If spring is for cleaning, summer is for renovation. Since mid-June, Catalina Island Conservancy’s Ackerman Native Plant Nursery has been undergoing a transformation with the help of volunteers. The improvement comes after more than 10,000 native plants grown at the nursery were delivered to the Avalon School to benefit local students.
Volunteers from the Conservation Corps of Long Beach (CCLB), a longtime partner of Catalina Island Conservancy, dedicated their time to support the reimagining of the native plant nursery and seed conservation facility at Middle Ranch. The nursery grows over 85 species as container stock and houses over 3,000 seed collections representing 243 plant species. It plays a key role in protecting the Island landscape, supporting rare plant conservation and habitat restoration.
“We’re out here today to help the Catalina Conservancy do their master plan to change this green space, to upgrade to a little something better,” said CCLB Crew Leader Saul Martinez. “We’re [working on] the irrigation system, taking out the old one and we will replace it at a later time. We’re also replacing the tarp that’s on the ground with gravel.”
“It’s a big undertaking that they’re helping us with,” said Lauren Rocheleau, a Conservancy ACE plant technician. “It’s breaking up large pallets, wooden benches, removing ground cloth that’s been here years and years. It would’ve taken us much longer with just our team.”
As the hot sun loomed overhead, Martinez and his small crew stopped for a water and shade break before resuming efforts to pull, lift and move materials from the nursery. He said the 8-hour-long day, albeit challenging, is rewarding.
“That’s the best feeling, seeing the work you do throughout the week or even the progress in general – it’s a really uplifting feeling,” he said.
Martinez is one of many young adults who has been practicing conservation through CCLB. Since its inception in 1987, the organization has created access to environmental work experiences while facilitating the personal development of thousands of young people. That includes work with Catalina Island Conservancy, which has partnered with CCLB to create gratifying volunteer opportunities in a unique place.
“It’s a really great thing for a lot of young adults to get into this, learning about plants, trail maintenance, how to use a chainsaw or even a rake,” Martinez said. “The majority of the people I’ve come across in my time have been young adults who don’t have experience [in conservation] and want to get into the field of whatever department they join, like recycling or trail restoration or marine conservation. And coming out to Catalina is really cool.”
