Fort Worth Nature Center

Over the past three weeks, we've been volunteering at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, and I've really been enjoying this experiential learning part of the course. The first week, we worked on cutting down bamboo. At first, it felt wrong to be cutting down a lot of plants, but we learned that bamboo is actually an invasive species that takes over areas and prevents native plants from growing. Using shears, we cut down the bamboo and created piles for them to later burn in a controlled fire.

The next two weeks, we focused on cutting down privet in another area, which is another invasive plant. Much finer and easier to cut with shears, Styrling and I really got to work and were able to make a lot of progress. There's something really satisfying about starting with an area that is completely overgrown and clearing it out, especially when you can actually see the difference you're making. 

We've also figured out a system of stepping on the plants to see the roots while one person cuts and the other pulls out the privet and throws it into the pile. Once we get into that rhythm, it makes the process a lot more efficient. I’ve really enjoyed spending time outside, and it’s been a great way to stay active and disconnect, even if just for a short part of the week. I’m looking forward to continuing this work and seeing how much more we can accomplish over the rest of the course.


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