Restoration 10/1/23

Also published at https://www.penasquitos.org/news/black-mountain-restoration-project-september-17 

By: Jenna Huang and Anna Luo

On September 17th, 2023, volunteers from the Student Leadership Club within the Asian American Parent Alliance of San Diego came together with the Friends of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve (FLPCP) organization to plant, water, and work with native plants at the Black Mountain Open Space Park. San Diego County, where Black Mountain Park is located, has been named a biodiversity hotspot in the United States. It is home to 200 endangered plants and animals, which is more than in any other county in the nation. Therefore, this nonprofit was established with the goal of facilitating environmental restoration through a variety of educational and recreational programs. During the event, volunteers had the opportunity to talk with Mike Kelly, chair of the Conservation and Land Use Committee, along with other members of the FLPCP Board of Directors. 

The club members began the afternoon by learning how to plant grass and grindelia, which was led by another event leader, Jake. Grindelia, otherwise known as gum plant, is a reliable source of food for pollinating animals, such as birds and bees, making them essential to San Diego habitats. To plant grindelia, the volunteers first removed any surrounding weeds that could impact the successful growth of these plants. Then, they dug holes about as deep as the roots to allow the plants’ roots to remain healthy long after being planted. Next, they watered each plant and removed air bubbles formed by holes in the soil by pressing down on the surrounding dirt. Finally, the volunteers added plant protectors, plastic cylinders held upright with a wooden stick, to prevent excessive sunlight and/or native animals from potentially damaging the plants.

In addition to grindelia and grass, the volunteers also planted sweet pea plants. The volunteers were taught to plant these near larger bushes or trees, as sweet pea plants can grow and wrap around nearby branches or twigs. Once fully grown, these sweet peas will hopefully attract new pollinators and facilitate the growth of more native plants in Black Mountain Park.

By the time the afternoon ended, Student Leadership Club members had not only learned more about the uniqueness of the local plants in San Diego, they had also gained hands-on experience with rooting new plants in the area. In the future, the volunteers will be able to come back and watch the progress of the plants each month, as well as continue to work with Friends of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve on more restoration projects. 

Interested in joining or helping out your local community? Find out how you can contribute by visiting https://www.penasquitos.org/ and https://www.studentleadershipclub.org/events/restoration!