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Waterlink Web gives back

Earth Day 2023 Recap

Earth Day is the day we gather with neighbors, acquaintances, and complete strangers to work together and give back to this planet, this place we call home.

In Oregon we are lucky to have SOLVE, a state-wide nonprofit that helps support volunteers who are restoring habitats, removing invasive plants, picking up litter, and much more. On Saturday, April 22nd, I partnered with Friends of Pier Park and SOLVE for the 17th year to organize and promote the Pier Park Pick-Up.

Thank you to the 50 volunteers — some I’ve known for years and many who I just met — for coming out to work at Pier Park, 75 acres of beauty in North Portland.

Removing invasive blackberries
Two volunteers pulling invasive blackberries at Pier Park.

This is what we accomplished:

  • Removed about 10,000 square feet of invasive plants,
  • Mulched about 8000 square feet of native gardens by spreading 48 yards of wood chips,
  • Planted close to 30 native shrubs and trees,
  • Picked up six bags of litter,
  • Made improvements on the Pier Park disc golf course to further protect native plants.
Mary Ann Aschenbrenner and Tom Herring from Benefit Corporations for Good.
Mary Ann Aschenbrenner and Tom Herring from Benefit Corporations for Good

In particular, I want to thank:

  • Stumptown Disc Golf whose members came out to improve the course
  • Benefit Corporations for Good for promoting the Pier Park Pick-Up among their members
  • Friends of Pier Park without whom this whole event would not be possible
  • SOLVE for providing garbage bags and gloves and an easy way for volunteers to learn about the event and register in advance

If you live in Oregon and want to organize an event to help nature on Earth Day, or any other day, I recommend you contact SOLVE to get started. You may have heard of the Beach and Riverside Cleanup. SOLVE is behind that as well.

Until Earth Day 2024, continue to take care of our home. Earth is the only one we have.

Dirty gloves and boots at the end of the day.
My dirty boots and gloves at the end of the event.

Learn more about Waterlink Web, how this business got started, and my commitment to Friends of Pier Park.

By Mary Ann Aschenbrenner

Mary Ann is a website designer and developer working with small businesses and nonprofit organizations. She works and lives in St. Johns, a neighborhood in North Portland.

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