fir treez we planted were all thriving; unfortunately the blackberries there were too.
We rallied the crew and planned to host a summer reunion event at the end of August to mow down blackberries & clear space for future planting. The morning started with a debriefing and project overview near Bruce the Spruce; our posterchild and the first tree we ever planted. It was a surreal and emotional moment to return to this spot and see the incredible progress this forest has made in becoming a mature canopy since we planted. Here's the side by side comparison of Bruce as a sapling in 2018 and this past weekend.
Our work began with the entire group spreading out around the site looking for as many logs, sticks and fallen branches we could possibly find to start a compost pile. When removing invasive plants like blackberries, it's essential to create a buffer between them and the ground so they can't propagate again. Within no time we had the makings of a robust compost pile, and so the blackberry removal began. We've done numerous blackberry events over the years for our native treez but this one felt especially cathartic. Our group of 15 plus Oatmeal the pup was highly motivated and energized by the sights & sounds of the river. Thankfully we were in the shaded canopy of the forest as temperatures soared above 90 degrees. We took breaks to eat Costco muffins, drink coffee & tea and admire the work that had already taken place. Here's a before & after photo of one segment of the forest we were able to restore.
This work is critical for the health of the Cedar River and the watershed it supports. We were able to clear over 4,000 square feet of invasive blackberries from the native treez and open up space for future plantings. We finished the four hour push with a BBQ by the river and a dip in one of the Cedar's best swim holes. There's nothing like jumping in ice cold water when you're covered in sweat, dirt and cuts from blackberry bushes.
Evergreen treez give us so much; sequestered carbon, shelter for animals and biodiversity to name a few. Our mission is to give back to them by planting natives and restoring their habitat. Saturday went a long way in allowing us to see continued growth in this forest for future generations. We are planning another fun event at this site in October; stay tuned! We will also be hosting Green Snoqualmie Day on October 4th! Details to follow.
