Oak Woodland Restoration Powered by Baltimore Woods Volunteers Young and Old

The majority of regular FOBW constituents are retirement age, and the majority of our stewardship work involves weeding non native plants, and planting native ones, but occasionally we need to clear trash from the woodlands. This clearing of refuse often coincides with our nature gardening, as it did during a recent Saturday SOLVE work party.

The beautiful spring morning of March 14th brought together Friends of Baltimore Woods, and SOLVE volunteers including seven volunteers from TE Connectivity Youth Professionals of Wilsonville, Oregon for a community restoration project in St. John’s.

Working in the northern Acorn Acre and Woodpecker Point areas of Baltimore Woods, volunteers planted approximately 350 native trees and plants provided by Portland Parks & Recreation in three hours. Species included vine maple, Oregon grape, pearly everlasting, dogwood, and sword ferns.

After the planting was completed, while volunteers spread mulch on the new plantings, one of the young engineers from TE Connectivity noticed a pile of numerous discarded tires, heavy wooden planks and other debris along the southern border of Acorn Acre. He kindly suggested that his young and strong team help to remove the heavy discards to N. Reno Avenue for Metro’s RID to pick up. It was a fitting last project of a productive day.

Burnt drug camp trash for RID pick-up (left) — Burnt drug camp cleaned up January 14, 2026 (right)

Alternatively, when clean up is focused on a burnt and abandoned homeless drug camp, and it is performed by three elderly women all over the age of 70 years old, it is indeed remarkable. On the chilly morning of January 14, Betsy Valle, Lee Dayfield and myself (Lisa Manning) used wheel barrows, gloves, and garbage grabbers to clear heavy water soaked rugs, tents, tarps, metal chairs, furniture and other cumbersome items of rubbish from the burnt ruins. The abandoned drug camp had burned to the ground in the previous November, around Thanksgiving time. Young children and teachers of Little Roots Pre-school use the Catlin Forest, less than a half block away from this old camp site, as a nature classroom every Friday. For public safety, removal of homeless occupation and waste such as drug needles, on or adjacent to the city owned natural area is essential. After the debris was removed, Josh Seekatz, a Portland Parks Ecologist, filled the site with fallen trunks and branches harvested from Acorn Acre to discourage returning campers.

So many volunteers young and old help to keep the Baltimore Woods natural area healthy and beautiful!  Our stewardship work is continuous, essential and always rewarding. These work parties demonstrate the positive impact that dedicated volunteers can have when they come together to care for Portland’s natural areas. Our efforts will continue to restore the valuable natural habitats of Baltimore Woods for native wildlife and generations to come.

by Lee Dayfield and Lisa Manning