Sociology in the Woods

We were very happy to host the USF Sociology Club, their families, friends, and members of the community they recruited to participate in an invasive plant cleanup in the Back Woods this past Saturday. Professors Jenny and Laurel organized the volunteers as part of the 10/10/10 Global Work Party coordinated by 350.org, a campaign dedicated to reducing global CO2 emissions.

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Fortified by bagels and fruit, volunteers of all ages learned to id the non native invasive plant species Boston fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia) and air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) and set to the task of removing them. Armed with loppers, machetes, shovels and rakes the volunteers made a serious dent in a heavily impacted corner of the Back Woods. Along with a few bags of trash found beneath the vines the volunteers cleaned out approximately 10 yards of air potato vines, air potato bulbils and tubers (check out that monster below), and Boston fern! WOW!!

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We can’t thank these dedicated folks enough for giving up a Saturday morning (and the USF Homecoming Game!) and putting in such effort to help us in our efforts to control invasive plant species in the Back Woods! We look forward to the opportunity to coordinate many more projects with USF Sociology Club, their friends and family in the future! Go Bulls!!

Check out coverage of the day in the USF Oracle, Students and faculty partake in global clean-up effort…their reporter not only covered the event but participated in the entire cleanup!

WE WANT YOU: If you are looking for a great work out (pulling up plants and wielding loppers) we are always looking for intrepid VOLUNTEERS to help us out in our battle against invasives. Ongoing opportunities M-F 7am-4pm.