Sorry, this event has reached capacity and we are no longer taking registration. Please consider helping out at the May 1st and/or May 15th garlic mustard and invasives removal events. 

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Enjoy the beauty of early spring at a riverside park while helping protect native plants from an invasive species.

Nestled at the bottom of the gorge at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, Crosby Farm Park is a natural oasis in the heart of the city. The area volunteers will be working in is home to a striking array of spring wildflowers native to Minnesota — Dutchman's breeches, trout lily, and Jack-in-the-pulpit to name a few — all in need of volunteer assistance.

After a brief introduction to this hidden gem and quick training, event participants will help protect these spring ephemerals and other important species by removing the extremely invasive plant known as garlic mustard.

Although a serious threat, garlic mustard is not only easy to identify but quick to pull by hand. These characteristics make removal of this invasive species the perfect restoration activity for volunteers who want to work independently -- to continue to improve wildlife habitat and the health of their watershed after the event, at times most convenient for them.

All volunteers will be asked to sign a Pledge to Pull, promising to remove garlic mustard in this area of Crosby Park for a total of eight hours** before June 1. They will also receive a small card certifying their participation in the training and granting permission to independently perform this volunteer service in this area, part of the City of St. Paul park system and the Mississippi National Park.

** This means an additional six hours beyond the event. And, if you bring someone with you, you can count their hours as well. For example, if you participate in the 2-hour training and removal session, then bring your partner and a friend for a 2-hour session that you schedule yourself, that totals 8 hours: 2 for the training, plus 6 hours of work from the follow-up, independent session!

Note: All volunteers who contribute 20 hours or more through any and all FMR volunteer events and opportunities within a calendar year earn a Friends of the Mississippi River SuperVolunteer t-shirt.

Ready to register?

To ensure a high-quality experience, capacity is limited and pre-registration required. To sign up, simply contact Volunteer Coordinator sue rich at srich[insert "at" symbol]fmr.org, or by selecting "Volunteering" in the drop-down "Category" menu near the bottom of our contact form. Please include: the name of the event, your name, address, and phone number and the number in your party.

You will receive a confirmation email and additional details, such as directions and what to wear, from srich[insert "at" symbol]fmr.org within, at most, a week.

Not sure yet? Sign up for a reminder. Enter your email on the Mississippi Messages blue box at right to receive two e-newsletters a month, including a monthly FMR calendar. 

More information

Read this volunteer's beautifully written and descriptive blog entry on the 2009 pledge-to-pull training and kickoff at Crosby.

This event is part of the Gorge Stewards program, which actively engages citizens throughout the Twin Cities in the stewardship of the national treasure that is the Mississippi River Gorge. Read more…