Language of the Forest: welcome spring to the Miyawaki Forest

A Miyawaki Forest was born on Saturday 9 December 2023 in a 3000 square foot space on a vacant lot next to the Shoreline Historical Museum. Over 300 volunteers and others helped place into the cold, wet ground 1,200 plants, representing 43 different native species. Since that rainy December day, community involvement has continued in the frost, drizzle, rain and sun of winter into spring. Work parties are weeding and mulching, using arborist chips. The first Forest sprouts are growing. Lupine has poked through the mulch, camas flower shoots and huckleberry leaves have emerged and saplings are starting to leaf out. Passersby can’t resist a look-in. Most recent was a group of kids from eastern Washington in Shoreline for band practice who joined in the mulch toss. A 3000-gallon cistern installed in February is capturing rainwater from the roof of the Historical Museum’s archive building. Drip irrigation hoses will draw water from the cistern during the dry summer months. Three years from now the forest will be vigorous enough to survive on its own. The Forest has been welcoming more than flora. Indigenous story teller and artist Roger Fernandes spent an afternoon in February with Forest volunteers on interactive story creation for spiritual support of the forest. The Museum will welcome the general public to the first of three free focal events, Language of the Forest. Professor Dana Campbell will pose the question: Do trees communicate with other trees? Among the activities will be placing the clay signs made in March by Forest volunteers, with words in English and Lushootseed. There will be plenty of fun and informative activities for all ages and refreshments.

Event Links

Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2396757-0

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