[Green] Fw: Harmar riverbank planting timeline

[Rebecca Phillips]

Our message from the safety services director. He did not mention the plant rescue, but I am assuming that it goes with approval of the solarization. Will let you know as soon as we hear from Bill Farnsworth, chair of lands, buildings, and parks. I also messaged Geoff Schenkel about looking for alternate sites, so there should not be a problem.

Rebecca

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."-- Cicero
________________________________
From: Steve Wetz <SteveWetz at mariettaoh.net>
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2020 8:08 AM
To: 'Rebecca Phillips' <bennphil at hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: Harmar riverbank planting timeline


Rebecca, Good Morning! I think you are fine to go ahead with the black plastic. I will ask Councilman Farnsworth

to try to waive the 3rd reading and get the resolution adopted. As for the bench, I would recommend you contact

4th ward Councilman Schenkel for his thoughts.



Sincerely,



Steven A. Wetz

Director of Public Safety and Services

301 Putnam Street

Marietta, Ohio 45750



Office: 740-373-1387

Cell: 740-516-2981

Email:stevewetz at mariettaoh.net



From: Rebecca Phillips [mailto:bennphil at hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2020 8:05 PM
To: Steve Wetz <SteveWetz at mariettaoh.net>
Subject: Harmar riverbank planting timeline



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Hello, Steve,



I walked the Harmar riverbank yesterday with the master naturalist who will be designing our plantings and a master gardener volunteer with some expertise in habitat plantings. Both recommend solarizing the area as a means of getting rid of invasive plants and turfgrass. If you are not familiar with the concept, it involves covering areas with black plastic to allow the sun's heat to kill the vegetation underneath, a process that takes several months. The advantages of solarization are no soil disturbance and no need for herbicides. Killing the roots and seeds of invasive plants will also reduce later maintenance, which is always a concern.



However, because the process is time-consuming and slows considerably in the winter, it should ideally be started as soon as possible. The timeline for the three readings of the resolution would likely take us into December, which could push planting time into the summer if we get a hard winter. Might it be possible to lay the plastic before then?



Also, the slope already contains many desirable plants that we would like to retain for the pollinator plantings. Once they go dormant, recognizing and rescuing them would be much more difficult. Would it be possible for a team of volunteers to go ahead and remove the plants for later use?



And another topic: I have been told that some west side residents are concerned about a bench on Fort Street attracting undesirable activity such as drug deals. Green Sanctuary is happy to place the bench anyplace the city would like to have it and quite willing to accept a recommendation if another site is better.



My phone number is 740-358-9646 if you would like to discuss these questions.



Rebecca Phillips

Rebecca



"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."-- Cicero
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