Author: Lexi Wagor

03 Nov First Wednesday Work Party at Miller-Kirkman Preserve – December 7, 2022

Events Lexi Wagor

Don’t miss this chance to check out the incredible Miller-Kirkman Preserve! Our last work party of 2022 will be held on December 7 from 9am to 11am and will focus on removing invasive species from the property. As always parking is limited so please RSVP if you are planning to attend. Parking directions will be provided for those who sign up. The Miller-Kirkman Preserve – the third addition to the collection of lands the Land Trust has acquired through the Stand for the Land campaign. This 13.27-acre preserve includes a 1-acre estuary, ¼ mile of fish stream, 910 linear feet of natural shoreline, and intact riparian vegetation. It’s also home to a range of important species including salmon, kingfishers, eagles, heron and salamanders. Miller-Kirkman Preserve is not currently open to the public, so you won’t want to miss this chance to come and see all that it has to offer. Bainbridge Island Land Trust will supply all necessary tools, as well as treats and refreshments. Just be sure to bring your work gloves. Expect to get muddy and enjoy all that Miller-Kirkman Preserve has to offer! If you are interested in attending, please sign up below.

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31 Aug Conservation Success – 10 Acres Protected Along North Fork Manzanita Creek

News Lexi Wagor

North Fork Manzanita Creek by John Knox Little Manzanita Bay is home to Coho salmon, cutthroat trout, and more. Our community protected its undisturbed estuary as the 13-acre Miller-Kirkman Preserve in 2017. We’re excited to announce that together we have protected nearly 10 acres immediately north of the preserve! This expansion contains a 787-foot stretch of the creek and a rich wetland complex – providing ample room for young salmon to grow into strong, healthy adults. Protection is just the first step in this journey and stewardship is necessary to care for this Island landscape. Caring community members like you are critical in these efforts. Donate to Stand for the Land Please note that this property is not open to the public at this time, thank you for your understanding!

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11 Aug Save the Date – 2022 Native Plant Sale

Events Lexi Wagor

Mark your calendars for the Bainbridge Island Land Trust’s annual Native Plant Sale! Saturday, October 8th 9 am – 11 am: Member Early Access* 11 am – 4 pm: Open Sale Bainbridge First Baptist Church – 8810 Madison Ave NE *Not a member? No problem! You can become a member at the event or donate online. This year, the Land Trust is excited to expand our Native Plant Sale to include community partner booths. Please visit the Native Plant Sale event page to learn more. Interested in volunteering to help with the Native Plant Sale? Please email Lexi.

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20 Jul Five Reasons to Join a Work Party

News Lexi Wagor

The Land Trust hosts a stewardship work party at one of our conserved properties on the first Wednesday of every month. Thinking of joining a work party? Here’s a couple of reasons why we love them! Volunteers share a homemade pie after a morning of removing invasive Himalayan blackberry from the Quitslund Preserve. Meet new people Work parties are a great way to meet other enthusiastic volunteers and conservation-minded community members! The trail entrance at Cougar Creek Preserve. Visit unique conservation lands Work parties take place on lands conserved by the Land Trust across Bainbridge Island. They are fantastic opportunities to explore new places, visit private conservation easements, or get a sneak peek of newly acquired properties before they’re open to the public. Stewardship Manager, Andrew Fraser, teaches volunteers the difference between native salmonberry and invasive blackberry species. Learn something new Talented and knowledgeable Land Trust staff lead our work parties. You can pick up a new skill like trail building or tree planting, learn about the native species that surround us, and learn how to distinguish the pesky invasive species we are working hard to remove. Local Boy Scouts assisting in the removal of invasive English Holly at a work party. Support the Land Trust’s ongoing stewardship efforts With nearly 1,500 acres of Land Trust-protected lands on the Island, volunteer efforts are critical in supporting the care of these places! A small salamander that was revealed after removing invasive blackberry species. Build a deeper connection to Bainbridge Island Land stewardship is about all about how we care for the land. Physically caring for the land helps us build our relationship with it and take responsibility for the place we call home.   Want to register for a work party? Click here. We hope to see you at a work…

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21 Jun Take a Walk on the Beach: Tips for Exploring at Low Tide

News Lexi Wagor

 An Ochre sea star exposed at low tide by Sue Larkin Last week, Puget Sound had its lowest tides in 13 years! If you missed them, don’t worry – they’ll return again in July. Low tides and summer sun make for a perfect day of exploring the shorelines of Bainbridge Island. We recommend checking out Rockaway Beach Park, Agate Passage Preserve, Hawley Cove Park, and Pritchard Park. The Land Trust had a hand in protecting all of these incredible public access beaches! Remember to practice good beach etiquette when exploring at the beach! Here are a few tips to make sure you’re taking care of all of the creatures you’ll see at low tide: Watch your step! There are creatures of all sizes all around you, including under your feet. Do your best to step only on hard or clear surfaces. If there are patches of eelgrass, walk around them instead of through them – many animals seek shelter in eelgrass. Leave no trace. Leave shells at the beach, they act as homes for many creatures. Always replace rocks if you move them. Only turn over rocks that you can lift with one hand, and do so gently. Many creatures survive or hide by clinging to the underside of rocks. Leaving a rock upturned leaves them exposed and vulnerable. Pick up trash! On any walk, it’s always nice to carry a small bag and pick up trash that you find for proper disposal. Only touch animals you find on the beach with one finger. Wet your finger with salt water before doing so, and be gentle. Refrain from picking them up. Happy exploring! A sea lemon (a type of sea slug) in a tidepool by Lexi Wagor Want to share photos and stories of your low tide adventures? Email them to Lexi at…

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15 Apr Stand for the Land at Bainbridge Brewing on May 10th

Events Lexi Wagor

Drink local beer to support local conservation! Come celebrate the Land Trust and support Stand for the Land at Bainbridge Brewing’s Brewery & Taproom. From 5 to 8 pm on May 10th, Bainbridge Brewing will donate $2 from every pint of beer sold to Stand for the Land. That’s A Some Pizza is available next door for slices or pies, plus they have other snacks, soft drinks, and ciders at the Brewery. We hope to see you there! Questions? Feel free to give us a call at (206) 842-1216 or email Lexi.

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25 Mar Kitsap Great Give is April 19th!

Events Lexi Wagor

The Kitsap Great Give is a 24-hour “give-day” event that unites our community through a special online donation platform to support the many nonprofit organizations that make Kitsap a great place to live – for all of us. Presented by Kitsap Community Foundation and the United Way of Kitsap County, this annual “community movement of generosity” has resulted in more than $12 million in community support since 2014. Mark your calendars for April 19th, 2022 to join in on the Kitsap Great Give. Funds raised through the Kitsap Great Give help the Land Trust to further our mission of conserving and stewarding the diverse natural environment of Bainbridge Island – for all! Give to the Bainbridge Island Land through the Kitsap Great Give.  

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07 Mar April’s Free Invasive Disposal Days Are Back!

Events Lexi Wagor

Sundays, April 17 and 24 from 10am to 4pm. We’re here to help you get your yard in order with two days of FREE Invasive Weed Disposal! Bring your weeds to the transfer station and the Land Trust will cover the cost of disposal. Invasive plant targets are Scotch broom, English holly, English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, tansy ragwort, English laurel, and the noxious weeds on King county’s “Noxious Weed” list. Please do not mix in non-invasive yard waste. For questions about whether or not something will be accepted, email Andrew Fraser, Land Trust Stewardship Manager, or call (206) 842-1216. Invasive plant species are one of the leading causes of vegetation biodiversity loss. They spread quickly and can displace native plants, prevent new native plant growth, and create monocultures. Lack of diversity among native plants reduces the quality and quantity of fish and wildlife habitat. Remove your invasives now while the ground is soft and make room for native plants come fall and winter when the weather is best for planting! Resources: The Land Trust’s Invasive Weed Primer Jeannette Franks’ Despicable 6 King County Noxious Weed List Bainbridge Island Cooperative Weed Management Area Priority Weeds A special thanks to Bainbridge Disposal for helping facilitate this important event. If you are interested in volunteering for the invasive disposal effort, please email Lexi.

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15 Feb Celebrate Black History in Conservation

News Lexi Wagor February is Black History Month The Land Trust joins the country in observing Black History Month, which celebrates Black excellence and recognizes the ongoing struggle that Black people have faced for hundreds of years in America. Despite underrepresentation, Black Americans have and continue to play critical roles in the conservation and environmental movements of this country. The work of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust is to conserve and steward the diverse natural environments of Bainbridge Island for the benefit of all. We envision a future where conservation is the work of diverse community partners and is inclusive, equitable, and just. We are seeking opportunities to better reflect the historic and present-day diversity of local people and communities through fairness, justice, and equity. We’ve compiled a list of resources to celebrate and support the many contributions related to the outdoors by the Black and African American community. The Land Trust encourages you to join us in learning from Black voices and experiences! LEARN 10 Black Conservationists Who Made History 6 Black Conservationists and Environmental Activists to Celebrate African Americans in Conservation: Young Black Conservationists to Know READ Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Carolyn Finney Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry Edited by Camille T. Dungy The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham Trace: Memory, History, Race and the American Landscape by Lauret Savoy WATCH #EveryoneOutside Episode 001: Nailah Blades Wylie & Color Outside Recolor the Outdoors | Alex Bailey | TEDxSanAntonio
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15 Feb Volunteer with the Seattle Urban Carnivore Project

News Lexi Wagor

Wildlife Camera Trapping Research on Bainbridge Island Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ) and Seattle University scientists collaborated to launch the Seattle Urban Carnivore Project (SUCP) in 2019. This effort explores how carnivores—those in the scientific order Carnivora such as coyotes, black bears, raccoons, and bobcats—live and interact with people across the greater Seattle area. Researchers and volunteers with the Seattle Urban Carnivore Project deploy over 40 wildlife cameras across the greater Seattle area following the study design established by UWIN, the Urban Wildlife Information Network, coordinated by Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute. The cameras are located within green spaces along either a north transect, a south transect or off-transect. The transects lie along an urban-to-rural gradient in the greater Seattle area and project volunteers manage about two-thirds of the camera stations. On Bainbridge Island, the cameras are located on Land Trust properties. We are currently recruiting returning and new volunteers to join the effort for the next season (the camera trapping season runs April 2022 – March 2023). Want to learn more? Read the full description here. Training (required; via Zoom) – Saturday, March 12th from 9:30  – 11:30 a.m. To sign-up as a volunteer and let us know your site and training preferences (make sure to note Bainbridge Island as your area preference!), please complete this form by 2/25:https://forms.gle/wYY2NXUCAbnP6RNK9

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