Come celebrate Earth Day and join the Issaquah Alps Trails Club and Green Issaquah in mulching Issaquah’s first Miyawaki Forest! This special event will be dedicated to adding mulch around our 500+ freshly planted native trees and understory plants to help retain moisture, reduce erosion and growth of non-natives like Himalayan blackberry bushes, and ensure the longevity and health of these new additions to Issaquah’s tree canopy. This event is part of our ongoing efforts to help meet the Issaquah Climate Action Plan goal of 55% tree canopy cover by 2035.
Read more about the Miyawaki Forest below.
When and Where
Date: Thursday, April 24
Time: 4 - 6 PM
Where: 190 NW Dogwood Street, street parking is available
What to Bring
Bring your own gloves if you have them. There will be gloves available for those who don't have their own. Please dress in layers and in clothing you don't mind getting dirty. Old denim and leather are perfect for protecting your skin from pricklies! Closed-toed shoes are a requirement, long sleeves, and pants are recommended. Bring a full water bottle, warm drink, and snacks.
Registration required.
This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of the
Forterra Community Restoration Grant and the Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth.
About the Miyawaki Forest Method
Japanese botanist and plant ecology expert Professor Akira Miyawaki, planted his first forest in Japan and now Miyawaki Forest projects are popping up all around the world! The Miyawaki Method is one of the most effective ways to plant for creating forest cover quickly on degraded land - using only native species in order to mimic the natural process of forest re-wilding. Miyawaki forests grow 10x faster, are 30 x denser and contain 100x more biodiversity than most planted forests. Since they’re quick to establish, maintenance-free after the first two-to-three years, and can be created on sites as small as 3 sq m, Miyawaki forests are viable solutions for cities looking to rapidly build climate resilience.
Miyawaki forests are also about growing local connection and hope - so community involvement is a big part of the process! Whether you participate in preparing the site or soil, planting native trees and understory, caring for the forest in the first two years or enjoy watching the plants grow up, we hope you find joy and satisfaction in the Miyawaki Forest!!!
Find out more about the Miyawaki Forest Method here:
Sugi Project, Creating Tomorrow's Forests, Shoreline Historical Museum
Can’t make this date, but still want to participate? We welcome private restoration events.