Eddyville/BLM Native Plant Update

With grant money from the BLM to grow native plants for the Yaquina Lighthouse, the students and I built a new structure for the horticulture program.  Because our existing greenhouse was built with intended use only during the school year, the greenhouse was not usable during the summer months.  In order to meet the demands of the BLM, we added a shade house for the summer.  With help of Cory Phibbs, Dakota Gassner, Calvin Little, and Nicole Borrego, the shade house is all but completed.  I might add these students were paid $10/hour to assist me with the fabrication, a nice wage for an excellent job.

The new shade house has an automatic water system to care for plants during student and my absences.  Inside the old greenhouse and yet to be built, will be heated germination tables with automated misting system for seed germination.

All of this was made possible by a grant from the BLM that began at $10,000, rose to $15,000, rose again to $17,500 and then rose once more with Title II money adding $2,750, to make a grand total of $20,250.  This does not count a $3,500/year operating allowance beginning the the following year.  The grant is expected to last from three to five years.  The whole concept of growing native plants to be re-introduced as invasive plant species are removed at one of Oregon's famous landmarks is wonderful educational experience for the students and service for the area.